Skip to main content

Take that, Samsung: LG will announce eight ‘real’ 8K TVs at CES 2020

Image used with permission by copyright holder

LG will announce eight new 8K TVs at CES 2020 in Las Vegas next week. These will be headlined by both an 88- and 77-inch LG Signature OLED model, and accompanied by six (slightly) more affordable LG NanoCell sets, which will be available with the choice of either a 75- or 65-inch screen.

These models will be decked out with the latest hardware the manufacturer has to offer, including its state-of-the-art Alpha 9 Gen 3 A.I. processor. LG says it’s a lot more advanced than its predecessor, having been armed with all the skills needed to transform Full HD into an 8K Ultra HD resolution.

In fact, the Alpha 9 is so powerful that it’s helped the 8K TVs surpass the Consumer Technology Association’s benchmark for 8K Ultra HD certification, redefining what it means to be an 8K TV — a dig at arch-rival Samsung’s current 8K TVs, which merely comply with the specification, not exceed it.

Designed with the future in mind, the Alpha 9 supports all the latest codecs, such as HEVC and AV1 — the latter of which is used by major streaming services like YouTube. This means the 8K TVs can theoretically stream 8K Ultra HD at 60 frames per second, so long as there’s an internet connection fast enough to fuel it.

“LG is committed to providing consumers with an outstanding viewing experience,” said LG Home CEO Park Hyoung-sei. “With LG 8K OLED and NanoCell TVs, customers can know they are getting future-proofed products that deliver mesmerizing picture quality regardless of the format.”

In typical fashion, LG made several other claims about the new Alpha 9 driving the 8K TVs, saying it uses A.I. to achieve a whole new level of remastering witchcraft, in terms of both image and audio — but we won’t be able to tell how accurate that is until we set our eyes on them next week.

Just one of these nifty enhancements is A.I. Sound Pro. The manufacturer says this can detect and categorize the audio across five categories — movies and sports, for example — and remaster it accordingly to produce clearer voices and more immersive background noise when required.

Of course, no modern television would be complete if it wasn’t armed with smart software — and LG’s latest 8K TVs sport the brand’s impressive webOS system, which provides one-click access to all of the leading streaming services and voice control for simplified navigation.

LG will detail pricing and availability at its press conference on January 6.

Editors' Recommendations

Josh Levenson
Having spent half a decade writing about the latest AV, mobile and social news for some of the world’s largest…
Samsung’s CES 2023 TVs get thinner, brighter, healthier, and better for gaming
Samsung 2022 QN900B 8K Neo QLED TV.

On display at CES 2023, Samsung's 2023 TV lineup is getting a wide variety of upgrades, including thinner designs, better sound systems, 4K cloud-based gaming, and some interesting health applications that the company is borrowing from its mobile division. Here's everything you need to know.
MicroLED gets smaller, more affordable
Samsung was an early promoter of microLED display tech, which uses tiny LED lights as individual pixels instead of using them as the backlight on an LCD-based TV (LED TV, mini-LED TV). Unfortunately, microLED TVs have tended to be huge (starting at 110 inches), expensive, and somewhat limited in resolution at smaller sizes.

The company's new Micro LED CX, at 76 inches, is its smallest yet, and Samsung promises it will also be the most affordable microLED TV ever released.

Read more
Marantz’s new Cinema series AV receivers are a stylish way to go 8K
Marantz Cinema AV 10 8K AVR in black.

AV receivers might be the nerve center of every serious home theater setup, but these big (and usually shiny and black) boxes aren't exactly the most beautiful things to look at. However, Marantz's new Cinema line of 8K Dolby Atmos AV receivers might just be the first to give folks a real alternative to the flat-panel-full-of-buttons aesthetic we've become accustomed to. The new models start at $1,200 for the Cinema 70s and go up to $7,000 for the flagship AV 10. They will be available by the end of October, though only the Cinema 50 and 60 will be released initially.

In addition to a textured finish that graces the side portions of the Cinema's front panels, each model has an elegant circular display window that either acts on its own as the main way to see critical status information or can be used to augment a much larger full display hidden behind a hinged cover.  It's a design that Marantz debuted on its Model 30 stereo amplifier. These improvements are more than superficial. The Cinema series also has a new graphical user interface, as well as voice command compatibility.

Read more
Denon updates 8K AV receivers with prices starting at $399
Denon AVR-X2800 8K A/V receiver.

Denon has refreshed its AV receiver portfolio, with seven new models in the  S-, X-, and A-Series lineups. Prices range from $399 for the entry-level AVR-S570BT and go up to $6,499 for the top-of-the-line 15.4 channel Denon AVR-A1H. All of the new receivers offer 8K compatibility, while some models also have support for immersive surround sound formats like Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, IMAX Enhanced, and Auro 3D. Some models are available immediately, while others will be released over the coming months and into 2023.
A-Series

AVR-A1H: $6,499, available in early 2023

Read more