Sony Launches OLED Television in the U.S.

By Geoff Duncan January 7, 2008

Sony Launches OLED Television in the U.S.

Sony Electronics has launched its first Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) television in the United States in the form of the XEL-1. In development for over 10 years, OLED technology may revolutionize flat screen TVs: the XEL-1 is just 3 mm thick and offers great specs for brightness, contrast, and response time. But in this era of ever-larger high-definition displays, the XEL-1’s 11-inch dimension may leave some consumers scratching their heads.

“The launch of an OLED TV is one of the most important industry landmarks,” said senior VP of Sony Electronics’ home products division Randy Waynick, in a statement. “Not only does the technology change the form factor of television, it delivers flawless picture quality that will soon become the standard against which all TVs are measured.”

In addition to being a very efficient technology—using about 40 percent less power than a conventional LCD panel. And, since OLED displays use no backlighting (and no mercury!) OLED panels can manage contrast ratios of over 1,000,000:1.

Sony’s XEL-1 offers a wide aperture ratio for high brightness, and a proprietary color filter and micro cavity structure to let it produce accurate colors. The display also sports two HDMI inputs and a Memory Stick slow, along with compatibility with Sony’s Bravia Internet Link service that lets users tap into Internet-based video.

The XEL-1 will retail for $2,500…and yes, consumers can expect future OLED displays will get larger.

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