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Samsung announces curved OLED for $13,000

Samsung has announced the 55-inch curved OLED will be available in South Korea next month for $13,000 U.S., but local availability is yet to be confirmed.

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The 55-inch curved OLED will be available in South Korea next month for $13,000. Samsung

Samsung launched its first curved OLED TV in South Korea on Thursday, just a week after announcing availability of its flat-screen OLED, the KN55F9500. But the curve will cost you, with a price of $13,000 U.S., or $4,000 more than the flat version.

The television will ship in July, and according to Reuters, the company plans to release the curved version in other territories as well, though Samsung has yet to confirm if this includes the United States.

The 55-inch display comes with a curved panel and is finished with a "Timeless Arena" design. The TV will include many of the company's high-end features, including multiview function for two programs at once using dedicated glasses as well as support for the Smart Evolution Kit.

On a related note, LG is retailing its curved OLED TV for $13,500 U.S. in South Korea with no announcement as yet of local availability.

The curve in these televisions is designed to give an IMAX-like picture with all points of the screen equidistant from the viewer, but as Geoffrey Morrison found curved OLEDs are not designed to be watched by more than one person.

CNET has contacted Samsung for comment and will update the story when it replies.

(Via CNET Asia)