Samsung launches a new generation Onyx display, setting a new standard for LED technology

Earlier this year, Samsung launched the latest generation Onyx LED screen for cinemas (product code: ICD), marking a new era of display technology in cinemas.

Since pioneering LED cinema screens in 2017, Samsung has continuously set new benchmarks with outstanding picture quality, industry-leading reliability and flexible scalability to meet the ever-changing needs of cinemas around the world.

Mr. Hoon Chung, Executive Vice President of Display Business of Samsung Electronics shared: “The film industry is shifting its focus to delivering a more immersive and visually engaging experience. With Onyx, Samsung not only delivers top-notch image quality but also provides the flexibility to help theaters redefine the moviegoing experience and meet audiences’ ever-increasing expectations.”

The future of cinema: More brilliant, more impressive, more vivid

As the world’s first DCI-certified cinema LED display, Samsung Onyx delivers an unprecedented cinematic experience with absolute black, infinite contrast ratio and outstanding color accuracy. The screen supports scanning frequencies up to 4K 120Hz, delivering super smooth motion and sharp details to every pixel.

Each theater room has its own unique size, and screen requirements also vary depending on the theater. To accommodate that, Onyx offers four standard sizes with flexible expansion options, allowing theaters to optimize available space and present movies in the largest format possible without compromising image quality:

• 5 meters (16 ft) – Ideal for boutique or small theaters (Pixel Pitch: 1.25mm)
• 10 meters (33 ft) – Ideal for high-end cinemas (Pixel Pitch: 2.5mm)
• 14 meters (46 ft) – Flexible format, providing impressive large-scale experience (Pixel pitch: 3.3mm)
• 20 meters (66 ft) – Large screen solution for high-end projection rooms (Pixel pitch: 5.0mm)

Onyx displays support popular aspect ratios including scope (2.39:1) and flat (1.85:1), ensuring movies are presented in their original format without additional adjustments. When expanding beyond standard, Onyx still maintains the correct aspect ratio while optimizing the display size so that the content is not distorted.

Unlike traditional projectors, which easily dim when projecting in large spaces or easily fade in bright scenes, Onyx’s outstanding brightness ensures clear details in dark areas, outstanding highlights and accurate colors across the spectrum. Thanks to Samsung’s HDR technology, Onyx reaches a maximum brightness of up to 300 nits (87.6fL) – six times higher than normal theater standards – helping to maintain the brightness and sharpness of high-light scenes, avoiding the phenomenon of “burn-in”.

With outstanding brightness and precision, Onyx enables vivid projection even in brightly lit environments, suitable for a variety of content other than movies such as live sports, concerts, eSports events and corporate conferences, helping theaters expand premium entertainment experiences for customers.

Designed for high reliability and seamless integration

Onyx is developed for long-lasting performance, being the first and only LED cinema screen with a 10-year warranty, setting a new standard for reliability in display technology. Extended warranty helps optimize operating costs and ensure the theater owner’s investment in the future.

Samsung also provides an automatic image calibration solution, helping theaters easily calibrate screens during installation or routine maintenance.

In terms of integration, Onyx is fully compatible with Dolby and GDC media servers, making the transition from traditional projectors to LED technology simpler and more efficient.

Onyx also supports leading cinema audio solutions such as Dolby Atmos, Meyer Sound, QSC, and custom sound systems, giving theaters flexibility to customize the audio experience. In particular, Onyx seamlessly integrates with HARMAN’s JBL surround sound technology, ensuring optimal audio performance.

Trusted heritage recognized globally

Samsung Onyx is one of the most widely used cinema LED screens in the world, setting a new standard for high-end display technology in cinema. As it expands globally, Onyx continues to demonstrate its reliability, versatility and ability to elevate the cinematic experience.

One of the latest installations is at Pathé Palace in Paris, where Onyx was chosen to upgrade the movie-going experience in one of the most beautiful theaters in the world.

“At Pathé, we are always committed to delivering the highest quality cinema experience to our customers,” Ms. Laure de Boissard, CEO of Pathé Cinéma France shared. “Samsung Onyx allows us to present brilliant images, brilliant brightness and contrast, ensuring each movie is presented exactly as the filmmaker intended.”

Samsung Onyx is also redefining the way to enjoy cinema through direct cooperation with the film industry. A prime example is Samsung’s collaboration with Pixar Animation Studios to optimize movies like Elemental, Inside Out 2 and Elio (released this summer) in Onyx-specific HDR format, delivering superior brightness, contrast and color. Through close collaboration with filmmakers, Onyx continually pushes the boundaries of display technology, ensuring creative visions are recreated with unprecedented precision.

“At Pixar, we believe that cinema is a wonderful collective experience – where stories come to life and create unforgettable memories with friends. That’s why we always aim to deliver something truly new with our pioneering HDR-1 theatrical film line,” said Dominic Glynn, Senior Scientist at Pixar Animation Studios. “ONYX display technology makes it possible with incredible brightness, clarity and color – images so vivid that they elevate every moment of the story. Even casual audiences will feel the difference. This is the ‘Wow!’ experience. unforgettable – what makes cinema special and always has been.”