The Consumer Electronics Show in sparkling Las Vegas is full of the latest, shiniest technology and we’re there checking it all out. While there are heaps of new gadgets flying around, the new TVs have been causing quite a stir. We take you through some of our favourites of the show so far.
Organic light-emitting diode technology — or OLED as it’s known to its mates — is the hot topic in TVs this year. OLED promises an effectively infinite contrast ratio, meaning super-deep black levels that make your movies shine like a new-born star.
Our absolute favourite from CES has to be the LG 55EM9600. This 55-inch beast not only uses OLED tech to offer stunning picture quality, but with a depth of only 4mm (yes, you read that right), and with a 1mm bezel (again, correct), you’d be easily fooled into thinking your movie is hovering in mid-air.
LG’s beast is so tasty that our buddies over in the States gave it the supreme accolade of being Best in CES 2012. We really can’t wait to wrap our eyeballs around this thing, although it’s likely we’re in for a wait.
Samsung’s Super OLED TV is another 55-inch tellybox packing OLED tech and super-slim dimensions. It has a depth of 8mm, which is considerably more svelte than most TVs on the market, but it’s still double that of LG’s model. If both TVs end up being similarly priced, the LG will come out as the clear winner. It’s packing a webcam though, which means you can navigate around by flailing your arms, Kinect-style.
As we all know, it’s not just about looks. Brains are important too, which is why a heap of smart TVs have been drawing attention in Vegas this year. LG is back, this time with a telly loaded up with Google TV. It pipes app functionality, web browsing and various streaming services right into your living room. Expect all your favourite on-demand content to come pre-installed. It also boasts passive 3D so you don’t need to fork out on expensive active glasses to see that extra dimension.
The Lenovo K91, however, is the first TV we’ve seen that’s running the latest version of Google’s operating system, Android Ice Cream Sandwich. ICS is designed for mobile phones and tablets so we’re keen — if not a little nervous — to see what sort of experience it offers on a 55-inch screen. There’s a dual-core 1.5GHz processor with 1GB of RAM stuffed inside, which should make running apps an enjoyably nippy experience.
Not wanting to be left out of the Vegas fun, Sharp showed off its LC-80LE844U TV. This thing doesn’t use the brand new OLED tech, but it makes up for it by being massive. At 80 inches on the diagonal, it’s perhaps more cinema screen than TV. It also boasts active 3D so if you’re particularly into movies that look like they’re going to slap you in the face, Sharp’s new baby will be right up your alley.
We’ll be getting our eyeballs all over these new kids for a full review as soon as possible. In the meantime, head over to our dedicated CES site and check out all the latest news from Sin City.