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LG unveils 55-inch OLED TV at Monaco's Salle des Etoiles

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LG VP of Overseas TV Sales and Marketing Ki-il Kwon, F1 Champion Sebastian Vettel, LG Europe's Stanley Cho, film director Jean-Jacques Annaud and model Gemma Sanderson at the Monaco unveiling
Film director Jean-Jacques Annaud speaking at the unveiling of LG's 55-inch OLED TV
At just 4 mm thin, LG is claiming the title of the World's Slimmest for its 55-inch OLED TV
LG says that its new OLED TV is also the world's largest, sporting a 55-inch display
Film director Jean-Jacques Annaud hides behind the 55-inch OLED TV at the Salle des Etoiles in Monaco
Special guests Formula One Champion Sebastian Vettel, film director Jean-Jacques Annaud and model Gemma Sanderson join LG Europe's Head Stanley Cho on stage in Monaco
The 55-inch OLED TV has been launched in Europe, ahead of availability in the second half of the year
Encasing the OLED technology in a carbon fiber reinforced plastic outer shell has allowed LG to slim down the thickness of the TV to just 4 mm and to get the weight down to 10 kg
The OLED TV's four color pixel technology and Color Refiner work together to offer vibrant, natural and comfortable Full 1080p HD viewing in both 2D and 3D
The 55-inch OLED TV is said to offer a distortion-free and consistent visual experience, no matter the ambient light and viewing angle
LG VP of Overseas TV Sales and Marketing Ki-il Kwon, F1 Champion Sebastian Vettel, LG Europe's Stanley Cho, film director Jean-Jacques Annaud and model Gemma Sanderson at the Monaco unveiling
No, this is not a Blues Brothers tribute party - the audience of over 400 dealers and journalists put on 3D glasses to sample the OLED image quality
LG's 55-inch OLED TV at the launch in Monaco
Formula One Champion Sebastian Vettel, film director Jean-Jacques Annaud and model Gemma Sanderson get to grips with LG's new 55-inch OLED TV
LG's 55-inch OLED TV
The inclusion of the company's CINEMA 3D technology with Smart TV capabilities brings 3D depth control, magic remote voice control, built-in Wi-Fi capabilities to the OLED TV
LG's new 55-inch OLED TV is just 4mm thick
LG Europe's Head Stanley Cho introduces the new 55-inch OLED TV at the Salle des Etoiles in Monaco
The 55-inch OLED TV from LG is unveiled to an audience of over 400 journalists and dealers
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LG unveiled the world's largest and slimmest 55-inch OLED (organic light-emitting diode) TV at the Salle des Etoiles in Monaco earlier this week. First given a U.S. showing at CES 2012, the OLED TV's four-color pixel technology and Color Refiner work together to offer vibrant, natural and comfortable Full 1080p HD viewing in both 2D and 3D. Cutting edge technology doesn't come cheap though, so be prepared to gasp as the price is revealed after the jump.

LG says that the combined efforts of its WRGB technology – which adds a white sub-pixel to the color output – and enhancements to hues and tones made by a color refiner algorithm result in a distortion-free and consistent visual experience, no matter the ambient light and viewing angle.

The OLED TV's four color pixel technology and Color Refiner work together to offer vibrant, natural and comfortable Full 1080p HD viewing in both 2D and 3D

Encasing the technology in a carbon fiber reinforced plastic outer shell has allowed LG to slim down the thickness of the TV to just 4 mm, and to get the weight down to 10 kg (22 pounds). Magic remote voice control, 3D depth control, and built-in Wi-Fi capabilities feature thanks to the inclusion of the company's CINEMA 3D technology with Smart TV capabilities. Four HDMI ports cater for simultaneous connection to a satellite or cable box (although Freeview HD is built in), Blu-ray player, home cinema system and games console (for example).

There's a USB 2.0 port, too, to connect devices like digital cameras and portable media players, and the OLED TV also comes with something called Dual Play technology that allows two game players to view individual full-screen action while wearing special glasses.

The 55-inch OLED TV has been launched in Europe, ahead of availability in the second half of the year

LG has announced an availability window for the second half of the year, and confirmed a retail price of – it might be an idea to head for the nearest chair and prepare yourself for a shock – approximately €8,000 (US$10,000).

Source: LG

View gallery - 18 images
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11 comments
Buellrider
10 grand today, 2 grand in a couple of year as competition gets into the mix. Nice tv.
Flipider Comm
Without including research and development. I would guess that the cost of manufacturing this is under US $150.00. The price on this TV should and will come down fast.
ZekeG
Carbon fiber is overkill and it conducts electricity-they can use a nice glass or Basalt fiber instead and save lots right there.
Caimbeul
I won't waste time correcting perceptions of diminishing costs in new tech - other than to say, "Dream On!"
But, I see no one asked the question about rate of deterioration of color strength in materials used for the pixels? That has been a persistent problem in the development of OLED technology.
Daishi
A little out of my range now but still impressive. It looks like they have just about perfected it.
Ianspeed
When flat screen TV's were coming out (2003) I paid £3,000 for a 32" Plasma with dodgy blue pixels, The Blue Pixels in OLED are now the equivalent to Plasma, and nine years of use my plasma showed no signs of blue fade, well I got rid of it last December...Not because it had broken, but I just wanted 40" of LED backlit full HD for £315... And I gave the old Plasma away to somebody who appreciated it! I have been watching the advance(albeit a crawl) of OLED since 1992 when they said it would be 2 years before we would see the technology in our Laptops and homes as TV's etc....Wow they were only 20 years out!! I've been waiting forever for this....but I will wait for the price to drop because it will as with the Plasma etc.
chidrbmt
Near future 4 & 8K will make this 1080 obsolete in a couple years. Eideard is right about the color deterioration of OLEDs as well. Another problem is everyone is losing money on the sets sold and the public spoiled on the low prices. Side back lighting has replaced superior full and plastic fronts instead of glass for cost cutting,are examples.
Matt Rosenberg
"CHIDRBMT" you are incorrect. LG's OLED TV IS a 4K TV. It just isn't marketed as such because LG is already planning on releasing the 84 " LM960V which will be an ULTRA DEFINITION "UD" (3840x2160) TV. The OLED TV already has over 8 million pixels vs Samsung's 6 million, so if you calculate it, this is even more impressive because the OLED TV is only 55" which will result in a higher PPI density. (pixels per inch)
Source: http://www.gosugadget.com/2012/02/lg-vs-samsung-who-has-better-oled-tv.html
Vladimir Goshenko
Those water droplets look amazing. I wonder what picture setting the OLED TV in the picture is set at?
carlsjunior
I agree, I can tell this is just part of their marketing strategy so people would show interest just like how current technologies like plasmas were highly overpriced in the beginning and they're still around. I can't cough up that much dough right now but I'm more than eager to get this TV once the price drops.