Samsung’s new OLED monitor panels are built to battle glare and scratches
Summary created by Smart Answers AI
In summary:
- PCWorld is reporting Samsung’s new “QuantumBlack” film technology that will be standard on all Samsung OLED monitor panels starting in 2026.
- This innovation reduces light reflectance by 20% and increases surface hardness to 3H, addressing common OLED concerns around glare and scratch resistance.
- Major brands including Asus, Gigabyte and MSI will integrate this technology to improve black performance on QD-OLED panels.
OLED monitors are all the rage now, more and more numerous and ever cheaper. (It helps that no one can afford to upgrade their current computer, so now is a good time to buy a new display.) Samsung, one of the largest suppliers of OLED panels, isn’t resting on its laurels. The company says its new “QuantumBlack” cinematic technology will improve upcoming monitors in several ways.
Specifically, the new film would reduce light reflectance by 20% and increase surface hardness from 2H to 3H. (It’s probably the Mohs hardness test – the tempered glass on your phone’s screen is probably around 8H or 9H.) According to Samsung’s promotional materials, the film will focus on black performance for QD-OLED panels, one of the areas where OLED already shines compared to high-quality LCD panels.
Samsung supplies panels for its own monitors, of course, but also for Asus, Gigabyte and MSI, which will market the new film features under the names “Black Shield”, Obsidian Shield” and “Dark Armor”, respectively. Samsung says that all new OLED panels it produces in 2026 will feature the new technology. The monitor on the left in the header image looks like an unbranded MSI model from the base up.
That being said, OLEDs remain among the most expensive monitors on the market, even as their overall prices drop. If you’re looking for something a little more affordable, opting for an older model (especially when the new ones come in) is a good way to save money.
