Prototypes of transparent displays have been around at CES for years. This is a guaranteed way to impress people and show off the unique capabilities of OLED panels. But it’s almost time for LG to deliver a real, bonafide transparent TV that people can buy this year. On an unspecified date. Because there will be more money.
The product LG showed off to the press in Las Vegas was not “finished”. The 77-inch display won’t change much, but the company hasn’t specified whether it will be bundled with the side furniture you see in this photo or sold separately. The transparent panel behind the OLED T is a contrast film that can be lowered with the push of a button on the remote to make the TV look like a regular OLED, or if you want to see what’s behind the screen.
The TV has special bezels that only take up the bottom part of the screen, which is an idea LG takes from its role-playing TV. It runs a custom webOS interface optimized for different displays. LG ran a ton of demos at its CES booth, and there were times when the TV’s transparency mode gave a sense of depth that really messed with my brain. in the picture below.
But there is one drawback: if the contrast filter is high, the OLED TV is technically not comparable to the best LG standard OLEDs, such as the LG series. It lacks Micro Lens Array technology, which has led to improved lighting for the track. I’m a screen nerd, so if I own this, I’ll always think it’s an inferior TV compared to the G4, or if you want to be more of a fan, LG’s wireless M series. MLA. This TV is more expensive than the two.
You sacrifice the lens for the transparency trick, so we have to consider how the novelty of this TV can wear off. For some people, maybe never. But me? I can’t help but feel like I’ve experienced everything in a few days. The big question is: Who should OLED Signature T? I asked a company representative why LG decided now was the right time to launch a commercial transparent TV. The answer I get is that some consumers are looking for something that feels new and different. This has always been the driving goal of LG’s signature OLEDs. It’s also the company that makes the suitcase TV – review it soon, I promise – so it’s willing to go against the grain if it’s a bit noisy.
As for other features, the OLED T has a speaker that lights up the screen. Like the M series, it receives all video and audio from the LG Zero Connect Box, which can be placed up to 30 feet away as long as it’s eye-to-eye with the TV. Plug in your streaming box and gaming console.
LG is set to ship an OLED T handset this calendar year, but there’s no specific timeline yet. And the price is anyone’s guess. That rolling OLED sold for $100,000. Last year’s cheaper 77-inch wireless OLED sold for $4,999.99. The exposure will definitely be several thousand dollars more. But at the end of the day, at least we’re seeing a long-running CES gimmick come to fruition — even if the innovation doesn’t solve the real problem with TVs.
