Samsung has just unveiled its next-generation Onyx cinema LED screens at CinemaCon 2025, bringing a major upgrade to movie theaters. These new displays ditch traditional projectors in favor of LED panels, delivering brighter, smoother, and more immersive visuals. The first Samsungโs Onyx screens launched back in 2017, and this latest version takes things to the next level. If youโre at CinemaCon, you can check them out at Samsungโs booth at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
Samsungโs new Onyx cinema screens offer 4K 120Hz HDR visuals with up to 300nits brightness
Unlike regular movie projectors, which beam light onto a screen, new Onyx uses modular LED panels. This means true blacks, infinite contrast, and super accurate colors. Yes, itโs similar to what youโd see on an OLED TV but on a massive scale. โAs the entertainment industry looks ahead to the future of cinema, innovation is more important than ever,โ said Samsung Americaโs display chief, David Phelps.
Samsungโs latest Onyx screens support 4K resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate, making everything look sharper and smoother. HDR support boosts brightness up to 300 nits, so colors pop, and highlights look more realistic. Samsung is offering these screens in four sizes. These include 5 meters (16ft), 10 meters (33ft), 14 meters (46ft), and 20 meters (66ft).
Another advantage of Onyx screens is their ability to display high frame rate (HFR) content, supporting up to 120 frames per second (fps). While most films are shot and shown at 24fps, recent experiments, such as Avatar: The Way of Water in 48fps, have shown the potential of HFR for a more lifelike viewing experience. Pixar has already mastered films like Inside Out 2 and the upcoming Elio in HDR for Onyx screens, further pushing cinema visuals forward.
Samsung designed Onyx screen to work seamlessly with top-tier audio systems like Dolby Atmos and JBL surround sound, so theaters get both incredible visuals and immersive sound. The first installations of this new generation are set to roll out in Fall 2025. One of the first US locations will be LVL 11 Entertainment in Mesa, Arizona.
