Chinese TV brand Skyworth has announced its first-ever OLED model in the U.S. market and it looks like an enticing option with a price tag that puts it on a par with affordable models such as the LG Electronics B1 OLED.
With a price tag of just $1,399 for the 55-inch model and a 65-inch version for $1,999 also coming, the Skyworth XC9000 is a much cheaper alternative to the company’s flagship W82 and W92 OLED models. Its launch appears to be an effort by Skyworth to test the waters in a U.S. market that's definitely in need of more OLED options.
The Skyworth XC9000 is a 4K OLED TV in every sense of the word but it’s notably a rather lower-spec model that lacks many of the advanced features seen on premium OLED TVs such as LG’s C1 and G1, or Sony’s A90J OLED TV.
For one thing, there won’t be a next-gen experience as the TV is only fitted with a 60Hz panel as opposed to the 120Hz display on more premium models. So that will limit gamers to 4K/60Hz gameplay at best. Variable refresh rate is supported, at least, but that’s the only advanced gaming feature users will see due to the limitation of the XC3900’s HDMI 2 ports.
On the HDR side, there’s decent support in the shape of Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG, but the dynamic HDR10+ format is absent. The TV runs the Android TV platform which means broad app support, Google Cast functionality and Google Assistant for voice control. Dolby Atmos surround sound is supported.
Still, the Skyworth XC9000 is an OLED television nonetheless, so it should still offer a very decent picture performance with the signature true blacks enabling “infinite” contrast between light and dark parts of the screen.
Skyworth said the XC9000 delivers a peak brightness of 500 nits, which isn’t too impressive compared to other models out there. The LG C1 hits a peak brightness of 750 nits, for example, while OLED Evo models such as the LG G1 and Sony A90J can reach even higher than that. Still, the 500 nits brightness is about the same as the affordable OLED models it’s meant to compete with, such as the LG A1.
While the specs do not exactly set the Skyworth XC9000 apart, it’s always good to see more competition, especially in the U.S. which doesn’t have quite the same strong field of OLED TV options available in Europe.
For those looking for something with better specs, they may do well to take a wait and see approach though, as Skyworth’s U.S. website is currently listing a second OLED model, the XC9300 series. That model is currently marked as being “sold out”, but it does come fitted with a 120Hz panel so it may be worth waiting for.
Skyworth has built a couple of premium OLED TVs for its home market in China. The 4K W82 OLED and 8K W92 OLED models are both bendable displays that can curve inwards to create a better experience for video games players, and support features such as 4K@120Hz, VRR, Auto Low-Latency Mode, Dolby Vision and more.
