ASUS Adopts 3M Color Enhancing Technology for ASUS ZENBOOK NX500 Notebook PC

3M announced that ASUS, a worldwide top-three consumer notebook vendor, will leverage the 3M Quantum Dot Enhancement Film (QDEF) for its new Asus NX500 Notebook PC. Specifically, ASUS’ latest mobile PC computing solution with 3M QDEF, using Nanosys Quantum Dots, boasts 50% more color than current levels found in liquid crystal display (LCD)-based electronic devices, such as notebooks, while at the same time making these devices brighter and even more energy efficient than any other high color gamut solution.

“Asus chose to incorporate 3M’s QDEF technology into our NX500 model because QDEF is one of the most energy efficient ways to bring high color gamut to mobile devices. Together with 3M’s technology, we have created a device with powerful computing capacity, a high quality display and energy efficiency to rival any device on the market,” said S.Y. Hsu, Asus vice president and general manager of NB BU.

Asus combines 3M’s QDEF technology with the latest ASUS hardware and software to produce the superior quality display of the NX500. The NX500 model from ASUS is designed to produce crisp, vivid and color-accurate images for both general and professional users, in a wide range of applications.

“Both consumers and device manufacturers are constantly seeking the latest features and technology enhancements for the next-wave of electronic gadgets and devices. 3M QDEF not only delivers more true to life colors, but also makes devices such as smart phones, tablets and televisions, lighter, brighter and more energy efficient,” noted Erik Jostes, business director, 3M Display Materials & Systems.

Color performance of LCDs industry-wide has gone largely unchanged until now. 3M research data shows that devices with 3M QDEF-enabled wide color gamut will be noticeably different from other standard LCD devices and highly preferred by consumers worldwide. Industry experts agree that color is the next great opportunity for advancement and display quality.

“The quantum display market is expected to grow to $200 million by 2020, up from $10 million in 2013, according to the “Quantum Dot Display Technology & Market Report – 2014” report from IHS Technology (NYSE: IHS). “By shipment volume, the market is forecast to expand to 87 million units by 2020 compared to 1.5 million units in 2013, which would equate to annual growth of 79% on average.”

3M QDEF utilizes the light emitting properties of quantum dots to create an ideal backlight for LCDs, which is one of the most critical factors in the color and efficiency performance of LCDs. A quantum dot, which is 10,000 times narrower than a human hair, can be tuned to emit light at very precise wavelengths. This means display makers can create a highly-optimized backlight that only produces the exact wavelengths of red, green and blue light needed by an LCD for optimal color and energy performance. Trillions of these quantum dots protected by barrier film fit inside an LCD backlight unit. The new film replaces one already found inside LCD backlights, which means the manufacturing process requires no new equipment or process changes for the LCD manufacturer.