Competition in the high-end flat screen TV sector is heating up even more as Japan-based TV makers have begun showcasing their large-sized 4Kx2K TV models to compete with OLED TVs made from Korea-based TV makers Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics.
Recently at the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin, Japan-based Sony and Toshiba were promoting their 84-inch 4Kx2K TVs. Sony displayed its model, the XBR-84X900, which is an LED edge-lit LCD TV that features passive 3D technology and comes with a 10-driver stereo speaker system. The company claims the model has superior image quality while market observers said the high definition quality will be a competitive alternative to OLED TVs. However, Sony has yet to reveal a price and release date for the TV, but market observers estimate it will be priced above US$20,000 and will come out at the end of the year.
Reports have mentioned that Toshiba will put out an 84-inch 4Kx2K TV in 2013 priced at JPY$1 million (US$12,700), a stark difference in price from Sony's model. Toshiba has yet to confirm the price but sources said the lower price may be due to an alliance Toshiba has formed with Taiwan-based panel maker AU Optronics (AUO).
Market observers said that the 4Kx2K TVs will have a competitive edge in size but may not be worth a US$20,000 plus price tag if compared with OLED TVS. For OLED TVs, Samsung has not stated a definitive launch date for its 55-inch ES9500 model, but it is expected to launch sometime in second half of 2012 and is reported to have a price tag of KRW10 million (US$8,760) while LG's 55-inch EM9600 model is not expected to hit the market until 2013.
Samsung's TV uses a series of red, green, and blue subpixel OLEDs to create pictures and has claimed that its OLED TV can adjust its self-emitting pixels, can light up images in dark areas, has two channels that can be played at the same time in full HD, and has voice and gesture control, while LG uses white OLEDs overlaid by red, green, and blue filters in addition to filter-free white OLED subpixels.
Meanwhile, LG Electronics released an 84-inch 4Kx2K TV priced at US$22,000 at the end of July in South Korea, which is expected to hit markets globally in September. Market observers said this means 4Kx2K TVs still have higher costs compared with OLED TVs and may have a more limited market. Nevertheless, the observers said that while high-end large-sized TVs have limited markets, Japan-based TV vendors expect 84-inch models to generate profits and want to counterbalance competition with Korea-based vendors.
