The race for the leading edge of the TV-making industry is down to millimeters. [LG flat tv] LG LG Electronics Co., the world's second-largest maker of TVs by units and revenue, on Thursday unveiled a 55-inch flat-panel TV that is the thinnest yet -- just 24.8 millimeters in depth, or 0.98 inches. The company's new models bested the previous thin leader, Samsung Electronics Co., the 
world's top seller of TVs by units and revenue and LG's crosstown rival. Samsung in late March rolled out a full series of ultrathin flat-panel TVs, with the 55-inch model measuring 30.5 millimeters in depth, or 1.2 inches. The two companies are leading the way in an industry trend to make flat-panel TVs -- which have supplanted the decades-old, tube-based TV in most of the world over the past five years -- even thinner than they already are. Such ultrathin TVs are likely to account for less than 1% of the overall TV market, which is expected to sell about 200 million units this year. But they show the direction TV design is headed, and, for the moment, yield sizable price and profit premiums for manufacturers. LG said its new 55-inch TVs will cost about $5,000 when they hit stores in South Korea and Europe in the next few weeks. The current list price for Samsung's comparable model is $4,000. By contrast, 55-inch TVs that are three to five inches thick sell for $2,000 to $3,000. "The prices of those [ultra-slim] products are likely to fall toward the end of the year," said Yoon Hyuk-jin, analyst at Shinyoung Securities, citing the likelihood of more competition.
For further details visit at : online.wsj.com/article/SB124595473000755293.html
world's top seller of TVs by units and revenue and LG's crosstown rival. Samsung in late March rolled out a full series of ultrathin flat-panel TVs, with the 55-inch model measuring 30.5 millimeters in depth, or 1.2 inches. The two companies are leading the way in an industry trend to make flat-panel TVs -- which have supplanted the decades-old, tube-based TV in most of the world over the past five years -- even thinner than they already are. Such ultrathin TVs are likely to account for less than 1% of the overall TV market, which is expected to sell about 200 million units this year. But they show the direction TV design is headed, and, for the moment, yield sizable price and profit premiums for manufacturers. LG said its new 55-inch TVs will cost about $5,000 when they hit stores in South Korea and Europe in the next few weeks. The current list price for Samsung's comparable model is $4,000. By contrast, 55-inch TVs that are three to five inches thick sell for $2,000 to $3,000. "The prices of those [ultra-slim] products are likely to fall toward the end of the year," said Yoon Hyuk-jin, analyst at Shinyoung Securities, citing the likelihood of more competition.For further details visit at : online.wsj.com/article/SB124595473000755293.html
