LG Electronics has cemented its position as the undisputed pacesetter in OLED (organic light-emitting diode) TV technology by expanding its lineup of such self-emissive displays for the year ahead at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2015 in Las Vegas today. All of the company’s new OLED TVs for 2015 will feature 4K Ultra HD resolution, with the existing 55EC930V to be carried over from 2014 as the sole 1080p full HD model.
Spearheading LG’s fleet of OLED televisions will be the flagship 77EG9900, a massive 77-inch “variable” OLED TV that allows users to adjust the degree of curvature depending on the number of viewers or the content displayed, with automatic optimisation of the picture and audio quality according to how curved the screen is. We first saw a prototype of this flexible 77-incher at CES 2014 and then at IFA 2014, but now it appears that a retail model is finally forthcoming.
Specifications include a native resolution of 3840×2160, deca-core processor, passive 3D technology, super-slim bezel, Harmon Kardon-enhanced sound system, and a slicker WebOS 2.0 Smart TV interface. Whether or not this television will eventually make it to the UK and Europe remains unknown, but don’t expect the price to be within reach for normal consumers.
One rung down the South Korean manufacturer’s 2015 OLED TV hierarchy is the LG 65EF9800, a 65-inch flat-screen OLED whose most distinctive characteristic is the presence of an integrated speaker bar – developed in collaboration with audio equipment specialist Harman Kardon – beneath the ultra-thin panel. The 65in EF9800 also gets ultra high-definition (UHD) resolution, polarized 3D, WebOS 2.0 and deca-core processor. It will be marketed in the UK and other European countries as the LG 65EF980V.
Fans of curved LG OLEDs will get to choose from fresh 2015 models with quad-core processor and WebOS 2.0, or 2014 carryovers with slower dual-core processor and first-gen WebOS system. The former comes in two screen sizes, namely the 55in LG 55EG9600 and the 65in 65EG9600; whereas the latter would be the 65″ 65EC9700 and the 77″ 77EG9700.
Perhaps of more interest to video enthusiasts are LG’s flat-panel equivalents of the EG9600 curved 4K OLED TVs, i.e. the EF9500 series (or EF950V in the United Kingdom and Europe). Featuring a transparent stand to provide a “suspended-in-air” appearance, two EF9500 sizes are available: the 55-inch LG 55EF9500/ 55EF950V and the 65-inch 65EF9500/ 65EF950V.
By offering a variety of screen sizes (55in, 65in and 77in) and form factors (flat, curved and flexible), LG is hoping to propel OLED TV technology into the mainstream. Pricing will be key: while most videophiles are already converted, it remains to be seen if the average buyer will be willing to pay a premium over competing 4K LED LCD displays. We will bring you more details on prices and availability, as well as our first impressions of LG’s 2015 OLEDs from the CES showfloor in a separate article.
just give me a 65″ flat oled, Fullhd is enough, at reasonable price.
Please fix “Harmon” typo, it’s called Harman. ;)
It’s great news they expand OLED TVs with flat ones, BTW.
@FoxHounder: Thanks for the heads up. Corrected.
Warmest regards
Vincent
At least we (or those who can afford such stuff) can choose flat oleds instead of curved ones. But what’s the need of 4K at 55″ and even 65″. Marketing?
Do I understand correctly? The 55EF950V does get the quad-core and webOS 2.0, right? Oh boy, I have to hit the lottery. Damn.
So the 65EF950V is the 65EF980V without the (highly redundant) sound bar? Just give me an extremely good flat panel…
I like the fact that only their high end TVs are available with a flat screen : it shows that deep down they know it’s better than a curved screen.
Anyway, I’m hoping the 55EF950 is reasonably priced (as much or less than the EC930V) and doesn’t have any major flaws and it may be my first oled TV. As many others I would have been happy with a 1080p screen though, especially at 55″.
I would have been happy with 40 inch and 1080p. But bigger and better resolution. Bring it on. I’m a buyer in Australia. I have been waiting a very long time for this TV to finally hit the market.
I rember seeing the first Plasma panels in Paris circa 1999.
