The Samsung 2011 TV line up, one of the sexiest ranges at this year’s CES, has now launched in Australia. If you been hankering for crazy thin bezels and Samsung’s SmartHub offerings, then you can get your wallets ready. There’s 25 LED TVs, 10 Plasma TVs, and 6 LCD TVs. What flavour / price are you looking for? UPDATED: All the TV food groups are now represented.
LED TVs
The Series 8 8000 model is the flagship of the new range, showing off all the new features, which Samsung says are about four key areas: picture quality, design, SmartHub, and 3D.
The new design is most striking, with an extremely thin bezel that is just 5mm on the front flat and only a few more as it curves off the side. The Series 8 bezel is in a brushed aluminium while the Series 7 gives me an even better warm fuzzy with its clear acrylic style. It just disappears into your room.
How’s the prices?
Series 8 8000
60-inch (April): TBC; 55-inch (April): $4,699
Series 7 7000
55-inch (April): $4,099; 46-inch (April): $3,199
Series 6 6600
60-inch (Aug): TBC; 55-inch (June): $3,499; 46-inch (April) $2,699; 40-inch (April) $2,099
Series 6 6400
55-inch (June): $3,199; 46-inch (April): $2,399; 40-inch (April) $1,899
Series 6 6000
55-inch (May): $2,799; 46-inch (May): $2,099; 40-inch (May) $1,599; 32-inch (May) $1,099
Series 5 and Series 4 prices fall comfortably around and under the $1,000 mark and while they lack most of the fancy new features they’re pretty solid entry-level options.
Plasma TVs
In plasma, Samsung is showing a strong line up, though the fancy new features drop off quickly. Interestingly the Series 6 plasma seems to be missing a web browser and Skype options from its SmartHub applications offering.
The plasmas have also received a 1-inch boost in screen size while retaining the same frame space as before. So what was 42 becomes 43, 50 becomes 51, and so on.
Series 8 8000
64-inch (April): $4,299; 59-inch (April): $3,499; 51-inch (April): $2,599
Series 6 6900
59-inch (April): $2,999; 51-inch (April): $2,099
Series 5 550
64-inch (April): $2,999; 59-inch (April): $2,399; 51-inch (April): $1,599
Series 4 450
51-inch (April): $1,049; 43-inch (March): $849
LCD TVs
The baby who’s been put in the corner, the biggest you’ll see in Samsung LCD these days is 40-inch and it ducks nicely under $1,000. None of the LCD range offer features like SmartHub.
Series 5 550
40-inch (April): $999; 32-inch (April): $749
Series 4 450
32-inch (March): $599; 26-inch (March): $499; 22-inch (May): $399
Series 4 400
19-inch (April): $299