The world’s leading TV maker Samsung Electronics Co. is readying to release big screen TVs larger than 80 inches as early as August this year in a bid to take the lead in the burgeoning premium large-screen TV market that is fiercely contested by its quantum-dot-based light emitting diode (QLED) TVs and organic light-emitting diode (OLED) TVs of LG Electronics Inc.

Following the recent launch of 75-inch premium QLED TV, Samsung Electronics plans to offer TVs with screen larger than 80 inches at much cheaper prices than its rival OLED TV, according to an official from the company on Sunday. He added that the new big-screen TVs are scheduled to go on sale in the local market around the end of August or early September.

The Korean tech giant’s most popular QLED TV models are 55-inch and 65-inch editions boasting superb picture quality comparing with its rivals. The company’s expansion of QLED TV lineup will provide a wider range of choices for consumers who want to experience premium lifestyle at affordable prices.

The 75-inch QLED TV the company released last week is priced at around 11 million won ($9,840), almost 30 percent cheaper than the same-sized OLED TV, its arch rival LG Electronics’ main TV item.

“It is the first time for Samsung Electronics to begin commercial sales of TVs bigger than 80 inches,” said the official adding that the company had unveiled a 100-inch TV priced at more than 100 million won in the past to demonstrate its technology, not for sale.

Commercial sale of the super large TV with screens of 80 inches and larger at cheaper prices than before has become possible thanks to the enhanced productivity and manufacturing efficiency, according to the company. Samsung Electronics has accelerating its efforts to tap deeper into the growing supersized TV market with confidence its QLED TV technology has competitive edge over rivals in picture quality, display size and price.

Large-screen TVs are gaining more popularity in the global market. The average display size exceeded 40 inches for the first time in the global TV market last year, and it is expected to be over 44 inches in 2020. In the Chinese market, the TV screen size already averaged at 45 inches last year and it would be over 50 inches in 2020. Market experts forecast that sales of TVs larger than 50 inches would account for more than 50 percent in the entire global TV market this year.

By Song Sung-hoon

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