The last couple of months have been exciting ones for mobile fans, with Samsung recently launching its new range of foldable devices and smartwatches to significant online excitement, and an abundance of fuss on YouTube.

But, rather than stopping there, Samsung quickly followed that up by launching its 2025 Samsung 8K and 4K Neo QLED Mini LED series TVs as well at an event in Fourways recently. 

As expected from a Samsung screen, the new TVs are eye-popping and impossibly beautiful, offering striking visuals and immersive sound.

The new TVs include the Neo QLED 8K Mini LED, which the company claims offers its best picture with 8K Resolution and the Neo QLED 4K Mini LED TVs.

The Neo QLED 8K Mini LED comes in two models, the QN950F and QN900F, with the former ranging from 65'inches to 75 inches while the latter goes up to a whopping 85 inches (if you have a large enough living room to accommodate it).

A standout feature of the QN950F series  is that it leverages 8K AI Upscaling Pro to transform SD, HD or even 4K content into ''the sharpest and smoothest picture of any Samsung TV'', according to the company. Given the strength of Samsung's screens, that is saying a lot.

Also launched were new 4K offerings with three model series - theQN90F, QN80F, and QN70F. All feature Quantum Matrix Mini LEDs, and the flagship QN90F (which comes in 43 – 100 inch screen sizes) also boasts the upgraded NQ4 AI Gen3 Processor.

This upscales older content into 4K resolution, while Neo Quantum HDR analyses each scene to boost brightness and make visuals appear even more realistic. Plus, the QN90F will feature Glare-Free technology.

But new TVs and even better visuals, are only part of the story.

More significantly, and innovatively, is that the launch was also the debut of  Samsung Vision AI, which, I was told, extends what TVs can do and what they can be.   

The company explained that Samsung Vision AI pairs AI-enhanced picture and sound for maximised performance with personalised experiences, which have been geared towards enabling users to ''engage more deeply with their content and enjoy a viewing experience catered just to them.'' One of the features of Vision AI is that users can control their TV with hand motions while wearing their Galaxy Watch, thanks to Universal Gestures.

We were also shown how the TV can respond to voice commands, and even be set up to respond to your dog's barks. And yes, with border collies I can completely buy into my dogs figuring out how to control my TV to turn it on when they want to (since they have already mastered opening door handles unassisted).

“We know great picture and immersive sound are just the beginning of what shoppers are looking for when choosing a TV today,” explained Nivash Ramsern, Director, Visual Display at Samsung South. “In fact, enhanced connectivity, smart features and ease of use are more important than ever. Samsung Vision AI transforms your TV to bring together the best of it all, delivering AI-powered innovations that reinvent what’s possible from your Samsung TV,” he enthused.

In a one-to-one interview Ramsern explained to me that we have seen with mobile devices this year taking a significant forward from being just devices to becoming AI-empowered companions. Now, Samsung TVs are following that trend, also evolving beyond just being a passive screen for entertainment. He added that Samsung's newest offerings are intended to act as the ''brain" of the home, and be the central hub for managing other smart devices like washing machines and fridges.

Top of our conversation was security, given that the biggest flaw with smart devices is whether they can offer hackers an easy onramp into one's home network. In recent years, a casino in Las Vega was hacked through an IoT device in its aquarium, highlighting the need for all connected devices to be properly secured. To combat this threat, Samsung has implemented both its Knox software and chip level security to protect against Wi-Fi network hacks.

But it is not just AI infusion and rock solid security where TVs are borrowing from their mobile counterparts. Samsung TVs will also receive gauranteed OS updates for seven years, he stressed, extending the life and usability of one's TV.

Beyond that, Ramsern explained that Samsung intends creating an ecosystem not just of smart things but with hub appliances as well.

''Next year, everything that Samsung offers will be smart. For instance, our washing machines are already smart now. Users will be able to control their power usage, detergent usage, washing liquid, washing cycle through their smartphone or TV. And that smart functionality will extend through Samsung appliances, so all Samsung products will be able to form a securely connected ecosystem,'' he elaborated.

That vision underscores Samsung's strategy to date, and it began with its latest smartphones, and extends to its newest TVs. If you are due to upgrade the centre of your home and have your eye on Samsung's latest and greatest, and have the cash to spare, then below are the prices for the 4K and 8K offerings.

QN950F (85”)

85” QN950F QA85QN950FKXXA: R149,999

QN900F (75” – 85”)

75” Class QN900F QA75QN900FKXXA: R89,999

65” Class QN900F QA65QN900FKXXA: R 59,999

QN90F (43” – 98”)

98” Class QN90F QA98QN90FAKXXA : R179,999*

85” Class QN90F QA85QN90FAKXXA: R89,999

75” Class QN90F QA75QN90FAKXXA: R54,999

65” Class QN90F QA65QN90FAKXXA: R39,999

55” Class QN90F QA558QN90FAKXXA: R24,999

43” Class QN90F QA43QN90FAKXXA: R17,999

QN80F (100”)

85” Class QN80F QA100QN80FKXXA : R99,999