At last month's CES, the buzz was all about Ultra HD (4K) TV. Manufacturers were introducing 4K TVs faster than you can channel surf -- and even making a few of them affordable. So what happened to OLED TV?
LG Electronics is giving a big push for the TV technology, by making a big move on the price of its 55-inch 55EA9800 Curved OLED TV. The company just announced plans to change the MSRP on the 55-incher to just $7999.99. Even better, Amazon currently has it listed for $1000 less.
This is a big deal. When the 55EA9800 first made its big debut last year, it was priced at a hefty $14,999.99. Amazon's current price puts the set under half of that introductory cost. It even includes free shipping! Check out the pricing and everything else about the TV on Amazon's product page:
The hook on OLED TV is that it promises a picture that's better than plasma, but in a package that's thinner than LED -- about 0.17 inches thin, if you want to get technical. Besides the immersive viewing experience you'll get from that curved screen, this set has LG's own WRGB four-color pixel system, which adds in the white sub-pixel. Other features include THX certification, Cinema 3D features, and built-in Wi-Fi. The latter will be helpful if you're looking to tapping into LG's Smart TV platform and don't have access to Ethernet nearby.
Also worth noting is that this set comes with LG's latest Magic Remote with Voice. This offers point and click navigation, as well as the option to access content using the power of your voice.
If you want to order from Amazon, make sure you are buying through them and not one of the site's third-party merchants. However, it's important to note that one of those merchants (Beach Camera) does have the set listed for $6499.99. At last peek, both retailers were offering free shipping options.
"With our superior WRGB technology, LG has been a leader in OLED technology from the very beginning, and our position continues to get stronger," said William Cho, president and CEO of LG Electronics USA. "Razor thin OLED TVs, with their amazing color and contrast ratios, represent the first major change in TV display technology since the rise of LCD/LED large-screen HDTVs. Our goal is to grow the U.S. OLED TV market by making OLED TVs more affordable. And this is another step in that direction."
According to LG, the 55EA9800 will be available throughout the first half of 2014.
Where to Buy:
