Samsung Display just unveiled QD-OLED Penta Tandem technology. This is a next-generation display structure that stacks five emission layers to improve brightness, efficiency, and overall OLED performance.

In this video, we simplify what Penta Tandem actually is, how it works, and show you two monitors that already have the technology — specifically from MSI and Dell.

For more details, check out Samsung Display here.

There used to be a time when shopping for a TV meant choosing between small, medium, and big. Now there’s OLED, Neo QLED, Mini LED, Micro RGB — and suddenly buying a TV feels like picking a character class.

Samsung’s latest Vision AI TV lineup makes a case that display technology isn’t just about getting a better picture anymore. Different screens are being matched to different kinds of entertainment and spaces.

So instead of asking which TV is best, maybe the better question is:

What do you actually do with your screen?

Your match if movies come first: Samsung OLED Vision AI TV

Samsung’s OLED Vision AI TV feels built for people who want movie nights to feel special.

The panel uses self-illuminating pixels to create deeper blacks and stronger contrast. Samsung combines this with HDR processing and AI enhancement that adjusts scenes in real time.

The result isn’t necessarily the brightest image. It’s the one with the most atmosphere. And Samsung made this one friendlier to gamers too.

The current OLED gaming setup supports 4 HDMI 2.1 ports, alongside VRR, ALLM, and refresh rates up to 165Hz depending on model and source. That means you can realistically keep a PS5, Xbox, gaming PC, and sound system connected without cable swapping — something gamers have paid attention to for years. (Samsung be)

Your match if:

• Movies
• Story games
• Dark-room viewing
• Console-heavy setups

Your match if one TV needs to do everything: Neo QLED Vision AI TV

Neo QLED feels like Samsung’s “main character living room” TV.

Samsung talks less about hardcore enthusiasts here and more about everyday enjoyment: sports, documentaries, movies, SmartThings integration, pet monitoring, AI Energy Mode, Art Store, and security.

The underlying Quantum Mini LED technology helps improve brightness and contrast while staying flexible across different kinds of content.

This feels like the TV for households where everyone uses it differently.

Your match if:

• Family TV
• Bright rooms
• Sports
• Smart home setups

Your match if entertainment is an event: Micro RGB Vision AI TV

This one feels like Samsung showing off.

Micro RGB uses microscopic RGB backlights to improve color expression, brightness, and precision while reducing color bleeding. Samsung pairs this with Glare Free viewing, AI upscaling, Gaming Hub, and Motion Xcelerator up to 165Hz VRR.

This is also where my gamer brain immediately looked for ports.

The flagship Micro RGB implementation that Samsung has shown publicly supports 4 HDMI 2.1 ports with up to 4K 165Hz, plus one supports eARC. There’s also optional expansion via the wireless box for even more HDMI connectivity depending on model. (SamMobile)

As someone who remembers people choosing TVs partly because of HDMI count, this feels like Samsung saying: we heard you.

Your match if:

• Premium gaming
• Big-screen immersion
• Multiple consoles
• Bright rooms

Your match if you want balance: Mini LED Vision AI TV

Mini LED might be the quiet favorite.

Samsung positions it around realism, AI optimization, and versatility. Smaller backlights improve contrast and detail while gaming features include Motion Xcelerator up to 144Hz and AI Gaming Optimizer.

This feels like the TV equivalent of ordering the all-around build.

Your match if:

• Sports
• Streaming
• Gaming
• One-screen households

Your match if your gaming happens at a desk: Odyssey OLED Gaming Monitor

This was the missing piece.

Samsung also launched gaming displays for people whose setup starts with a keyboard instead of a couch.

The Odyssey OLED lineup pushes things in a different direction from TVs: smaller field of view, faster response, and competitive focus.

Samsung highlights dual mode support with up to 330Hz at FHD, 160Hz at 4K, and 0.03ms response time, plus an ergonomic stand that supports both landscape and portrait orientation.

This isn’t the “sit back and relax” display.

This is the “one more game at 1:30am” display.

Your match if:

• Competitive gaming
• Desk setups
• FPS players
• Streaming

Samsung Vision AI

Maybe TVs have become less about size and more about identity. Samsung’s Vision AI lineup doesn’t really ask how much screen you want. It asks what kind of viewer you are.

Spring and summer rolling around almost always makes me want to reset something in my routine.

A few years ago, it was growing broccoli sprouts in a jar. Getting the Auk Mini over Christmas felt like the natural next step.

From sprouts to something more

Starting with sprouts was easy. After having them at a family gathering, it clicked that I could actually grow something, even in our small apartment. Anyone, including my husband can do it on the kitchen counter, and upkeep takes less than a minute a day. Watching something grow and actually eating it made me realize how nice it is to have fresh greens around all the time.