Finally only 16 years latter there is a large flat screen monitor worth buying
55 OLED WITH 4K < 3000.00 WILL BE THE WINNER !
CANT FKING WAIT….MY ONLY CONCERN IS BURN THROUGH OF SCREEN
I WISH SOMEONE COULD EXPLAIN HOW THE LG 4K UPSCALER WORKS. and how an oled with 4k helps improve 1080p signal and resolution.?
For non videophiles who cannot afford to update the latest tech on a regular basis, OLED or non OLED is not going to make a lot of difference especially when the panel is viewed with non 4K content, their investment is not going to be 100% appreciated. Plainly LG is trying to push OLED faster than the consumer market and free to air TV is prepared to go.
OLED is a very big deal with fast motion. High speed action scenes as well as sports of various kinds (hockey anyone?) cause the image to blur on even the best LED screens. I just recently ditched my CRT based TV due to this annoyance and have been waiting for someone to build an OLED for truly relaxed viewing again.
Up scaling a received signal (1080, 720, or 480) to 4K involves interpolating the incoming signal to populate the 4K screen. To keep things simple let’s use 1080 to 4K or 2,073,600 pixels (1920 X 1080) converted to 7,516,800 (3840 X 2160) pixels. Please note that this is NOT four times a 1080 signal but I didn’t create the new standard(s) for UHD. Yes, there’s more than one but TV manufacturers seem to have settled on 3840 X 2160.
Back to up scaling. Since a 4K panel could easily and simply populate a 1080 (p or i doesn’t matter) signal in the middle of the screen using 1920 horizontal X 1080 vertical pixels, we would be presented with a perfect 1080 image surrounded by a very large, dark margin. Let’s now move every one of the 2,073,600 “active” pixels in the image to evenly populate the 4K screen. In doing this, we still have a recognizable image but now have 5,443,200 pixels (7,516,800 – 2,073,600) that are not turned on and thus do NOT participate in the image on the screen. What should be done with the inactive pixels?
Interpolation to the rescue! A software program uses information about the “active” pixels in the neighborhood of an inactive pixel to make a best guess about what the appropriate color and intensity should be and then issues instructions that activate all 5,443,200 pixels that don’t have guidance from the 1080 signal. Wow! This happens EVERY refresh which means any where from 24 times a second to 120 times a second depending on the refresh rate of your television. That’s a lot of processing going on! The quality of the up scaled image is very much dependent upon the software and processor speed in the TV as well as what somebody decided was a good compromise for various images. Since more than 70% of an up scaled 1080 image (Even higher for 720 and 480 of course!) is the product of electronic, engineering wizardry, the software and hardware to accomplish this task really matter when buying a 4K television since there is so little 4K source material available.
As of January, 2015, there are a number of different processor approaches being used and software will continue to be refined as we move forward. Purchasing a television has always been about picture quality; 4K hasn’t changed that but rather has introduced new variables beyond accurately displaying a received signal.
Lee,
You need to check your math. 4K is four times 1080p.
1080p = 1920×1080 = 2,073,600 pixels.
4K = 3840×2160 = 8,294,400 pixels. Not sure where you get 7,516,800 pixels.
2,073,600 x 4 = 8,294,400.
In terms of pixel count it’s two times but in terms of resolution it’s two times.
People always make this mistake
1920 X 2 =3840
1080 X 2 = 2160
So 4K TV offers twice the resolution of a 1080P TV.
But let’s remember when it comes to picture quality contrast is king.
lol
In terms of pixel count it’s FOUR times
tempting, will wait for while when the price drops. Anybody want to buy a kidney :-)
@Lee. There are plenty of excellent second hand Panasonic plasma’s on ebay. I myself bought a 46″ ST30 in mint condition for £160. Its not perfect but better than any LCD I have owned. Blu Ray is incredible, sports are blur free and scaling of SD is very good. Plus usual plasma benefits; viewing angle, screen uniformity, colour saturation etc…
Also a question for Vincent; does LG intend to make 50″ OLED’s?
PS. Love the reviews but would like to see more entry level sets given the once over! Got a feeling Panasonic have got their act together this year.