Until 2020, Samsung clearly specified the color bit depth of its television screens, stating whether a 10-bit color depth was used. However, since 2020, Samsung’s marketing shifted to focus on a simplified commercial designation, claiming that QLED screens deliver “100% color volume.” But what does this really mean, and how does it compare to previous standards?
100% Color Volume with Quantum Dots: Samsung’s Approach
Samsung’s “100% color volume” refers to the capability of QLED screens to display a full range of colors using quantum dot technology. According to Samsung, all of its QLED screens offer this full color volume, representing a depth of 10-bit color, which can show over a billion shades.
What’s the Catch?
In the past, Samsung openly mentioned the 10-bit color depth or “1 billion shades” with an asterisk, explaining that many screens achieved this through dithering or Frame Rate Control (FRC). By subtly flashing the backlight, these techniques visually increase the color depth of an 8-bit panel to simulate 10-bit depth. This led some buyers to feel misled when high-end TVs still used 8-bit matrices.
Now, with the “100% color volume” designation, Samsung no longer specifies whether a TV uses a true 10-bit panel or an 8-bit + FRC panel. The claim implies maximum color capacity, but the phrase “using quantum dot technology” is often overlooked. As a result, both 10-bit panels and 8-bit + FRC panels now fall under the same marketing language, providing a somewhat ambiguous color quality promise.
Samsung continues to use the “100% Color Volume” designation in the specs of its TVs in the US in 2024. This time, however, it is accompanied by a question mark that clarifies its meaning, noting that it refers to “the color of the stand and casing that frames the TV screen.” In addition, there is a separate parameter for the color of the stand, labeled TITAN BLACK, a clear logical inconsistency.
This discrepancy is rooted in a simple marketing strategy. The term “100%” creates a sense of high quality, and many consumers easily fall for this attractive figure. Ultimately, this is a clever tactic to increase the perceived value of the product.
