LG released some details of its TV plans for CES ahead of the show. The company will upgrade the processor in its sets and will introduce a ThinQ AI system that can be used as a smart home hub as well as supporting voice operation.
The new α9 (Alpha 9) processor supports frame rates up to 120 Hz and has boosted the levels of noise reduction from two to four to improve gradation of smooth transitions in colour as well as minimizing artefacts. The colour performance is also said to be better and LG will support OLED as well as its Nano Cell filtering technology and Full-Array Local Dimming (FALD) backlighting LCDs. The company said that it has improved its FALD technology in 2018 models with less light bleeding and improved shadow detail. LCD sets with FALD will use the α7 processor.
HDR support is Dolby Vision, HLG and HDR10.
In terms of OLED models, reports say that LG will have 55″ and 65″ in the B8 range (which doesn’t use the α9 processor and has less support for HFR in the α7), but with 77″ in addition in the C8 range. E8 will be supplied in 55″ and 65″ and W8 Wallpaper OLEDs in 65″ and 77″. OLED and Super UHD TVs will support Dolby Atmos. The C8 series will start shipping in March, with others in June.
Analyst Comment
LG has said that it expects to see some HFR content on streaming services later in 2018. My own view is that the ‘killer app’ for HFR is sport, which won’t be widely available with HFR, HDR and UltraHD very soon, so I don’t expect it to be important until the satellite industry gets behind it. (BR)
