'Reversing the "Geogeoikseon" Trend
LG Electronics Unveils 42-inch OLED Evo TV
Samsung Electronics Adds 43-inch to Neo QLED 4K Line'
LG Electronics will launch the world's smallest OLED TV, the 42-inch OLED Evo (model name: 42C2), in South Korea on the 20th. This product is sized appropriately to be placed on a desk, making it highly versatile as a second TV or gaming TV. LG Electronics models are enjoying games on the 42-inch OLED Evo.
Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics have started to go against the trend of "the bigger, the better" that was common in the premium TV market. While both companies had focused mainly on large TVs of 60 inches or more, they have recently been targeting a "niche market" by consecutively launching 40-inch models. This strategy is interpreted as aiming at gamers who enjoy gaming at home and customers seeking a second TV.
According to the industry on the 26th, LG Electronics recently released a 42-inch OLED Evo TV in South Korea. The product is the world's smallest OLED TV, with a screen diagonal of only 1 meter, making it suitable for use on a desk. It features a 42-inch screen with 4K resolution. It boasts overwhelming picture quality comparable to large 8K TVs by applying both the OLED Evo-applied "5th generation AI Alpha9 processor" and "image quality algorithms."
It is especially optimized for gaming performance. Representative features include ▲0.1ms response time ▲various graphic functions such as G-Sync compatibility ▲a gaming board that helps set the optimal picture quality for each game genre ▲and support for a total of four HDMI 2.1 ports. By applying the latest technology from Dolby, a specialist in video and audio technology, it provides high immersion not only for games but also for general videos.
Samsung Electronics also added a 43-inch model for the first time this year to its top-tier Neo QLED 4K lineup. The intention is to target demand from gamers and those wanting a second TV. This product is equipped with four HDMI 2.1 ports supporting 4K resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate. It also features the "Super Ultra Wide View" function that adjusts the game's aspect ratio and the "Game Bar 2.0" function that allows users to check the game execution status.
The reason LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics are putting effort into gaming TVs one after another is largely due to the rapid growth of the related market. With the significant increase in time spent at home due to COVID-19, the use of TVs, which had been limited to simple viewing, has diversified into gaming and other purposes. The demand for second TVs that can be used in places like bedrooms or studies rather than living rooms has also greatly increased.
According to market research firm IDC, last year, global shipments of gaming monitors (with a refresh rate of 120Hz or higher) reached 18 million units. This represents a growth of more than 30% compared to the previous year. Compared to the pre-COVID-19 pandemic period, the growth scale is nearly double. Additionally, according to market research firm Omdia, sales of 40-inch OLED TVs last year reached 949,000 units, which is a fivefold increase in just one year.
Meanwhile, LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics are solidifying their position as the undisputed "top two" in the global gaming TV market. Among the top 10 "Best Gaming TVs of 2022" selected by overseas gaming media GamesRadar, eight were products from LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics. An industry insider said, "As time spent at home increased due to COVID-19, demand for 40-inch TVs also grew accordingly," adding, "Small but powerful TVs will be attractive not only to enthusiasts but also to general customers."
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