The Auk Mini builds on that. Instead of just one thing in a jar, now I have herbs growing consistently at home.

Getting started was easy

This was the part I was most unsure about, but it ended up being very straightforward. Setup took a few minutes, the instructions were clear, and nothing felt overly technical. The kit comes with everything you need to start: Auk Mini itself, seeds for planting, coco fiber, and nutrients that you add to the water to support both growth and flavor.

Once it’s up and running, it mostly takes care of itself. The lighting system handles what the plants need throughout the day, and the watering system keeps everything consistent. I have been away on trips, and I still come home to herbs that are healthy and fresh, waiting to be trimmed and added to my food.

It fits real life and small spaces

Fresh herbs growing beside my microwave

Living in a New York apartment, space is limited. While there are community gardens I could participate in, it’s not as convenient as having access to your own, especially when you’re in the middle of a snowstorm or a heatwave.

The Auk Mini sits beside my microwave, on a table that used to be my desk. It doesn’t feel like I added a new project to my life – it just blends in. I have the black and walnut version, which works well with the rest of my space, but it also comes in white, with oak or cork as other finishes, if you want something lighter.

Watching and competing

My husband and I set it up together and turned it into a challenge: who would harvest first?

Our kit came with basil and parsley. He planted basil, which sprouted first. I took on parsley, which grew much slower and wasn’t ready for harvest until a little over six weeks later. The competition was a small thing, but it made the whole process more fun. We started paying attention to growth day by day, and it’s satisfying when you finally get to use what you grew.

One thing we learned pretty quickly is that different plants grow at different speeds, which can make lighting placement a little tricky in a shared setup like the Auk Mini. Since the basil grew faster and taller, we had to angle the light unevenly so it wouldn’t burn the basil while still giving the parsley enough exposure to catch up.

It changed how I use herbs

Basil and parsley used to be something I added as garnish. Now I’m using them all the time because they’re right within arm’s reach.

Learned to be creative and made pasta from scratch, made better with fresh herbs

I’ve been making sauces, marinades, pesto, even building meals and cocktails around them. It’s expanded the flavors we use in home cooking, and forced me to experiment instead of defaulting to our go-to recipes inspired by East Asian cooking. In fact, the biggest hurdle I’ve encountered is not having enough recipes in my repertoire that use herbs.

Even when a dish doesn’t call for it, I’ll cut some and add it anyway. Every time I did, it made the dish better. When something is always available and always fresh, you naturally start using more of it. And if you trim it properly, it just keeps growing back. It doesn’t go bad or get forgotten in the fridge.

You can grow anything you want

One of my favorite things about Auk Mini is that it’s not a proprietary system. They do offer other kits like a chili and tomato set or an Italian cuisine mix, but you can also grow your own choices.

I joined a Facebook group of Auk growers, and it’s been inspiring to see how others are using and expanding their indoor gardens. It makes me excited to try things that are harder to find or expensive in the U.S., especially vegetables and herbs I grew up with, like pechay, moringa, lemongrass, pandan, and kangkong.

A small step toward something bigger

Constant fresh herbs within reach

Growing herbs indoors reminds me of something from years ago. In university, I did an immersion program in a low-income community. We recommended sustainable food systems for the stay-at-home moms we met — including hydroponics systems — both as a source of extra income and fresh food.

That experience stayed with me, but I never acted on it. This feels like a small, techie version of that idea: a hydroponic system that works in real life, in a small space, and is easy to keep up with.

Is the Auk Mini your GadgetMatch?

Starting with sprouts showed me I could easily grow something. The Auk Mini showed me I can keep going and expand it. Now I have fresh greens ready whenever I need them.

It starts at $259, which isn’t the cheapest way to get into hydroponics. If you don’t use herbs on the daily like I do, the cost is even harder to justify. But that’s also why I recommend it even more. It’s convenient, it’s fresh, and at the same time it challenges you to be more creative with food.

Basil and parsley keep growing in the Auk Mini after multiple harvests

Auk Mini’s ease of setup and maintenance, and flexibility make it worth it, especially if you don’t know where to start. It was a great hobby to start the year with, and an even better habit I’ve kept building on five months on. It’s given me confidence I can grow my own food for the rest of my life, one way or another.

Editor’s Note: Since this article was first published, Auk has updated the name Auk Mini to Auk Mini 1. They also announced the Auk Mini 2, currently on preorder starting at $199. This newer model has a smaller footprint, redesigned lighting, new colorways, and the ability to use larger plant pots.