down the line tvs 2012

2012 TVs: Every new HDTV compared

Here's nearly all of the information I've been able to get from CES and since regarding the shiny new TVs of 2012.

I know it's not every TV; minor brands aren't represented, and lack of information from some manufacturers (namely Samsung) prevents me from capturing a few midrange and entry-level models. But as of press time I'm confident that the chart above contains the most comprehensive, current information on forthcoming 2012 models available anywhere.

Sony TVs 2012: Ten is enough

This year at CES 2012 Sony announced just ten total televisions--a pittance compared with last year or any of its Korean of Japanese competitors.

Maybe the company is holding out and will announce more models, perhaps including an XBR, later this year, but for now the chart below, with its seven lonely models, is it.

Moreover the TVs detailed below are largely similar to last year's models. While Samsung and LG announced shipping OLEDs--a technology Sony ditched in 2009--the only next-gen display technology in Sony's booth was a prototype "crystal" LED that may never … Read more

Sharp TVs 2012: 60 is the new small

Sharp is hawking sub-$2000 70-inch LCDs for the big game, and in 2012, its TV lineup will only get bigger and, I'll wager, more affordable.

Last year Sharp switched marketing gears from Quattron's wacky yellow pixel (have a nice day, lab-coated Takei) to a new focus on the "meganormous" (howdy, fat-head dudes). Its lineup emphasized models 60 inches and larger, including 70-inchers from both ends of the price spectrum and the first "affordable" 80-incher.

At CES 2012 Sharp tautologically claimed to be "the No. 1 market share leader in the large-screen television … Read more

Panasonic TVs 2012: Sleeker, better plasmas, more LCDs, and...passive 3D?

Panasonic is still serious about plasma, but in 2012 it will release more (and bigger) LCDs than ever, including one with passive 3D--complete with cheap glasses.

As usual CES provided a full look at the company's 2012 TV hardware plans and we covered them extensively in blog and video form, but the table below attempts to coalesce those plans in the most "scannable, glanceable" view possible. All of it came from the company's official CES press releases, although a few of the Notes were the result of follow-up conversations I had with company reps.

You won'… Read more

Samsung TVs 2012: Micro dimming LEDs, blacker plasmas, gesture control

The chart has been updated with information from Samsung's March 7th line show but the rest of this article (aside from the Changelog below) has not. See the line show article for the latest information on Samsung's 2012 TVs.

Samsung will ship gobs of different TV models in 2012, and CES provided our first peek at the details.

Unfortunately the country's best-selling TV maker chose to keep many of those details under wraps in its CES press releases, I'm assuming because it would rather try to dominate the news cycle in early March at its now … Read more

LG TVs 2012: Thin bezels, motion remotes and lots of LEDs

Massive numbers of new 2012 TVs were announced at CES 2012 earlier this month, and digesting them all is easier with a table than umpteen blog posts.

Hewing close to hoary CES tradition of yore, LG was the first major TV maker to hold its CES press conference. The company also gave CNET the most information prior to the show about its TV models (and probably other stuff; don't ask me about LG phones or kimchi refrigerators please). It also took home Best of Show.

You won't find these TVs described in detail on LG's Web site … Read more