LG to sell curved OLED TVs in South Korea
April 29, 2013
LG Electronics has confirmed it will begin deliveries of curved OLED television sets next month, making it the first to offer such a product to the public.
The 55i inch model will cost 15 million won (€10,775) and is initially limited to sales in South Korea.
OLED technology is based on carbon-based materials that convert electricity into light. While LCD screens need a backlight to illuminate their crystals, OLED does not need a separate light source. This allows the newer type of TVs to be made thinner, lighter and more energy-efficient than before, as well as offering the advantage of deeper blacks. In addition, the OLEDs can be fabricated onto a flexible plastic substrate rather than a rigid glass layer, making it easier to manufacture them into a curved screen. This has allowed LG to market the new EA9800 model as being only 4.3mm (0.17in) thick, weighing 17kg (37.5lb) and offering an “Imax-cinema-like” viewing experience.
“With more than five years research behind developing the optimum curvature, the entire screen surface is equidistant from the viewer’s eyes, eliminating the problem of screen-edge visual distortion and loss of detail,” the company said.