One of the most memorable product launches from this year’s CES was LG’s Signature OLED T, a transparent TV that displayed “floating” graphics and artifacts when not being watched. It was at CES in Las Vegas; what else did you expect?
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Almost a year later, the TV is officially going on sale today for a whopping $59,999 — the price of innovation, as they say. For reference, the company’s more traditional flagship OLED TV, the LG G4 OLED, starts at $2,499. So, what do you get for the money?
For starters, the LG OLED T has a 77-inch display and a motorized backdrop that switches between opaque and transparent modes. In opaque mode, the OLED panel looks similar to the company’s C4 model but not as sharp and bright as the more premium G4 model.
I first saw the OLED T at CES earlier this year and found the picture quality to be above average, though not as groundbreaking as I would expect a $60,000 set to be. Of course, you’re paying for the sliding screen here, which can display various “T-Objet” video content when lifted, such as an animated fish tank or live performances by Dingo.
The OLED T also comes with a software interface that LG calls “T-Bar,” described as “a sleek info ticker” that shows live sports scores, IoT device status, weather forecasts, and more. It’s similar to what the folks at Telly are doing with their dual-screen TV.
“LG SIGNATURE OLED T is an exceptional user-focused innovation that offers a distinctive, multi-faceted viewing experience and unprecedented spatial flexibility,” says Park Hyoung-sei, president of the LG Media Entertainment Solution Company, in a Wednesday press release.
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The $60,000 upcharge can also be somewhat justified by the TV’s wireless nature. The OLED T is powered by a transmitter box — the same one that pairs with LG’s OLED M model — to which users can connect their input/output devices, such as gaming consoles and sound systems. That means you’ll be able to view the TV without cables dangling from behind it or from the side.
The LG OLED T is available today at major retailers, including Best Buy, Video & Audio Center, and LG.com, with expanded availability to be announced later.
