I Saw Samsung’s See-Through Screens: Bright, Colorful Transparent Micro-LED Concepts

Samsung’s transparent Micro-LED tech is basically a window that can show images.

Tara Brown/CNET

The see-through screen technology game has a new player. Today, Samsung rolled out the first transparent version of its Micro-LED display tech at CES 2024, a technology it claims outperforms other transparent screens. I checked out the transparent display concepts in person at Samsung’s demo. I’ve reviewed hundreds of TVs, and in my short time with Samsung’s concept displays, the Micro-LED version did indeed look the best, especially in terms of brightness and color.

Transparent OLED and even LCD-based screens have been around for a while, but Samsung says its Micro-LED display technology produces brighter, clearer images and is more transparent than the going tech. That means you should be able to see through it more easily, to objects on the other side. 

Watch this: Samsung Shows World’s First Transparent MicroLED, 8K Wireless Projector 04:00

While transparent screen technology is cool, and could potentially have some in-home utility — imagine a transparent TV that effectively disappears when not in use — Samsung’s first demonstration of transparent Micro-LED focused on more commercial applications.

Transparent Micro-LED displays show fireworks in front of a standard TV showing a cityscape.

David Katzmaier/CNET

 
The company had set up its transparent displays in front of a standard TV showing images including a soccer match and fireworks. They were meant to mimic the experience of sitting in a luxury box at a game, where the windows looking on the field were transparent Micro-LED. Scores, replays and highlights could appear on the “windows” and augment the experience of the game without obscuring it.

Samsung uses standard opaque Micro-LED technology in its massive, expensive The Wall TVs, and it’s also used by some other companies including Sony and LG. It’s also found in very small displays, for example, this concept contact lens. Samsung says its transparent Micro-LED tech isn’t available in the market, so what I saw was essentially a concept. I’m curious to see where the company takes this display tech next.