For Samsung, curved TVs aren't just a gimmick. The company is going all the way with the idea, announcing today the availability of most of the curved models it unveiled at CES in January — many of them with Ultra HD (aka UHD or 4K) resolution.
Why would you want a curved screen? Samsung says it makes the screen seem even bigger and more immersive — from all viewing positions, not just right in front. Reviewers and users have been more skeptical, but there's no question it's an eye-catching design. The curve also doesn't prevent wall mounting, as the sets still adhere to current standards.
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At the top of the line is the 105-inch model. This TV isn't just curved; it's also UHD and ultra-wide with a 21:9 aspect ratio, which has become the de facto norm for blockbusters like 300: Rise of an Empire and The Lego Movie. We saw it at CES, and it definitely looked spectacular. Samsung says it'll ship "later this year," but there's no price info yet.
You won't have to wait that long for Samsung's U9000 series of curved TVs. All of these models have UHD displays, which are four times the resolution of full HD. All non-UHD material gets upconverted to 4K using Samsung's proprietary tech that's said to deliver "nearly UHD" quality. There's also an Auto Depth Enhancer that can automatically adjust contrast for a greater sense of depth — "like 3D without the glasses," Samsung says.
The U9000 series comes in three screen sizes. It starts at 55 inches for $3,999.99, stepping up to 65 inches at $4,999.99 and going all the way up to 78 inches for $7,999.99. While the first two sets go for sale in March, the 78-incher won't be on sale until later in the year.
The U8700 series of curved sets is also coming in the spring, although Samsung has no pricing yet. These TVs will have most of the features of the U9000 series, such as UHD resolution and local dimming of the backlight. Also notable is the design, which shrinks the bezel around the display to 0.27 inch, so you'll see almost nothing but the screen when you look at it.
What if you like the curve but aren't as hot on UHD? Samsung's got you covered with its H8000 series, which brings the curve to full HD sets. These start at $1,999.99 for a 48-inch TV, and there are 55- and 65-inch models as well, priced $2,499.99 and $3,399.99, respectively.
In addition to the curved sets, Samsung is refreshing other parts of its TV line, offering new flat UHD models like the U8550, which starts at $2,999.99 for a 55-inch model. That will ship in March, with bigger models all the way up to 75 inches to follow by May.
If you get one of these sets and aren't sure where to get 4K content, Netflix and YouTube can help you out, but Samsung also offers a UHD Video Pack. The portable drive contains about a terabyte of video, including movies like A Night at the Musuem and World War Z. The bad news: It costs $299.99.
Samsung has also updated the Smart TV experience in all of its sets, revising the UI in an effort to make it more intuitive. It's also said to be faster, thanks to the new quad-core chips in the TVs themselves.
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