TCL Announces First 8K Roku TV, $1,800 75-Inch TV, 2019 QLED Models for US
TCL announced the first 8K Roku TV, a 75-inch screen size in its 6-Series TVs, the introduction of its QLED quantum dot TVs in the North American market and its entry into the audio business at its Mandalay Bay CES…
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news conference Monday. The move into soundbars and headphones will be followed by personal audio products, including smart speakers, said CEO Kevin Wang, saying the company wants to move with customers out of the home. The company will work with voice assistant companies on a global basis, including Amazon and Google in the U.S., said Aaron Dew, director-product development, North America. TCL first showed its QLED quantum dot technology in 2014 and has been shipping TVs in China (see 1806140075), including a 75-inch model with a Harman Kardon sound system shown at CES Asia in June. On why it’s bringing QLED to North America this year, Dew said, the company is “careful” to only bring products to market that deliver a clear benefit and that are price-accessible to mainstream customers. As the technology has matured, the mainstream customer will value the color, contrast and longevity delivered by quantum dot technology, he said. The 6-Series 75-inch TV is available exclusively for a limited time at Best Buy. Dew focused on price, saying 99 percent of TV sales in the U.S. market last year were priced under $2,000, and nearly every high-performance TV shown at CES this week will be “outside the budget of 99 percent of TV shoppers.” Elsewhere, an upcoming update for 5-Series and 6-Series TCL Roku TVs will bring Dolby Vision gaming compatibility with Xbox 1X and 1S game consoles. TCL became the first TV brand Monday to confirm it’s joining the fledgling 8K Association as a founding member (see 1812210017) when Dew announced TCL’s participating at the news conference. It’s well known that TCL would source its 8K panels from Samsung Display, which is believed to be another founding association member, along with Samsung Electronics and perhaps two additional TV brands. The association, which launches officially at a Wednesday afternoon CES news conference, says its charter will be to promote 8K consumer adoption as more TV brands introduce products in 2019.