The 2012 Consumer Electronics Show is over and now the wait for all the new gadgets and technology begins. In terms of critical response, the big winner of 2012 wound up being the OLED (organic light emitting diodes) HDTV. The device won over the 4K (4 times the resolution of 1080p), Super Hi-Vision and glasses-less 3D TVs, mostly because the OLEDs are the ones that will hit the market first, next fall to be exact. Samsung’s Super OLED TV looks to be the best model, thanks to their dual-core processor which supports “smart content” that will probably be elaborated on in the near future sometime.
I actually had the chance to look at one of these bad boys (it was Sony’s version, not Samsung’s, but crazy nonetheless) and they’re everything they’re cracked up to be. The bezel is so thin, it’s pretty much not even there and it gives the impression that the 55″ screen is literally part of the wall that its mounted on. When standing next to a five-year-old rear projection set, it’s mind-blowing how much better the OLED looks because the two models share the same 1080 resolution.
TV junkies, start putting aside dough now. These babies will set you back at least $2,500.
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But there’s basically no 4K content available. Although lots of equipment can currently handle 4K, as standard all HD broadcast TV is still being made in 1080i. Production companies and in particular post facilities would need to invest substantial sums to upgrade their equipment to accomodate 4K, all this while the spectre of 3D TV looms (think about how much companies would need to invest to start post producing 3D)
HD has really only just become standard in the last few years but facilities were switching to HD as early as 1998 -99. No one is set up for 4K. The best you can expect contentwise is 4K transfers of old movies originally shot on film which you’ve probably already bought on VHS, DVD, perhaps Blu-Ray…it’s a fucking swindle!
Thank you sir, dead on. There isn’t even 1080p broadcast content so you’re basically purchasing an OLED TV for the “wow” factor. I saw one the Sony sets and it blew me away, but the price made me cringe! I find it fucking ridiculous that so much has been invested into 3DTV, which I guarantee is a fad that won’t last, instead of developing 1080p content for broadcast. Blu-ray and videogames aren’t enough, I want to watch sports in full 1920x1080p resolution damn it!
@Flea
That’s what I’m saying though, even though the OLED holds the same resolution, it still looks light years better than a ‘normal’ 1080 tv. The ‘wow’ factor is still there, even on a television broadcast
I haven’t seen these TVs in person but I’d really like to see what 4K content looks like on these things. I’ve only heard stories about how clear 4K is but it’s a shame no TVs out there support it yet. Then again most heads can’t tell the difference between 720p and 1080p depending on the TV so 4K is a ways off.
If you’ve never seen these things in person, they are insane. As life-like as people claim 1080 HD televisions are, you really do feel like you can reach into these and touch whatever is being put on the screen. It’s insane.
Don makes a good point though, it may be too much machine for what’s being put out right now. If you’re streaming Netflix, your device may not even support higher than 720, let alone 1080. Television is what it is.
Still… I WANT!!
I’m looking forward to this dropping the price of 1080p sets
Sony sold their money losing LED unit to Samsung….3D is trash hopefully theyll just make a PS4 that will upconvert blu ray to 4k
by the time 4k content is available, wouldn’t the organic material have already deteriorated? in theory, don’t OLED tv’s have a short lifespan?
Even though the CES-2012 best OLED TV award went to LG OLED TV due to the fact that it was thinner than the Samsung OLED TV, I still admire the OLED TV technology and I consider it the best.