LG to release 8K UHD smart TVs
New year, new you. That's a sentiment echoed by most TV manufacturers each January, as the major players announce their grand market-dominating plans for the coming year – many at CES 2019 in Las Vegas. And in 2019, LG is no exception.
It's a year marked by collaboration, as seen in the Alexa and Google Assistant support coming to new LG ThinQ smart TVs in 2019. Or the Airplay 2 support coming by way of Apple, allowing streaming of iTunes movies and TV shows. There's also be a host of visual enhancements with the new Alpha A9 (Gen. 2) processor, for better color correction and support for 120fps frame rates on high-end LG TVs.
But we're also seeing a lot more than just processor upgrades. LG has really pushed the envelope when it comes to form factor, with the first of its rollable OLED televisions – the LG Signature Series OLED TV R – finally coming to market this year.
That said, the 2019 general lineup will be similar to last year: LG OLED TVs at the high end, Super UHD or 'NanoCell' TVs – which have a lot of the same components as the OLED TVs, but lack the main OLED panel – in the middle, and then traditional 4K TVs and finally FHD screens at the bottom.
With there being so many different models to take in, we thought we'd lay out the whole 2019 lineup announced so far, from the high-end OLEDs to newly-branded NanoCell TVs, in one, admittedly long, piece. (We'll add the UHD and FHD models as and when they're announced!)
Some of the specs listed below could change by the time of each TV's retail release, but for the most part the specs you see here should be the components that make it in the final product.
Another year, another processor. The biggest change for the high-end screens (the OLED line-up) is the switch from last year's Alpha 9 (a9) processor to the a9 Gen 2.
2018's Alpha 9 silicon upgrade promised a 35% boost in CPU and GPU speeds, equating to smoother motion handling, object-based contrast enhancement for better sharpness and detailing and a technology called True Color Accuracy Pro.
We're getting more of the same with the 2nd-generation processor, with a big focus on 'intelligent AI' and 'machine learning algorithms' to enhance picture, audio and software performance – with a new algorithm that's able to analyze the source content and optimize for ambient viewing conditions.
Flagship TVs will also come with Dolby Atmos 5.1 surround sound, while LG's new processor will be able to "up-mix" two-channel audio into 5.1 surround sound: like upscaling for the ears.
We know for a fact the new a9 Gen 2 chip is being used in the LG Signature Series OLED R and new range of Z9, W9, C9, and E9 OLEDs – even the budget B9 model gets the latest chip!
The new Alpha 9 processor also has the heft needed for High Frame Rate (HFR, 120/4K) – for that smooth motion crucial for sports, action, or gaming – but it'll only be in 2019 that we see LG TVs implement the HDMI 2.1 ports to make the most of it, so you can display in 120fps/4K from cabled sources, console, and media players.
(Last year users could make do with HFR streaming from the likes of Netflix, YouTube, BBC, FOX Sports, Amazon and broadcasts, though compatible content was few and far between – we'll likely see more emerge as a larger number of compatible televisions enter the market.)
In May 2018 we saw LG roll out Google Assistant to all of its OLED and Super UHD TVs – meaning you could start using your voice to switch inputs, change the channel, connect to other smart home devices, and integrate with Google's Photos and Maps applications. This year's LG TV line-up – for OLED and Super UHD, at least – will also be arriving with Alexa capability for an even wider range of voice control options.
MTCHT
ICT
TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS
POST
ABOUT US
NEWS
INTERESTING
INTERVIEW
ANALYSIS
ONLAIN LESSONS
