HDTV News

We have just discovered some big news coming direct from Samsung in Korea!

Samsung look set to release two new sizes in the 4K UHD TV market, with their 55-inch and 65-inch 4K TVs coming to Korea next month (June 2013).

The major manufactures have all had their large 4K TVs out for a while now. There’s Sony’s 84-inch 4K TV (view our Hands on in California), LG’s 84-inch (we covered it at CES 2013) and of course Samsung’s latest jewel, their $40,000 / £35,000 85-inch 4K Ultra HDTV (view our hands on in Selfridges in London!).

But when it comes to smaller more “normal” sized 4K Ultra HDTVs, or should I say, affordable 4K TVs we haven’t heard a great deal from Samsung until just now. LG showed off their smaller sized 4K TVs at CES 2013, but these have yet to get prices or dates. Sony on the other hand has been leading the way and have just recently started shipping their 55-inch and 65-inch 4K models for $4,999, and $6,999.

It’s great to see some movement from Samsung with their 55-inch and 65-inch models.

We’re pleased to bring you an exclusive hands on demonstration of the beautiful and unique Samsung S9 85-Inch Ultra HD TV.

We first got an eyes on look at the very impressive Samsung S9 series at CES 2013 when it was unveiled and proudly shown off. Now a few months later the huge 85-inch 4K beauty is now available to purchase and is on display at a very few select location around the world.

One such location is the prestigious Selfridges store in London where they’re displaying and selling the stunning S9 for an eye watering £35,000.

Selfridges and Samsung were kind enough to give us a full hands on demonstration of the Samsung UN85S9AF / UN85S9000 where we get a real hands on experience which we’re proud we can share with you. We even dig through the settings and options of the Samsung S9 and reveal previously unknown features such as the One connect connection hub / box, pop out camera, height adjustment feature and much more.

Samsung proudly showed off their huge easel style 4K Ultra HD TVs at CES 2013. We got up close and personal with Samsung’s S9 series both on the press conference stage, and in their booth at CES, but it now looks like we’re going to get another look at the 85-inch Samsung UN85S9AF which has just gone on display in Selfridges in London.

At CES 2013 Samsung showed off their new S9 series of 4K ultra HDTVs three sizes including a 110-inch inch model, and also the 85-inch model (UN85S9AF) which has now gone on sale for a whooping $39,999.99, or £35,000 over in the UK.

Most of you will already be doing the maths. The Samsung 85-inch 4K TV costs, $40,000, while the 84-inch Sony 4K TV costs $25,000, and the 84-inch LG 4K TV costs even less at $20,000. That’s a lot of extra cash for one more inch.

While attending the Gadget Show Live in England as press, I of course filmed everything of relevant interest, which I have been adding to our YouTube channel, (be sure to subscribe if you have yet to!) while most of what I saw I have already captured and covered at CES 2013 and other events, I did see something which I have yet to see before.

Samsung made voice and gesture control a common place with their 2012 Smart TVs, but they have now taken it to another level with their 2013 Smart TV models.

Gesture control as we know it, involves holding up your hands in front of you, and moving it around to move a hand / cursor around the TV. Closing your hand acts as selecting, or clicking the mouse. This works from the integrated (now popup) camera detecting your hand and its movement.

But here is the interesting part, Samsung was showing off their latest 2013 Smart TVs, and I managed to capture them demonstrating two handed gesture control.

Having just posted the Samsung 2013 TV prices yesterday, we were very surprised to see a number of the new 2013 Samsung LED TVs already shipping out ahead of schedule.

Of the nine new 2013 LED TV series announced and launched at CES 2013, we have found both the lower F5000 models, and also the 55-inch F8000 flagship model shipping out from Amazon!

All four sizes of the F5000 series are available to add to your shopping cart, with the with the 40-inch and 46-inch models in stock and currently shipping out direct from Amazon.

When it comes to the very impressive looking top of the range Samsung F8000 series, Amazon are currently listing the 46-inch and 55-inch models.

We have been following the development of Samsung’s Smart Evolution Kit ever since it was announced at CES 2012 alongside their 2012 Smart TVs.

The Samsung Evolution Kit is a small add on which plugs into the back of higherend Samsung Smart TVs, upgrading the TV to the latest 2013 version.

While the Evolution Kit was announced back in the beginning of 2012, we didn’t hear or see anything of it (apart from the Evolution port on the back of the HDTVs) until we physically saw the device in person at CES 2013 in January this year, where they detailed more of its features and specifications.

There has been must curiosity and interest in the Evolution Kit, and Samsung has finally announced the pricing. In the U.S is it set to cost $299 and should be available in May. Interestingly enough, in Europe is it set to cost €299, but has a slightly earlier release of April.

Samsung has just dropped up a note to let us know that their top of the line 2013 flagship plasma TV series, the Samsung F8500 will be available and shipping out official on March 17th!

That’s just two days away! The Samsung F8500 plasma series is available in three sizes as the 51-inch Samsung PN51F8500, 60-inch PN60F8500, and 64-inch PN64F8500.

I’ve seen all three up for pre-order on Amazon, and by the looks of it, the mid size 60-inch Samsung PN60F8500 is already shipping out early with $800 off!

The Samsung F8500 has a very attractive new design and according to Samsung, has been designed to become the new industry standard offering the ultimate in picture quality.

Most of the general public have a hard time justifying the higher costs of a 4K Ultra HDTV due to the current lack of 4K content. I see this personally on our YouTube channel, and the major TV manufacturers know this too.

They know that if they want to sell their latest 4K TVs there needs to be a supply of 4K content, and it looks like Samsung is going to do all that they can to make this happen.

Philips Newton, Samsung’s Vice President said to an Australian media that they feel that sporting events are one of the most popular event to watch at home. He said, “We know that sports content is very important for consumers, and our focus for the future is to expand our current sports offering. We’re already discussing these plans with broadcasters from around the world, and hopeful that we can deliver 85% of the world’s major sporting events live in 4K”.

It looks like a number of Samsung’s newly announced 2013 LED TV models have arrived early, and are already shipping out!

Along with the bottom of the range F5000, the new flagship F8000 models are in stock and shipping out to lucky customers.

Right now established third party seller Beach Camera are shipping out the 55-inch Samsung UN55F8000 on offer for $2,697.99, down from $3,099 saving $401!

We were very surprised to see the 55-inch F8000 available and shipping, let alone seeing it selling below its RRP. The pricing matches up with the UPP prices we published yesterday.

Samsung showed off their very first OLED TV way back in January 2012 at CES 2012, along with LG.

Since them only LG have actually managed a release of their OLED HDTV. At this years CES 2013 Samsung were back with their latest OLED TV, the Samsung KN55F9500.

Their latest OLED TV as one would expect, looks absolutely amazing in person, and boasts features such as 3D Multiview and comes with 3D glasses with built in headphones.

While we saw this in person at CES 2013 back in January, very little information regarding pricing or release dates were revealed, and since them we have heard nothing.