August 26th, 2009
Samsung working on a 480Hz HDTV?
Some people question the value of 120Hz refresh rates for LCD HDTVs, and even more wonder if 240Hz is worth the extra expense. But it’s a spec with buzz, so it shouldn’t be entirely surprising that Samsung is supposedly working on 480Hz sets that it may reveal at the IFA electronics expo in Germany next month.
The rumor is that the 480Hz HDTVs would use a little different sleight of hand to achieve this figure, which has the goal of reducing the blurring effect that fast-moving action can have on the screen. It will drop a black frame between frames of the source material (instead of interpolating new frames)—in theory, this will help break up an image that could otherwise be seen as a blur. Sets with 240Hz refresh rates already sell at a premium as 120Hz models have dropped in price. No doubt 480Hz TVs could be priced even higher, as 240Hz sets proliferate and reach more mainstream prices.
Do you think 480Hz is just a marketing ploy? Have you viewed a 240Hz set and noticed a difference in material that includes fast motion sequences? Let us know in our TalkBack section.
Sean Portnoy spent several years as an editor at Computer Shopper magazine, most recently serving as online executive editor. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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