LG Electronics announced Monday it will start selling its new curved OLED televisions next month, which will mark the first time this type of product will reach the public, according to BBC News.
The organic light-emitting diodes, OLED, used in the television provide the opportunity for a thinner, more flexible screen.
The new television, which will preliminarily be restricted to South Korea, will be 55 inches and cost approximately $13,550 or 15m won in South Korean Currency.
LG and Samsung are two of the companies leading the way in television technology. The two electronic giants displayed prototypes for the curved OLED TV’s at the Consumer Electronics show in Las Vegas, Nevada in January. At the time, neither of the companies stated when the new TV’s would debut to the public.
LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics are sections of bigger conglomerates that have divisions responsible for creating their own television display panels. Since their competitors buy the panels from other companies, the two electronic giants can boast about a specific side of their business that other electronic companies cannot.
The technology embedded in OLED TV’s use carbon-based materials which have the ability to convert electricity into light. This provides the OLED televisions with ability that LCD televisions do not posses. While LCD screens require a backlight to lighten the crystals within the television, OLED’s do not need one.
Also, no backlight means the opportunity for a thinner TV. In addition to a thinner television, the OLEDs also provide a way to make the screen more flexible rather than the stiff glass layer on most televisions.
For example, LG’s new EA9800 is only 0.17 inches thick, 37.48 pounds heavy and offers an “imax-cinema-like” viewing experience according to LG.
“The new EA9800 model features the industry’s very first curved screen ergonomic design, providing an 'IMAX-like' viewing experience in the home," the company said in a press release. "With more than five years of research behind developing the optimum curvature, the entire screen surface is equidistant from the viewer’s eyes, eliminating the problem of screen-edge visual distortion and loss of detail.”
According to IHS Screen digest, a market research firm called upon by television manufacturers, Samsung will most likely come out with its own OLED TV in the near future. However, according to senior analyst for IHS Screen Digest , Ed Border the OLED TVs will probably be more suited for promotional purposes than making profits.
"There's certain content which is great to see in different ways, but for a lot of what's on TV seeing it curved is not necessarily going to improve the experience that much," he said. "But I think being curved is a good way of pushing the OLED technology to consumers and acting as a marketing tool. Looking forward, I think there will still be room for flatscreen TVs, especially if you are thinking of hanging an OLED screen on the wall or just want to buy a cheaper LCD set."
According to LG, the new television is available for order in South Korea by the company will publicize the TV’s availability to other markets in the coming months.
