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You can finally get a 4K TV from a major brand for $4K.
According to industry publication TWICE, Samsung has joined Sony in reducing the prices of its 55- and 65-inch 4K Ultra High-definition-resolution televisions by $1,000 and $1,500 respectively.
The new price of the 55-inch Samsung UN55F9000 is $4,999, while the 65-inch UN65F9000 is $5,999. Both TVs just started shipping in early August.
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Samsung’s price cut was likely a reaction to Sony’s even steeper reductions. As first reported by HD Guru, the new price for the 55-inch Sony XBR-55X900A is $3,998 and the 65-inch XBR-65X900A $5,498. Both are still $500 less than Samsung’s 4K TVs. Sony has been shipping them since April.
Citing an unnamed industry source, HD Guru adds that lower-cost 55- and 65-inch Sony 4K TVs will be released in October. They will lack the X900A’s large side speakers (below).
Sony
Sony has a press event planned for September 4 in New York, when it may officially confirm the new models. We may also hear more about new 4K TVs at the IFA show in Berlin beginning September 6.
Meanwhile LG, another major name making mainstream-sized 4K TVs, is maintaining the same price for its only 55- and 65-inch US models, the LG LA9700 series.
Earlier this month Engadget reported that two lower-priced LG models, the 55- and 65-inch LA9650, will be available in Korea for the equivalent of $5,300 and $8,000. They lack the 9700’s elaborate speaker system and camera.
An LG spokesman replied to CNET’s inquiry to confirm that prices for the LA9700 are unchanged for now, and that no plans for U.S. availability of the LA9650 have been announced. He also said “we’re not anticipating much (if anything) for the U.S. market coming from IFA [from LG Electronics].”
Although we have contacted all three manufacturers, as well as Toshiba and Sharp, to get 4K TV review samples, the only 4K TV CNET has reviewed so far is the Seiki SE50UY04, a 50-inch model selling for $1,000. Fellow Chinese TV maker TCL recently announced its own 4K lineup for the US, including a 50-inch version for $1,000.
Updated August 27 with corrections to Samsung’s pricing and a response from LG.
