While 8K TVs haven’t been a novelty for quite some time, the world’s first OLED 8K TV was just announced and it comes from LG.
About to launch in South Korea this week, the drily-named LG 88Z9 has, however, an eye-watering price: 50 million KRW. In the US, that translates to around $42,000 USD.
However, those who pre-order it might snag a significant discount and get it for the equivalent of $34,000 USD.
Why so expensive?
Well, beyond the bragging rights of owning “the world’s first” something, this 88-inch OLED 8K TV from LG has the smarts as well, compensating for the lack of 8K content in a clever way.
The LG 88Z9 features a chip that can upscale 4K and even 1080p content up to 8K, compensating for the fact that there’s barely any content in this high resolution.
Not only 4K adoption was slow to happen for cable TV, streaming services like Netflix are also hesitant when it comes to providing this quality of resolution (four times as high as 4K).
Because there are only a handful of 8K Blu-Rays or YouTube streams, the 88Z9 has its own chip to make sure buyers didn’t splurge on hi-res for nothing.
“The superior performance of LG’s 8K OLED panel is enhanced by the company’s second- generation α (Alpha) 9 Gen 2 8K intelligent processor. The processor elevates picture and sound quality with deep learning technology and access to an extensive database of visual information. This allows the chip to optimize content by recognizing source quality and implementing the best algorithm guaranteeing stunningly real images.
With the α9 Gen 2 8K processor, LG’s 8K 88-inch 8K OLED TV boasts enhanced processing capabilities with effective 8K upscaling and improved noise reduction to 6-steps from 4-steps in the 4K version, resulting in the most life-like 8K picture when upgrading from 4K (3,840 x 2,160) or 2K (1,920 x 1,080) content. The processor also analyzes ambient conditions to achieve the perfect level of screen brightness.
The LG 88Z9 increases viewer immersion with its impressive audio performance. Sound quality is boosted by an intelligent algorithm that can up-mix two-channel audio to deliver convincing virtual 5.1 surround sound.
Deep learning significantly improves output by analyzing source content to produce enhanced sound effects in movies, deeper bass in music and clearer voices in sporting events. Users can adjust the sound to suit viewing conditions or let the TV set the best sound levels based on the environment,” says LG.
In the US and Europe, the LG 88Z9 is set to launch somewhere in the third quarter of 2019.
Also read: ✍Keep Calm… And Pass By? Samsung QLED 8K TV Shows Up at IFAr✍
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