Every year, Samsung refreshes its line-up of TVs, making changes across the board to provide a better experience. This year, the Neo QLED series received some fairly substantial updates. Across the 4K and 8K range, you can expect new features, some new tech inside, and a better image overall. It's just what you'd be looking for from a new TV.

Here, we'll take a look at five of the biggest new features in Samsung's 2022 Neo QLED range.

1. Updated Software With a More Intuitive Homepage

Exclusively to the 2022 Neo QLED range, Samsung has updated its TizenOS operating system with a revamped Smart Hub. On the Smart Hub homepage, you'll find that the TV software is a lot more intuitive for showcasing new content.

On the Smart Hub, you'll be able to access what you were just watching, be it live TV or a streaming platform. You'll be able to jump back into the content straight from the homepage, without having to fiddle through any menus first. You'll also be able to see what's currently being broadcast if you've got live TV set-up, either through an aerial or free internet TV channels.

You'll also get quicker access to new shows to watch. Samsung will provide showcases for different streaming services showing the latest and most popular content. It's ideal for finding something new to watch! Unfortunately, these shows aren't tailored to you based on preferences, but it can still provide inspiration.

2. New Neo Quantum Processor for Faster Image Processing

As per most tech devices released these days, you can expect to see a new processor in Samsung's 2022 Neo QLED range. Dubbed the Neo Quantum Processor, the high-tech new chipset will allow Samsung to process images more efficiently.

"Why does the TV need to process images?" you ask. Like all TVs, the devices need to process the incoming signals and turn them into an actual image, figuring out the right colours and placements. But as TVs have progressed, they now use AI to further enhance the picture.

With the Neo Quantum Processor, Samsung can provide much higher levels of contrast (as we'll touch on below), and implement other AI features such as motion smoothing. It's also used to upscale 4K picture to 8K on relevant models, and HD content to 4K or 8K content, depending on the device.

3. Much Higher Levels of Contrast

As we touched upon briefly, you can expect to find noticeably higher contrast levels on Samsung's 2022 Neo QLED range. Usually, when TVs promise higher contrast, only eagle-eyed experts can spot it; but that's not the case with Samsung's latest line-up.

Exclusive to the 8K model is 14-bit contrast mapping, a fancy way of saying the TV can display 16,384 levels of tones and colours (very precise, we know). This is up from the 2021 range's 12-bit mapping, which could only display 4,096 levels. It's a 4X improvement, and is certainly more noticeable.

Thanks to the extra tones and colours the TV can process, you can expect higher contrast on the TVs. It'll give you more depth to colours and produce sharper images. If you were to compare the two TVs next to one another, you'd be able to pick out more detail on the 2022 model.

4. Improved Gaming Features

Alongside the Smart Hub homepage, you'll also find a new Gaming Hub on the 2022 Neo QLEDs. Just like the main hub, you'll see similar game recommendations, and be able to jump straight into games without opening an app or turning on a console first.

Samsung's new TV range boasts a 144Hz refresh rate for online streaming, helping improve your reaction times during gameplay. Console gaming is restricted to 120Hz by the HDMI 2.1 ports, but that's still on par to most gaming monitors. If you've got any HDR10+ compatible games, you'll be able to take advantage of the improved HDR on the 2022 Neo QLED TVs.

5. Updated SolarCell Remote With True Wireless Power

With the 2021 Neo QLED range, Samsung introduced its SolarCell remote–a remote that uses a mini solar panel to keep the battery charged. As if that wasn't impressive enough, the 2022 range goes a step further with true wireless power.

Using radio frequency waves, the remote can harvest the energy from the 2.4Ghz signal your internet router emits. That means without any charging stations or wireless charging pads, the TV remote can draw low-frequency power to keep the battery topped up.

The tech isn't quite advanced enough to charge your phones yet, but is perfect to provide idle power to low-power devices, such as remotes. Your battery will last longer, and you don't need any extra equipment. The signals work within a 40m range, and it shouldn't affect the performance of your router to a noticeable degree.

Samsung's 2022 Neo QLED Series Is a Serious TV Contender

Packed with these exciting new features, Samsung's 2022 Neo QLED range offers some seriously impressive functionality. While the panels can't achieve the same black levels as OLEDs, you can expect some of the best LED performance on the market.

The TVs do come for a hefty price, but you usually don't upgrade your TV too often. If you've bought a TV in the last one to two years, you almost definitely don't need to worry about upgrading (unless you really need 144Hz). But if you're in the market for a new TV, the 2022 Neo QLEDs should be a serious contender for your living room.