Microsoft has renewed its partnership with Samsung to make the Korean company the official TV partner for its Xbox Series X consoles in the US and Canada. If you got your hands on Microsoft’s next-gen Xbox console, the company is now recommending Samsung Neo QLED and QLED TVs to get the most of its new hardware.
The relationship between Xbox and Samsung started back in 2017 with the release of the Xbox One X, when Microsoft recommended Samsung QLED TVs for the best 4K HDR gaming experience. It’s true that Samsung’s quantum dot technology remains a great alternative to the more expensive OLED screens from LG and other TV manufacturers, even though QLED TVs still use LED-backlit panels that can’t provide the same perfect blacks as OLED screens.
Still, there’s a lot to like about Samsung’s Neo QLED and QLED TVs, which support HDMI 2.1 features including 4K gameplay at 120FPS with a low 5.8ms response time. Some of Samsung’s new QLED TVs also come with Variable Refresh Rate support in the form of AMD Freesync Premium Pro, allowing these TVs to reduce stutter and tearing by adjusting their refresh rate in real-time to match what the console can output. But that’s not all.
“Samsung’s 2021 Neo QLED and QLED line-up features the new and intuitive Game Bar in Game Mode, allowing players to easily adjust the screen’s aspect ratio, check input lag, connect wireless headsets, and more. Game Mode also optimizes gameplay with its next-gen Samsung Neo Quantum Processor, utilizing AI based deep-learning to elevate your gaming experience,” added Chris Munson, Sr. Xbox Global Brand Partnerships Lead.
It will be interesting to see how Microsoft’s partnership with Samsung will evolve in the coming weeks. Not so long ago, Xbox head Phil Spencer said that he wanted to bring Xbox Cloud Gaming to other platforms including Smart TVs, and it wouldn’t be surprising if the cloud gaming service comes first to Samsung’s new Neo QLED and QLED screens.
