LG 2017 OLED TVs now up for preorder, starting at $2,500
Revealing pricing for the "cheaper" 2017 OLED TVs in LG's C7 series for the first time, retailer B&H sets the 55-incher at $2,500 and the 65-incher at $4,000.
- Although still awaiting his Oscar for Best Picture Reviewer, David does hold certifications from the Imaging Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Standards and Technology on display calibration and evaluation.
Editors' Note, February 24, 2017: Official pricing for LG's 2017 OLED TVs has been announced and it starts at $3,500, $1,000 more than indicated in the article below. Aside from the addition of this note, this article has not been updated.
Looks like you'll pay at least $500 more to own a 2017 LG OLED TV compared to the 2016 version.
In advance of any official pricing announcement from LG itself, retailer B&H has posted preorder pages for the 55-inch ($2,500) and 65-inch ($4,000) sizes in LG's C7 series of OLED TVs. We expect other retailers to follow suit soon.
Those prices are $500 and $1,000 more (respectively) than the current prices for LG's entry-level OLED TVs, the B6 series.
B&H's site does not list availability beyond "coming soon," and when CNET called the retailer's representative didn't have any additional information on when the C7 might ship.
LG did not immediately return a request for confirmation of pricing or availability.
LG's OLED-based TVs like the B6 deliver the best picture quality CNET has ever tested, for a price that's significantly higher than comparable LCD-based televisions. I expect the 2017 models to continue that trend. The C7, B7 and all of LG's 2017 TVs will offer the same image quality, according to LG.
Beyond some styling differences, the 2017 models offer the following improvements over the 2016 versions:
- 25 percent brighter in highlights
- 2 percent better coverage of DCI/P3 color (from 97 to 99 percent)
- Compatible with Technicolor and HLG HDR formats
- "Active HDR" mode
- Technicolor picture mode
- Dolby Atmos sound
In my opinion, none of those improvements will make a big enough difference in picture (or sound) quality to spend $500 or $1,000 extra on the C7 over the B6. Of course I won't know for sure until I can test one.
Still on the fence? Check out Should I buy an OLED TV now or wait for 2017 models?
