Samsung Onyx Cinema LED Launches at CineEurope 2025

The new Onyx screen, now on show in Barcelona, marks Samsung’s ongoing push into HDR cinema-grade display technology—bringing LED’s signature brightness, contrast and reliability to commercial theatres. With the backing of Pixar Animation Studios and a growing list of global exhibitors, including Pathé Cinémas, Samsung is positioning Onyx as a premium upgrade to traditional projection-based setups.

Hoon Chung, Executive Vice President of Samsung’s Visual Display Business, sees the launch as a pivotal step:

“Europe is a vital market for cinema innovation, and the launch of Onyx marks a new chapter in our commitment to premium movie experiences.”

Unlike conventional projection systems, Onyx is a self-emissive LED screen capable of displaying HDR content at up to 120Hz in 4K. Its peak brightness is rated at 300 nits (87.6fL), and it offers deep black levels and precise colour control. Samsung says this delivers a smoother, brighter, more consistent visual experience, which is particularly important for modern digitally mastered films.

The Onyx screen will be available in standard widths of 5, 10, 14, and 20 metres and is backed by what Samsung claims is the industry's most extended warranty: a full 10 years. This, the company says, ensures cinema owners can invest in future-proof digital display infrastructure with reduced long-term cost of ownership.

A key part of Samsung’s rollout is its partnership with Pixar Animation Studios, which has committed to mastering future animated features in HDR formats compatible with Onyx LED screens. This includes Elio, which begins its international theatrical release on June 18 and will be viewable in 4K HDR where Onyx displays are installed.

Pixar is also installing its own Onyx screen at its Emeryville, California, campus. The screen will serve as an in-house reference display for colour grading, HDR quality control, and demo screenings.

Pixar’s VP of Post Production, Jessie Schroeder, highlighted how the Onyx technology is becoming an essential tool in the studio’s creative and technical process: 

“Samsung’s Onyx screens allow our Pixar artists to present their stories exactly as they envisioned them—vivid, dynamic, and true to life.”

While the focus remains squarely on the cinema industry for now, Samsung’s ongoing work in LED screen development hints at a broader technological pathway. It raises the possibility of Onyx-style HDR performance eventually reaching high-end home theatre or prosumer display applications.

Indeed, the Onyx cinema platform shares key DNA with Samsung’s Micro LED technology, which is already making its way into ultra-premium consumer displays like The Wall. As production techniques mature and costs come down, we may see this cinematic-grade LED innovation filter into luxury home environments, pushing beyond OLED and LCD’s limitations with superior brightness uniformity, true blacks, and modular scalability.

Samsung is showcasing the new Onyx at CineEurope until June 19, alongside its broader range of cinema display innovations.

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