Samsung Boosts UHD TV Line-up In The U.S.

Samsung Smart HU8550 UHD TVSamsung Smart HU8550 UHD TV
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has begun selling a new 85-inch UHD TV model while announcing two new UHD TV models.

Samsung's 85-inch flat screen model, the Samsung Smart HU8550 UHD TV, retails at US$9,999.00. It went on sale June 30 in the U.S. The South Korean company will begin selling its new HU7250 series curved UHD TVs in August.

The curved UHD TVs will have screen sizes of 55-inches and 65-inches. The former is expected to retail at US$2,199.99 and the latter at US$3,299.99. Both models will come with a range of smart options such as surfing the Internet or running an app.

A unique feature of the curved TV is its ability to split its wrap-around display into four separate sections. This allows owners to view different programs simultaneously. Samsung calls this function Quad Screen Multi-link.

The introduction of the flat screen HU8550 and the curved HU7250 will give Samsung six UHD TV models with either flat or curved displays. Screen sizes will range from 40-inches to a massive 110-inches, the world's largest.

Samsung is aggressively pushing curved UHD TVs as the next big thing in American home entertainment. The HU7250 series models, which Samsung claims will deliver a more "true to life experience," could be the most affordable way to get to experience 4K in a concave display.

Tech pundits said that the new HU6950 series could solidify Samsung's position at the top of the UHD TV food chain.

The more affordable HU6950 series has three new models: a US$1,000 40-inch; a US$1,500 50-inch and a US$2,000 55-inch.

Pundits said Samsung's unrelenting push for UHD TVs seems to be a big risk given that UHD TV remains a novelty in the U.S. and elsewhere. Streaming Internet provider Netflix believes widespread adoption of UHD TV in the U.S is still another five years away.

Market research firm Strategy Analytics estimates it will take until 2020 for UHD TVs to make up over 40 percent of global TV shipments. Currently, global demand for UHD TVs exceeded one million units for the first time in 2013. Most UHD TV sales came from China, however.

Strategy Analytics predicts that 32 percent of U.S. homes and 22 percent of western European homes will have at least one UHD TV by 2020.

"As the UHD TV market leader, we're seeing excellent category growth and adoption among consumers who are looking for the highest resolution and best-in-class picture quality Samsung UHD TVs offer," said Joe Stinziano, Executive Vice President, Samsung Electronics America.

"We're excited to introduce another super-sized model and two entirely new series to our UHD TV family. Whether it's a flat or curved UHD TV, Samsung continues to provide consumers the broadest selection of UHD TVs for any home."