LG's fancy 55-inch OLED TV may have been kicking around for a while now, but it's finally going on general sale in the UK within the next couple of months. Before you get too excited about snapping up this luscious new telly, be warned that it'll set you back a whopping £6,300.
OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diodes) TVs are able to produce extremely deep black levels as they're not lit by traditional backlights. Instead, each pixel generates its own light, meaning that the screen is able to show a true black shade, rather than a dark grey that most regular TVs can achieve. In my hands-on time, I found it to be extremely vivid with amazing contrast, punchy colours and superb clarity.
It's not only a wonder in terms of picture quality, it's also mind-bendingly skinny at only 4mm thick -- I was genuinely taken aback when I saw it edge-on. Couple that with the barely noticeable bezel and you get the impression that you have a magical moving poster hovering on your table.
Naturally, technology of this calibre doesn't come cheap. It's set to cost £6,300 (converted from 11m South Korean won, so expect the price to be higher after taxes). It's therefore not a TV for the casual Downton Abbey fan. It originally went up for preorder in limited numbers back in July for £8,000 so it's a shame that it hasn't dropped much in price since then. Once OLED catches on and LG steps up its production, prices will eventually start to tumble.
There's no denying that this TV is absolutely stunning and really does need to be seen to be believed -- in both picture and design. With such a high price though it's unlikely to find a home in too many British living rooms just yet.
What do you think to LG's telly? Is it worth spending such a whopping amount of cash on a TV? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below and on our Facebook page.
Also, keep your eyes glued to our CES site to keep on top of all the TV and tech news coming out from the Consumer Electronics Show in glittering Las Vegas.
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Comments 8
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A Non Mouse 2 January, 2013 19:40
Can't wait till John Lewis get this in stores as really want to see it live.
anonymous 2 January, 2013 20:07
It's not a 3D TV? thats a deal breaker.
anonymous 2 January, 2013 21:54
@anonymous 2 January, 2013 20:07
You want the biggest flop within the TV industry in the last decade? Right...
whatitis_1 3 January, 2013 03:23
In terms of picture quality and high street price for the end user, did LCD or even LED win versus Plasma technology.
Having seen the relatively new Panasonic VT50 series in action I don't think so. Mind you I have yet to see Sharp's subsidiary TV, Elite Pro in use. But then again, cost is an issue. Surprising that for all the research, investment and advertising done by those championing LCD/LED, Plasma still produces a better picture and at a lower cost.
For £6500+ for only 50/55'' is a raw real in my book. Why not get a decent projector with good blacks and enjoy 100'' no sweat.
anonymous 3 January, 2013 21:01
For that person yesterday said that LG OLED tv is not 3D check your facts first.On there own web site (LG) states that it is 3D.Fact that it is a oled panel it won't suffer crosstalk at all because of the fast panel respond time 0.01 ms.I do think Active Matrix 3D (Samsung,Sony tv's) is better when viewing 3D than passive 3D (lg tv's) because you get the full 1080p resolution vs passive at 720p.
Late8 3 January, 2013 21:56
Short lifespan - Panels turn Bluish Green fast
Image retention
Viewing angle Fade - yup STILL !
Poor White levels (similar to Plasma)
very susceptible if the outside environment gets in (micro cracks or manufacturing defaults)
Every OLED i have seen so far are over saturated too.
No thanks.
anonymous 14 January, 2013 20:50
The loss rate of Oled panels in manufacture is massively high - as much as 65% of production goes straight into the bin! Much higher than LED/LCD, and massively higher than Plasma which is pretty much down to CRT levels of loss in production now - i.e. low enough to not count.
Add to that the problems of actually getting the things to work properly - others here have already mentioned some of the problems.
White levels are similar to Plasmas from ten years ago - very dark; compared to the new Panasonic Plasmas (brighter than the similar LG and Samsungs no matter what the fanboys say) they are dismal.
And yes, lifespan is nowhere near what the average consumer would find acceptable,
LG, Panasonic and Samsung all now claim a half-life of 100,000 hours for their Plasma Panels, at 6 hours per day every day that's 27 years give or take.
LCD/LED and even good old CRT have, on average a hard time lasting half that time.
OLED, as the technology stands is around 25,000 hours give or take.
To conclude I can only say that OLEDs that match the current Plasmas are probably ten years away, and that if Pansasonic. LG and Samsung cast aside Plasma technology developmnt before that they have to be stark raving mad!
And then again, another ten years of Plasma development like the last ten will likely render OLED obsolete, in the same way Plasma has now left LED/LCD for dead in real terms.
anonymous 23 January, 2013 01:59
Like Oh My God, when I get this my ***** is totally going to tickle