4K OLED: introduction and market status - Page 8

Sony and Panasonic announced several new cameras that sport OLED viewfinders. The three new cameras all use XGA OLED microdisplays (probably the same microdisplay).

First up we have Sony's a99 Mark II, a high-end 42.9-mp A-mount SLT camera that features 4K video capture, 5-axis image stabilization, 79 AF points and a newly designed shutter. The a99 Mark II will ship in November 2016 for $3,200 (body only).

LG launched its flagship TV, the 77" 4K OLEDG6 Signature in the US. The price of this TV is $19,999 - and it will start shipping next month. The G6 feature an ultra-slim on-glass design, a high-end pivoting Harman Kardon soundbar, LG's webOS 3.0, Color Prime PRO technology and HDR.

The 65" G6 OLED TV is now shipping for $7,999. LG will start accepting pre-orders for the 77" model on Saturday.

Amazon now offers LG's 2016 entry-level 4K 55" OLEDC6 (curved) OLED TV for $2,175 - down from $2,497. LG's OLEDC6 features LG's webOS 3.0, Color Prime PRO technology and HDR. The C6 series includes 55" and 65" models.

The 65" OLEDC6 still costs $3,999. LG's regular 55" OLEDC6 price is still at $2,497 at Amazon, so this maybe a short-term deal for now.

LG lowered the price of its high-end OLED E6 TVs. The 65" model now costs $4,999 while the 55" model now costs $3,499. The E6 is a series of flat-panel 4K smart OLED TVs introduced in 2016 that feature an ultra-slim on-glass design, a fixed soundbar, LG's webOS 3.0, Color Prime PRO technology and HDR.

OLED microdisplay maker eMagin developed a 2K x 2K OLED microdisplay based VR HMD, which is now being offered to partners (the company's first licensee is probably ODG). The company is also developing its next-gen 4K OLED microdisplays.

Reaching out to first-tier customers means that eMagin will need to produce a massive amount of microdisplays at a relatively low cost - which it cannot do with its current production equipment and capacity. The company will upgrade its production fab, but that won't be enough and eMagin already stated that it is in talks with potential foundry partners.

LG Electronics is getting ready to release the 77" Signature OLEDG6 TV in the US. Amazon.com already lists the TV, for $27,223 - but Amazon does not say the release date yet.

LG's Signature OLED G6 is LG's top-end TV model for 2016. The G6 feature an ultra-slim on-glass design, a high-end pivoting Harman Kardon soundbar, LG's webOS 3.0, Color Prime PRO technology and HDR. The G6 models are available in 65 and 77 inches, and the 65" G6 OLED TV is now shipping for $7,999.

LG announced prices and started shipping its basic OLED TV 2016 models. So first up with the OLED B6- the 55" OLEDB6 costs $3,997 while the 65" model costs $5,997. Both are now shipping. The OLEDB6, which are LG's entry-level 2016 4K OLEDs, feature LG's webOS 3.0, Color Prime PRO technology and HDR.

LG's OLED C6, which are similar to the B6 - but in curved form, cost the same - the 55" OLEDC6 costs $3,997 while the 65" model costs $5,997. The 65" C6 model is not yet shipping, though.

China's Skyworth recently launched its new OLED TVs for 2016 - both with 4K resolution and support for HDR. In 2015 the company was optimistic about its OLED TVs - and said aims to sell 30,000 OLED TVs by the end of March 2016 (the company's FY2015) - and 200,000 OLED TVs by the end of March 2017.

Skyworth's main problem with those OLEDs was that LG Display cannot supply them with enough panels, especially the 65" ones. According to report from China, though, Skyworth is way behind its OLED goals.

We heard several reports in the past few months, all claiming that Samsung is working on a foldable phone, to be released in 2017. SamMobile today posted that the new phone will be called the Galaxy X, and the foldable display will be a 4K diamond-pentile one.

Foldable OLED concept (2013)

According to SamMobile, Samsung will release five "flagship" phones in 2017 - the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Edge, the Galaxy Note 7 and Note 7 edge - and the Galaxy X. Except the Galaxy X (which will, as we said, have a 4K display), all the rest of the phones will use 2.5K displays.

LG started shipping the 55" OLEDE6 OLED TV for $3,899. The OLEDE6 is a flat-panel 4K smart OLED TVs introduced in 2016 that features an ultra-slim on-glass design, a fixed soundbar, LG's webOS 3.0, Color Prime PRO technology and HDR.

A few days ago LG started shipping the 65" model for $5,999.