Samsung TVs “Motion Rate” Is Not Refresh Rate Class Action

In the specifications for new TVs, what does the term “motion rate” mean? Is it the refresh rate or something different? This class action brings suit against Samsung Electronics America, Inc., alleging that, when it offers certain TVs as having a “motion rate” of 120 Hz, it leads consumers to believe that this a refresh rate of 120 Hz, when in reality the refresh rate is only 60 Hz.

The class for this action is all persons in the US who bought the televisions at issue during the applicable statutes of limitations. The televisions include the TU7000, AU8000, NU7100, NU6900, NU6950, QNQ60TAFXZA, and any substantially similar television made by Samsung that claims to have a “motion rate” of 120 Hz when its refresh rate is only 60 Hz.

The refresh rate of a TV has to do with how often new frames or images are presented on the screen. The more frames presented per second, the smoother and cleaner movement will appear to be.

The complaint claims that “Samsung itself acknowledges that a higher refresh rate of 120 Hz (as compared to 60 Hz) is ‘important’ because it ‘means smoother navigation as well as improved gaming and entertainment.’”

The complaint quotes from an article entitled, “This Is the Biggest Lie Told to TV Shoppers…” It lists terms TV makers use to suggest, falsely, that their TVs present more images per second. The complaint alleges that Samsung’s “motion rate” falls into this category, and that a “motion rate” of 120 Hz is really only the usual refresh rate of 60 Hz.

Samsung does not define “motion rate” on its website or in its marketing materials, but the complaint claims that the term leads reasonable consumers with the impression that it refers to refresh rate.

The complaint alleges, “In order to ‘justify’ this higher number, the ‘Motion Rate’ statistic ‘takes software and AI enhancements into account’ in order to allow the Televisions to ‘emulate’ a 120 Hz refresh rate.”

The complaint alleges that Samsung employs techniques that make the TVs appear to have better frame rates. One technique is Black Frame Insertion, in which a black frame is inserted between images. This creates contrast with the actual images and appears to reduce motion blur. But it also creates flicker and lowers brightness.

Another technique, the complaint claims, is Frame Rate Interpolation, which also inserts extra frames, but instead of black frames, it inserts “fake” frames derived from the real frames immediately before and after it. But the complaint alleges that this “makes video look blurry, smeared, and artificial.”

None of these techniques offers as fast a performance as a true refresh rate of 120 Hz, the complaint contends.

According to the complaint, if consumers had known that the “motion rate” of 120 Hz indicated only the regular refresh rate of 60 Hz, they would not have bought the Samsung TVs or would have paid less for them.

Article Type: Lawsuit
Topic: Consumer
Tags: Breach of warranty, Deceptive Advertising, Deceptive Labels, Fraud