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| Samsung Electronics' Bespoke air conditioners and air purifiers are displayed at the company's R&D center in Seocho-gu, Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeul |
By Baek Byung-yeul
Samsung Electronics unveiled new air conditioners and air purifiers of its 2023 Bespoke lineup that consume less energy and provide more customized features using artificial intelligence (AI) technology, the company said Thursday.
Ranging from the highest-priced Bespoke WindFree Air Conditioner Gallery to the standard model Bespoke Slim, Samsung emphasized that every floor-standing air conditioner supports a wind-free feature, a trademarked cooling system that provides a comfortable indoor climate without direct air flow.
Also, the air conditioners have improved energy consumption to meet the growing demand for energy-efficient home appliances. When using the AI-based energy-saving mode, the latest air conditioners consume 30 percent less energy compared to previous models.
The Bespoke WindFree Air Conditioner Galley models earned grades of one or two for energy consumption efficiency, the company said.
"We will continue to take the lead in exercising good influence in the industry. AI technology monitors the amount of electricity in real time so that consumers don't need to worry about electricity bills because the device turns off by itself according to the energy usage goal set by each user," Choi Young-june, vice president and head of HVAC Solution at Samsung, said during a press conference in Seoul.
As part of Samsung's effort to tackle climate change, the latest air conditioners support the SolarCell Remote, a remote controller that eliminates battery waste with a built-in solar panel. The air conditioners also use R32 refrigerant that has a lower environmental impact and washable filters that don't discharge filter waste.
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| Choi Young-june, vice president and head of HVAC Solution at Samsung Electronics, speaks during a press conference at the company's R&D center in Seocho District, Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of Samsung Electronics |
Choi also emphasized that this year's products feature third-generation wind-free technology called 3D Wide WindFree.
"Samsung introduced the WindFree technology for the first time in 2016. The second generation has wider wind-free feature and we innovated our technology again to offer wider wind-free air flow," Choi said.
Samsung added this year's Bespoke Cube Air Purifier offers more customized features that can fit every user's lifestyle.
When a user turns on the SmartThings Routine feature of the air purifier, they can manage the air quality in their home according to their life pattern. The air purifiers also consume up to 30 percent less energy compared to the previous generation.
Though the demand for home appliances has slowed due to economic uncertainties, Choi estimated the demand for air conditioners and air purifiers this year will be similar to the past.
"The domestic volume for air conditioners is between 2 million and 2.5 million a year. We expect the demand this year will be similar to the average because the air conditioners are now considered must-have appliances and there are still seasonal demands for them such as for newlyweds and people moving house," he said, adding that the demand for air purifiers will continue as more consumers will care about indoor air quality after the pandemic.
