A few days ago we discussed how the European Union has established regulations for televisions sold on its territory. Significantly limit the amount of electrical power So they can consume.

The first article of this law, which will enter into force in March 2023 This is what the next generation of screens should be. more efficient More than existing ones, but as long as new technologies do not come and we continue with the existing LCD-LED, OLED and their derivatives, it seems inevitable that manufacturers will have to. reduce maximum brightness delivered by your panels.

In other words, the only option for brands a priori reduce the brightness of televisionsThis feature has been behind the main advances and competition between manufacturers and models in recent years, especially when displaying content in high dynamic range or HDR. Are there any other alternatives?

Goodbye Smart TV, hello modular TV

The truth is, apart from lowering the brightness of televisions Yes, there are other energy saving alternatives. If producers want to go that route, it could change the television paradigm as we’ve known it over the past decade.

First of all, the televisions of the future can reduce the weight in electricity consumption, processing structure which has been used in recent years. Dumb TVs have become “Smart” and this requires more and more powerful hardware that consumes electricity.

Advanced rendering systems, frame interpolation, rescaling, image management, etc. is part of the increasingly complete Smart TV platform. media player, internet connection, access to streaming servicesartificial intelligence systems to improve power-consuming images and endless functions.

If we remove these components from the TV and turn it into a giant monitor, we will be mattifying our beloved screen, but we will also save some precious watts that we can use for television. increase brightness level without exceeding the limit.

It would be something like what Samsung tried to do with “single connection” or what Xiaomi tried to do with the Mi TV 4, but ideally Compatible with all makes and models and sold separately from TV to comply with regulations.

This way we can also Update the unused part of the TV and not the whole team. What do we want from a screen with new OLED or LCD technology? Well we get it, we connect it to the home junction box with the operating system and we don’t have to pay again and again for the same platform, apps, licenses and functions when changing TV.

But of course this means abandoning the existing integrated Smart TV platform system. an open model You will have to purchase an additional piece of hardware that will perform all these functions, something like an advanced multimedia player that serves everything a modern TV currently does.

We also have a sound problem. All available TVs are stereo It consists of a sound processing system plus amplification stages and speakers or actuators, which in high-end models can consume a significant amount of energy.

Removing these components from the TV we save other valuable watts, space and weight, and the responsibility of the audio department is entirely on soundbars, receivers, speakers, etc. we let it focus on external equipment.

as we see, options to reduce electricity consumption The ratio of TVs goes far beyond limiting the brightness output of the panel. Another thing is that manufacturers are willing to change a paradigm that took years to build around Smart TV, the central core of the connected home.

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