The whole world went quiet during last year's CES when LG first unveiled its TV by unrolling it like a scroll. Impressive as it was, it seemed no more than a passing demonstration or, worse yet, some sort of "look at what I can do" showboating.
Fast forward to this year's CES: LG now confirms that this rollable OLED TV is coming this spring, at a hefty price tag, no less. Not much has changed. The TV is still as terrifically jaw-dropping as it was last year, only this time it's an evolved form of the prototype from yesteryear.
It's now got a proper name too — the LG Signature OLED TV R, and in a few months, consumers will be able to pick it up off the shelves.
LG Signature OLED TV R
Though still somewhat similar to its prototype, the Signature OLED TV R now boasts a refined base station and a 100 W Dolby Atmos speaker for immersive built-in audio. The rollable OLED panel descends into the thick base when not in use and then promptly rolls up once someone wants to watch Monday Night Football or play a quick round of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Check out the LG Signature OLED TV R. The 65-inch 4K display stuns, thanks to the rich color and deep blacks of OLED. OLED tech is also how LG got the panel so thin it can roll down into a box. https://t.co/zKEysIiFSJ #CES #CES2019 pic.twitter.com/Dhq3GSJvBm — WIRED (@WIRED) January 7, 2019
It's a TV, but it doesn't always have to be. Technology has always been a hurdle when it comes to interior design. Skilled designers have found clever ways to integrate them, but they're always sort of awkwardly placed in general. LG knows not a TV can disrupt a room's entire vibe, which is why the Signature OLED TV R is perfect for design-conscious homeowners who don't want a massive rectangular machine ruining a room's look.
Samsung too has learned that sometimes it's all about aesthetics. Which is why it has something called The Frame, a TV with such realistic picture quality that it can act as a hanging piece of artwork on the wall when not in use. But unlike LG's TV, the thing itself is still there.
LG's goes away completely when no one is watching. It drops down sleekly too and rises back up in 10 seconds or so with the push of a button. It's pretty quiet, thankfully, even with all the motors inside enabling the rolling mechanism.
Line Mode
There's also an interesting feature called Line Mode where the screen doesn't drop all the way and shows about one-fourth of the panel, displaying only on-screen music controls and such. It allows the TV to remain functional without having to stretch the entire thing out.
Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa support are planned, which will come on top of LG's webOS platform. AirPlay 2 is also on the way for much easier mirroring between Apple devices.
LG is being coy about the exact pricing at the moment, only saying that it's going to be priced at a premium level when it arrives this spring. Make sure to check back with Tech Times as we learn more.
