TV giants unveil ultra-sized, trablnsparent displays

[Courtesy of Samsung Electronics Co.]

Ultra-premium TV screens boasting expansive sizes of 100 inches or larger and top-notch 8K-grade image quality are hitting the market in South Korea. Domestic giants such as Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics Inc. are spearheading the premium market while competing against their Chinese counterparts.

Samsung Electronics, for example, unveiled a staggering 114-inch model priced at 180 million won ($132,352) on Tuesday. The TV is 150 times higher than a standard 65-inch 4K screen and surpasses the dimensions of a king-size bed with a diagonal length of nearly 3 meters.

Super-sized TVs used to have difficulties in maintaining image quality, but Samsung Electronics has found a solution in micro-LED technology. Unlike conventional screens relying on a single large backlight plate, micro-LED TVs use numerous micrometer-scale LEDs to emit light and colors independently to guarantee superior image quality.

Shipping was another challenge for these super-sized screens, as most residential apartments in the country have elevators and balconies that are too narrow for them to pass through. Micro-LED screens, however, have become a solution as they are modular and have components that are easier to reassemble.

LG Electronics and other competitors are also venturing into the micro-LED TV market. LG Electronics introduced its first micro-LED TV, the 136-inch LG Magnet All-in-One, that targets the business sector. China‘s TCL Technology Group Corp. showcased a 163-inch micro-LED screen at the U.S. Consumer Electronics Show (CES) earlier in 2024.

In addition to super-sized screens, some companies are even getting ready to unveil transparent TVs in Korea. LG Electronics is gearing up to launch the LG Signature OLED T, a transparent screen that mimics transparent glass when powered off to offer a seamless integration with interior design. It features two display modes: transparent and black screen, allowing users to choose according to their preferences. Samsung Electronics is also poised to unveil its transparent TV leveraging micro-LED technology.