Along with the unveiling of its new smart TVs under the Neo QLED series, Samsung also announced that it will be shipping all of its 2021 televisions with a solar-powered remote controller. The move is part of the company’s efforts to further reduce its carbon footprint by eliminating the need for AAA batteries, as well as reducing plastic waste.
Known as the Eco Remote Control, Samsung says that its eco-friendly TV accessory is made from 31 grams of plastic, with 28% of it being polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from recycled bottles. Located on the rear side of the device is a long panel of solar cells that is used to charge its internal battery.
Samsung did not mention how long the Eco Remote Control is able to last on a single charge, but added that a USB-C port is present if the need for fast charging is required. As for longevity, the device’s battery is capable of lasting a total of two years before it expires.
Much like its newly announced Neo QLED TVs, the company did not provide any details regarding the price of the solar-powered remote controller. Hopefully Samsung may consider a more affordable price range, seeing that users of its upcoming TVs will be required to replace their remotes after two years.
