What is an OLED TV?
OLED TVs use a new display technology called OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diodes). OLED televisions will be brighter, more efficient, thinner and with better refresh rates and contrast than LCD or Plasma TVs.
31-inch OLED TV prototype (Samsung)
Sony XEL-1 OLED-TV
In December 2007 Sony started to sell the first OLED TV, the XEL-1, which is actually more of a technology prototype than a commercial set. The XEL-1 is a small television (11"), expensive (around 2,500$) and Sony only makes it in small quantities. But the picture quality, colors and contrast are amazing, and the whole TV is just 3mm thick!
Sony XEL-1 OLED TV
Check the following video for a quick demo:
Samsung OLED TVs
In June 2009 Samsung has revealed two new OLED TV Panels, 14.1" and 31". They are both "ready for production", and we can assume Samsung will start to produce them yet.
Samsung 31-inch OLED HDTV
LG OLED TV
LG Are working towards OLED TVs as well, and have shown a 15" prototype back in January 2009. They say they will start making those in December 2009, sell them in Korea, and later on in the rest of the world. Interestingly, those televisions will not use LG's brand, but we do not know which one yet.
LG 15-inch OLED television prototype
The future of OLED Televisions
Several companies already have large-sized OLED TV prototypes. Samsung has shown a beautiful 40" HDTV OLED, and Panasonic has a 37" display of their own. LG have shown a 15" TV that they can start producing by June 2009 - if they get customers. Currently the companies are trying to keep the costs down, and also there is a problem of lifetime - OLED displays go 'dim' faster than Plasma or LCD ones - but this aspect is advancing rapidly.
15-inch OLED TV prototype (LG)
It might take a few years yet until OLED TVs become competitive with LCD or Plasma displays. Several companies have plans for OLED Televisions in the near future:
Sony 27-inch OLED prototype
Other companies such as CMEL and Sanyo have active OLED research, but haven't yet revealed commercial plans.
Samsung 40 HD-AMOLED TV Prototype
25-inch OLED prototype by CMEL
A little bit about the technology
OLEDs are made by placing a series of organic thin films between two conductors. When electrical current is applied, a bright light is emitted. The OLED materials emit light and do not require a backlight (unlike LCDs). In fact OLED TVs are better than LCDs in many ways:
- OLED TVs have Faster refresh rate, better contrast and better color reproduction.
- OLED TVs are really thin - the Sony XEL-1 for example is just 3mm thick. The new prototypes by Sony are merely 0.3mm thick!
- OLEDs have a much better viewing angle - almost 180 degrees.
- Better for the environment - they draw less power, and contain no bad metals.
- OLEDs can actually be made flexible or transparent. Imaging a foldable large OLED TV that takes no space when not used...
Rollable OLED televisions?
Like we said before, OLEDs can be made flexible, or transparent. In the future we might see an OLED displays that is actually rollable. So maybe you could just roll it when you want to watch some TV, and then remove it when not needed.
Or perhaps the OLEDs will be so thin and transparent that they will just be invisible when not in use - you'll just see the bare wall, but when lit up, it'll display your TV picture.
Samsung flexible OLED
This future technology is already being worked on, but it will obviously take some time before we could buy such TV sets...
Samsung Transparent OLED
