TMCnet News
LG's new OLED TVs look incredible, and you probably still can't afford them [Tehran Times (Iran)](Tehran Times (Iran) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) TVs have captured a lot of attention at CES in recent years, for better or worse. In 2010, the big TV buzzword, 3D, was a major bust. While 3D HDTVs were everywhere at the show, back in the real world they certainly weren't at the top of anyone's "must-have" list. And they still aren't. Since then, Ultra HD (4K) and OLED have grabbed the CES TV spotlight. That's a welcome development, because both those technologies are infinitely more exciting. But reality-check problems are still a concern, if for entirely different reasons than the 3D issue: namely, price. Based on the first TV announcements from CES 2014, the battle between desire and sticker shock won't end anytime soon. LG will add five new OLED TVs to its lineup in the coming year, and they'll all be lust-worthy stunners. One of them is also an Ultra HD/4K set, making it the ultimate combination of 2014 TV buzzwords. Look for competitors to respond with their own OLED and 4K salvos in the coming days. The crown jewel of the new LG OLED lineup is the 77-inch 77EC9800, which is the Ultra HD model. Its resolution is 3840 x 2160 pixels, giving it a mix of OLED's superb contrast ratio and brightness and the tack-sharp detail of 4K. The new set will support 4K input over HDMI 2.0 and USB, and LG is touting its upscaling capabilities with 1080p content. It will also be one of the first LG sets to offer the company's new WebOS-based smart features — a total overhaul of LG's TV UI that we'll first see in action at CES. I was able to see a prototype version of the 77EC9800 running 4K video at CES Press Preview in New York, and the display itself looks predictably amazing. The level of detail is incredible, the contrast is superb, and the screen is extremely thin. It's hard to pull your eyes away from it. It's one of several new models from LG with a curved screen, which has become a default feature for OLED TVs so far. According to DisplayMate's Dr. Raymond Soneira, there are real-world benefits to curved screens: They make the screen less reflective, and because of that, they can offer a better-looking picture without increasing screen brightness or consuming more power. In addition to the new 77-incher, LG will unveil three more curved OLED sets ranging in size from 55- to 65-inches. But with all the curved OLEDs out there already, it'd be nice to see one that you can mount on a wall. It looks like that will finally happen too: LG's new 55EA8800 "Gallery OLED" is a flat, 55-inch set with a bezel that looks like a picture frame. Tucked within that frame is a 100-Watt, 2.2-channel speaker system. No pricing information has been announced for the new LG offerings, but it's safe to speculate that one or more of them will have five-figure price tags. (c) 2013 TehranTimes. All Rights Reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info, an Albawaba.com company |