Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics both announced pricing for their 2022 TVs this week, and unfortunately it seems that both companies have priced this year’s models a bit higher than their equivalents from last year.
We can’t be sure of the exact U.K. prices at this time because those are yet to be announced. Samsung has only announced U.S. prices so far, while LG has revealed its EU prices. The companies don’t always adhere to a simple 1:1 currency conversion when pricing their sets across regions. Even so, the US/EU prices can be viewed as an approximate guide as to what U.K. buyers can expect to pay.
Samsung hasn’t announced US prices for its full lineup, only its QN800B 8K Neo QLED TV, QN90B 4K Neo QLED TV and QN85B 4K Neo QLED TV. So we’re still waiting for prices on its flagship QN900B 8K (pictured) and QN95B 4K TVs.
As FlatpanelsHD reported, Samsung’s 2022 Neo QLED TVs are only marginally more expensive than last year’s. The Samsung QN800B 8K Neo QLED TV has been priced at $3,500 / around £2,700 for the 65-inch model, $4,700 (around £3,500) for the 75-inch version, and $6,500 (around £4,900) for the 85-inch version.
Meanwhile the Samsung QN90B 4K Neo QLED TV starts at $1,800 (around £1,300) for the 55-inch model, with the 65-inch variant costing $2,500 (around £1,900) and the 85-inch model set to go on sale for $5,000 (around £3,800).
Finally, Samsung said the QN85B 4K Neo QLED TV will start at $1,500 (around £1,100) for the smallest 55-inch model, rising to $2,000 (around £1,500) for the 65-inch model, $2,800 (around £2,100) for the 75-inch version and $4,000 (around £3,000) for the 85-inch screen.
Samsung’s 2022 Neo QLED TVs do bring some promising upgrades that make them well worth a look, with 14-bit HDR mapping that promises to add more detail to the darker and brighter parts of images, multi-directional speakers and support for Dolby Atmos, plus the Samsung Gaming Hub, which will enable cloud gaming services such as Nvidia GeForce Now and Google Stadia available to play directly from the TV with no need for an external device except a game controller. Some of its higher-end models will also support 144Hz refresh rates.
As for LG Electronics, the bad news is that the impressive-looking new LG C2 OLED TV won’t be quite as affordable as some had hoped. Previously, it had been suggested that the smaller, 43-inch version might go on sale for under £1,000, but that now seems unlikely.
According to FlatpanelsHD, which cites Area DVD as its source, the 42-inch LG C2 OLED TV will cost €1,650, which works out at £1,375. The 48-inch version will be priced at €1,800 (around £1,500), while the 55-inch, 65-inch, 77-inch and 83-inch models will cost €2,300, €3,200, €5,400 and €7,500 (about £1,915, £2,665, £4,500 and £6,250), respectively.
Once again, we should point out that LG doesn’t always follow a 1:1 currency conversion, so these are only estimates. However, with John Lewis still listing the 42-inch C2 OLED at £1,399, the price estimates match closely enough. That said, John Lewis also has a matching price tag for the 48-inch C2 OLED, so at least one of them is likely to be inaccurate.
Area DVD also announced rough release dates for the LG C2, saying most sizes will go on sale in the EU in March, though the 83-inch version will be held back until April.
LG’s premium G2 OLED lineup will start at €2,499 (around £2,080) for the 55-inch model, rising to €8,999 (approx. £7,500) for the largest 83-inch model. Meanwhile the lower spec LG B2 OLED will start at €1,899 (around £1,580) for the 55-inch model, rising to €4,499 (around £3,750) for the 77-inch version. Finally, the LG A2 OLED is expected to be priced at €1,549 (around £1,290) for the 48-inch variant, with the biggest 65-inch version set to cost €2,599 (around £2,165).
