Samsung Introduces 55-Inch Curved OLED TV

Samsung Electronics America today announced the U.S. availability of its first-ever curved OLED TV. The 55-inch KN55S9C is shipping to specialty retailers nationwide and will carry a suggested retail price of $9,000.

The combination of OLED image technology and the curved screen is designed to create “a captivating and vibrant picture that envelops viewers," according to Samsung. The TV boasts response times that are much faster than conventional TVs, virtually eliminating motion blur and crosstalk and, because backlighting is not required, produces “absolute blacks” with a contrast ratio not possible with LCD and plasma TVs, the company said. Self-emitting RGB sub-pixels are laid directly on the color display panel, eliminating the need for a color filter.

Highlights of the KN55S9C include:

  • MultiView, which enables two viewers to simultaneously watch different full-screen, high-def programs on the same screen, each with corresponding audio and controls. The feature is enabled by Samsung’s 3D Active glasses, which have built-in personal speakers and allow viewers to switch between two video sources without changing glasses.
  • Samsung’s Smart Hub interface, which organizes entertainment and content into five panels—On TV, Movies and TV Shows, Social, Apps, and Photos/Videos/Music—and includes an S Recommendation feature that suggests new programs.
  • Updatable hardware and software via Samsung’s Evolution Kit
  • Screen suspended by a stylish “floating canvas” metal frame
  • A single cable for all connections to the TV to reduce clutter

In July, LG announced the availability of its first OLED TV, the 55-inch 55EA9800, which lists for $15,000.

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