Yesterday, LG made a huge splash at CES 2015; knees tucked and jumping from a high dive, ripples still inhabit the pool. The South Korean electronics giant introduced its new television lineup, new gaming monitors, and a new smart TV platform. It would appear that enthusiasts looking for a non-LCD display will have several solid options for the foreseeable future.
LG is rolling-out seven new OLED displays in 2015
LG is giving every indication that OLED displays will represent a healthy portion of their 4K product universe going forward. Every LG OLED television will have 4K resolution (which equates to a smidgen over 8 million pixels) and will utilize a proprietary technology called WRGB. The "W" stands for white, as each pixel structure features a white sub-pixel to aid in producing a more dynamic and realistic color palate. In addition, LG says its Optimized True Color technology keeps colors stable regardless of variable brightness on the screen. LG's OLED TVs also have near infinite contrast ratios and the blackest of blacks (OLED pixels have the ability to be turned completely off), screen response times 1,000-times faster than conventional LCD flat panel displays (0.001 ms), and super-wide viewing angles.
Looking back over the "Must Have in a Display" checklist, it's obvious that LG's OLED televisions hit the "better than LCD" sweet spot on paper.
The company says it will have seven new OLED televisions for sale in 2015, consisting of several different curved and flat screen options. Their flat screen series will have 55-inch (55EF9500) and 65-inch (65EF9500 and 65EF9800) options. On the curved side, two new models have been introduced as part of the EG9800 series. They are 55 and 65-inches.
In a nice twist, LG is officially launching a new series (EG9900) with a 77-inch version of a flex-television. The 77EG9900 can be adjusted from flat to curved. This allows the television to be flattened to avoid the issues associated with viewing a curved screen from a side angle. It's the best of both worlds and could easily become the norm if sales are strong.
As promised, LG's new 2015 LCD lineup will feature Quantum Dots, a technology name that rings with coolness. Unfortunately, our prediction of Quantum Dots becoming the buzzword of the New Year might fall a bit short; LG will call the technology "ColorPrime." For the unfamiliar, Quantum Dots are tiny nanocrystals that are used to create a more optimal white light (resulting in more accurate colors). LG estimates that ColorPrime will increase color accuracy and viewing angles by more than 30-percent. Three new televisions will feature ColorPrime. They are sized in 55, 65, and 79-inches.
On a side note, LG says that five of its new televisions will feature sound developed through a partnership with Harmon/Kardon. A slick 4.2 channel arrangement will deliver a more balanced and "rich" sound as compared to LG's standard television speakers.
Several new monitors were also revealed. The company's 34UC97 gaming monitor features a 21:9 aspect ratio, Quad HD resolution (3440 X 1440), and 34-inches of screen space. LG says that internal AMD FreeSync technology eliminates "tearing"; that happens when a monitor and external graphics card are out of sync. A second monitor (31MU97) features 4096 X 2160 resolution, which is greater than standard UHD resolution (3840 X2160).
Tying everything together is LG's latest smart TV platform called webOS2.0. LG says the platform makes using their televisions a "simpler, easier and more intuitive experience with an enhanced user interface." Users will enjoy fast boot times, menus that can be optimized by users, and 4K streaming capability. This is not the first time we've seen manufacturers highlight an ease-of-use factor with high-tech equipment, last year quite a few AVRs were refreshed with easier to use GUIs and set-up guides. It's a nice touch and should play well with consumers already intimidated by complexities of modern display technologies.
Pricing and availability of the above products have yet to be announced. We'll detail those and additional specs when the information becomes available later in the year.
Image Credit: LG
LG is rolling-out seven new OLED displays in 2015
LG is giving every indication that OLED displays will represent a healthy portion of their 4K product universe going forward. Every LG OLED television will have 4K resolution (which equates to a smidgen over 8 million pixels) and will utilize a proprietary technology called WRGB. The "W" stands for white, as each pixel structure features a white sub-pixel to aid in producing a more dynamic and realistic color palate. In addition, LG says its Optimized True Color technology keeps colors stable regardless of variable brightness on the screen. LG's OLED TVs also have near infinite contrast ratios and the blackest of blacks (OLED pixels have the ability to be turned completely off), screen response times 1,000-times faster than conventional LCD flat panel displays (0.001 ms), and super-wide viewing angles.
Looking back over the "Must Have in a Display" checklist, it's obvious that LG's OLED televisions hit the "better than LCD" sweet spot on paper.
The company says it will have seven new OLED televisions for sale in 2015, consisting of several different curved and flat screen options. Their flat screen series will have 55-inch (55EF9500) and 65-inch (65EF9500 and 65EF9800) options. On the curved side, two new models have been introduced as part of the EG9800 series. They are 55 and 65-inches.
In a nice twist, LG is officially launching a new series (EG9900) with a 77-inch version of a flex-television. The 77EG9900 can be adjusted from flat to curved. This allows the television to be flattened to avoid the issues associated with viewing a curved screen from a side angle. It's the best of both worlds and could easily become the norm if sales are strong.
As promised, LG's new 2015 LCD lineup will feature Quantum Dots, a technology name that rings with coolness. Unfortunately, our prediction of Quantum Dots becoming the buzzword of the New Year might fall a bit short; LG will call the technology "ColorPrime." For the unfamiliar, Quantum Dots are tiny nanocrystals that are used to create a more optimal white light (resulting in more accurate colors). LG estimates that ColorPrime will increase color accuracy and viewing angles by more than 30-percent. Three new televisions will feature ColorPrime. They are sized in 55, 65, and 79-inches.
On a side note, LG says that five of its new televisions will feature sound developed through a partnership with Harmon/Kardon. A slick 4.2 channel arrangement will deliver a more balanced and "rich" sound as compared to LG's standard television speakers.
Several new monitors were also revealed. The company's 34UC97 gaming monitor features a 21:9 aspect ratio, Quad HD resolution (3440 X 1440), and 34-inches of screen space. LG says that internal AMD FreeSync technology eliminates "tearing"; that happens when a monitor and external graphics card are out of sync. A second monitor (31MU97) features 4096 X 2160 resolution, which is greater than standard UHD resolution (3840 X2160).
Tying everything together is LG's latest smart TV platform called webOS2.0. LG says the platform makes using their televisions a "simpler, easier and more intuitive experience with an enhanced user interface." Users will enjoy fast boot times, menus that can be optimized by users, and 4K streaming capability. This is not the first time we've seen manufacturers highlight an ease-of-use factor with high-tech equipment, last year quite a few AVRs were refreshed with easier to use GUIs and set-up guides. It's a nice touch and should play well with consumers already intimidated by complexities of modern display technologies.
Pricing and availability of the above products have yet to be announced. We'll detail those and additional specs when the information becomes available later in the year.
Image Credit: LG