Samsung packs both brains and beauty into its top-of-the-line Ultra HD Smart TVs, but you’ll have to pay extra to avoid having to choose.
Samsung announced pricing on the latest UHD Smart TV, the S9, this week, and like other similar TVs with near-4K resolutions that we saw debuted at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nev. in January, the 85-inch plasma screen costs more than many cars, coming with a $40,000 price tag.
Just visually the TV is impressive, with a 3,840 x 2,160 UHD resolution, which is augmented by a backlit panel that is meant to one-up the LED-edgelit features of similar devices like the LG 84LM9600, which is a comparative bargain at ONLY $20,000, and the Sony KD-84X9000, which has been announced at $25,000.
While a near-invisible bezel along the screen's edge is meant to avoid notice, the stand that holds the screen is interesting. A thin multi-part frame, with a bar extending out the back for support looks easel-like, even while housing some impressive hardware.
“This 85-inch UHD TV also offers a timeless design – the TV appears to float within its thin frame – which challenges traditional concepts of TV design,” Samsung said in a release.
The frame contains powerful speakers and a camera, which integrates with the other impressive part of the TV, the part that makes it a Smart TV.
The S9 includes a new quad-core processor to power a revised Samsung Smart Hub, promising a better user experience than ever.
“This year, Samsung’s redesigned Smart Hub makes it easier for consumers to discover the content they love,” the release said. “It eliminates the need to navigate through myriad sources and options, and provides a simple way to manage content from one central location.”
The new TV will also be able to use some new apps, for channels like Fox and Univision.
The $40,000 monster will be available for pre-order this month.
