The Tong Fang-owned Element brand has launched the Amazon Fire-based UltraHD TVs that it showed at CES this year. There will be 43″ ($449), 50″ ($549), 55″ ($649) and 65″ ($899) models and they will become available June 14 from Amazon and others in the US.
One of the key features of the Amazon Fire sets is the inclusion of a voice-controlled remote that can use the Amazon Alexa technology. Other features include
- Resolution: 3840 x 2160 (4K UHD)
- Refresh rate: 120Hz / 60Hz (for 4K UHD)
- Processor: Quad-core T1-938
- GPU: ARM Mali Multi-core 3D GPU3GB
- Memory: 3 GB
- Storage: 16GB internal
- Ports: HDMI x 4 (HDMI 2.0 with HDCP 2.2), Component/Composite x 1, Optical SPDIF x 1, TV/DTV x 1, USB 2.0 x 1, USB 3.0 x 1, Ethernet x 1 (10/100/1000Mbp), VGA x 1, Headphone x 1, RCA Input x 1
- Wi-Fi: Dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi (MIMO). Supports 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi networks.
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth 4.1 + LE, with support for HFP and A2DP for private listening via Bluetooth headphones, HID, and SPP
- Streaming resolution: 2160p, 1080p, and 720p up to 60fps
Analyst Comment
Interestingly, Tangfong has said that it would no longer be supplying Seiki branded TVs. The brand was licensed by the firm, which also sells as Westinghouse. When we checked, the Seiki website was ‘under construction’ so it is not clear what the future for that brand is. At CES, it was alongside Element and Westinghouse as a brand that was planning to use the Amazon Fire OS. Seiki set a new low price for UltraHD sets when it announced its 50″ at $1,500 in 2013 – a revolutionary price at the time. (Display Monitor Vol 20 #16)
Element makes much of its US assembly site in Winnsboro, South Carolina. (BR)
