"Capture the Small Premium TV Market"…Samsung and LG Expand Global Lineup

55-inch and 48-inch Models Unveiled
Securing High Performance and Price Competitiveness

Samsung Electronics 2020 Model 55-inch 8K QLED TV Product Image

[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] The home appliance industry is strengthening its product lineup to expand the small premium TV market. They are emphasizing practicality by maintaining high performance and securing price competitiveness.

According to the industry on the 11th, Samsung Electronics recently introduced the 2020 model 55-inch 8K QLED TV mainly in some Eastern European countries such as the UK, Hungary, and Poland.

This new product was launched at the request of distributors in those countries. Considering that Samsung's main lineup of 8K QLED TVs has been medium to large-sized products such as 65, 75, 82, and 98 inches, this move is seen as an effort to expand the base with smaller-sized products.

The new product features the ability to enjoy the highest 8K resolution at a relatively affordable price. The price is set in the low 3 million KRW range for the 55-inch 8K model.

It takes into account the characteristics of Europe, where many old houses have narrow structures, and the demands of consumers who value practicality. A Samsung Electronics official said, "We first introduced the 55-inch 8K TV mainly in regions with local demand," adding, "If there is demand, we are also open to launching in other regions such as North America in the future."

LG Electronics' 48-inch OLED TV, which was the world's first to be released at the end of June, surpassed 10,000 units shipped within three months of its launch. The 48-inch LG OLED TV is a 4K resolution product aimed primarily at overseas markets such as Japan and Europe, where many homes have small living rooms.

Demand increased immediately after launch for use as a second TV or gaming device, leading to its official release in Korea as well. The online pre-order sales held three times at the end of July sold out within one minute of opening.

Like Samsung Electronics, the premium performance and price competitiveness were evaluated as key factors. The new product is equipped with NVIDIA's 'G-SYNC Compatible' feature to minimize screen delay during high-spec gaming and realizes 4K resolution on a smaller screen than existing large OLED TVs, providing clearer and sharper image quality. The price, set at 1.89 million KRW, also lowers the entry barrier to experience a high-spec premium OLED TV.

An industry official said, "While major companies maintain large premium TV products of 70 to 80 inches as their main products, they are launching products as consumer demand for high-spec medium and small-sized TVs increases," adding, "It is expected that medium and small-sized products will be released one after another to secure new demand."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.