LG to bridge the plasma picture quality gap with ‘cut-price’ OLED TVs
LG seeks to press home its advantage with much more affordable TVs for picture purists
Before you get too excited, this snippet comes from LG’s press rooms in the USA but, hopefully, it’s something they’ll bring over to the UK and Europe as well.
As other TV manufacturers abandon plasma and struggle with OLED production, LG Electronics is reinforcing its leadership in this premium display technology with the official U.S. launch of its next-generation OLED TV.
The all-new 55-inch, 55EC9300, will be available beginning this month (August 2014) at various retailers in the States, at a suggested price of $3,499. A quick dollars to pounds conversion (missing out VAT and import costs) has that at around £2,100 but, if it is to happen, we’re more likely to see a 1:1 conversion in the UK but, still, that’s definitely moving in the right direction as a starting price.
This is the third OLED TV that LG has released in 13 months, and even with new features and design enhancements, the 55EC9300 is priced more than 75 percent lower than LG's first-generation 55-inch class model, which first sold for $14,999 a year ago.
LG is making a direct play to plasma lovers with this TV and we can’t blame them for that. 4K Ultra HD TVs can be great but in many respects, they don’t get near the best Full HD plasma TVs for picture quality.
This is also the first LG OLED to be equipped with the fantastic Smart TV+ (webOS) connected TV platform and, unlike previous curved OLED TVs, this newest model can be wall-mounted.
"OLED TV represents a major breakthrough in display technology. And in the wake of plasma's decline, it's more important than ever to bring OLED to consumers who are looking for the highest level of contrast and color performance," said Dave Vanderwaal, head of marketing at LG Electronics USA.
We are SO with you there Dave now LG UK, please deliver the goods!