TheBolt

Since the beginning of the flat-screen TV era, manufacturers have been slowly marching towards creating the “perfect” TV. Plasma TVs produced a phenomenal picture, but their glass screens were susceptible to bad glare and the technology was an energy hog, plus the TVs were still quite heavy. LCD TVs—and then LED TVs—were much more energy-efficient and could be made significantly lighter and thinner than plasma displays, but they never quite measured up in picture quality. Whichever technology a user opted for, there was a compromise to be made, until now. OLED TVs check every box on the list of traits you’d ever want on a TV: nearly infinite contrast ratio, vibrant colors, 4K resolution, extreme energy efficiency, and an ultra-thin construction.

OLED TVs were, for many years, something of a technological holy grail. They’ve existed as prototypes for years, and were often dismissed as vaporware. But now that two of the biggest names in television have multiple models of OLED TVs for sale, it’s safe to say that the technology has officially arrived. Both the LG Signature OLED TV and Sony A1E OLED TVs are available at Abt, so we unboxed one of each and compared the two. If you’re in the market to buy an OLED TV, this is the comparison you need to see:

TVs were bigger, brighter and more detailed than ever before at CES 2013

If it’s electronic, and there’s even a small possibility someone would be interested in buying it, chances are that it was at CES 2013. From intelligent refrigerators to furry cat ears that read your brainwaves, you could find it all under one large roof in Las Vegas. But for all the crazy conceptual gadgets, the real stars of CES 2013 were the TVS. And this year, TVs at CES pushed the limits of technology like never before.

More Resolution

The big story at CES was 4K resolution, aka Ultra High Definition TV. Since the beginnings of High Definition video, the ultimate in picture quality for a home user was 1080P Full HD. Well, several manufacturers are aiming to change that, with the introduction of 4K TVs. Sony and LG have kicked off the race early, with each already offering a commercially-available 84-inch 4K TV. Sony used CES to debut both 55-inch and 65-inch, more “affordable” versions of their flagship 4K TV. LG also unveiled a 65-inch unit, while Toshiba matched both companies’ large offerings with an 84-inch 4K TV of their own, the L9300.

Sony’s 65-Inch 4K TV on display at CES 2013

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Samsung OLED TVs and More at CES

Entrance to the Samsung CES Booth

CES 2013— Samsung swung for the fences at CES this year, showcasing an assortment of very impressive HDTVs, among other things. Attendees entering the Samsung booth were first greeted by a trio of the company’s new 85-inch 4K HDTV. Besting the competition’s 4K TVs by an inch of screen real estate, the Samsung S9 is now the world’s largest 4K TV. The ultramodern “Timeless Gallery” frame of the S9 seems to reinforce its identity as a truly luxury item. Samsung has not yet announced price or release date.

Samsung OLED TV with “World’s First” curved screen

Another futuristic, if sparsely-detailed, TV we saw was the Samsung OLED TV with the “world’s first” curved screen. The large-radius curve is noticeable from the sides of the set, and less so from the front. Samsung claims the design mimics that of an IMAX Theater, enveloping a viewer’s field of view. OLED technology allows the curvature, but has a primary benefit of better color and contrast, and lower power consumption than traditional LED tech.

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