Samsung Display and Intel Collaborate on SmartPower HDR to Reduce Power Usage on OLED Laptops
January 7, 2026
Samsung Display and Intel have partnered to develop a new laptop technology called SmartPower HDR, aimed at minimizing power consumption while viewing HDR content on OLED screens. Announced details reveal how this innovative feature works and the potential energy savings, although specific laptop models equipped with SmartPower HDR have not yet been disclosed.
How SmartPower HDR Works
According to Samsung Display, the technology involves real-time monitoring of the peak brightness of each frame rendered on the laptop. The laptop's chipset gathers this data, and the OLED panel’s timing controller adjusts the driving voltage accordingly to optimize power usage.
Adaptive Brightness and Power Management
For everyday tasks like web browsing or document editing, SmartPower HDR enables the system to operate at lower voltages, reducing power consumption. High-intensity activities such as gaming or video playback, which require greater brightness, still benefit from the system adjusting the voltage dynamically.
Traditional HDR modes typically run at full brightness, regardless of the actual content, leading to higher power consumption and often defaulting laptops to SDR mode despite the advantages of HDR in color and brightness. SmartPower HDR addresses this issue by intelligently managing power levels based on content requirements.
Power Savings and Usage
Samsung Display claims that SmartPower HDR can cut OLED pixel emission power consumption by up to 22% during general use and by approximately 17% when displaying HDR content. During typical activities, power usage is comparable to that of SDR mode, offering a balance between display quality and efficiency.
While the debut of SmartPower HDR is promising, it remains to be seen which laptops will feature this technology and when it will become available to consumers.
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