CES 2023: Sharp Plans XLED and OLED TVs For U.S. Market

Japan-based Sharp with assist from its principal proprietor, Taiwan-based Foxconn, seems to be poised to reinvigorate its present meager presence within the U.S. TV market with two attention-grabbing entries. 

On the 2023 CES, Sharp exhibited a 120-inch 4K XLED TV prototype along with their announcement that they are going to have a line of XLED TVs, and new OLED TVs for its Roku TV product line for the U.S. market.

XLED TV

In the event you keep in mind your historical past, XLED shouldn’t be a brand new TV know-how. Similar to the ULED marketing label used by Hisense and previously used by Vizio until 2019, Sharp’s XLED label refers to an LCD-based TV that employs a number of applied sciences to optimize picture high quality. 

Tip: AQUOS has been Sharp’s conventional advertising label for its mid-to-high-end TV fashions, just like how Sony makes use of the “Bravia” branding to determine its mid-to-high-end TV fashions. XLED is an add-on label that refers to a particular group of applied sciences inside the AQUOS designation.

The core options of Sharp’s XLED TVs embrace:

Xtreme Mini-LED

Mini-LED TVs are LCD TVs that use LED backlighting, however on this case, the LED gentle bulbs are a lot smaller (usually 2mm or much less) than standard-size LEDs utilized in most LCD TVs.

Since Mini-LEDs are a lot smaller than LEDs utilized in most LED backlights for LCD-based TVs, as much as a number of thousand can be utilized (relying on the TV’s display screen dimension) as an alternative of simply dozens (or much less) which may be used on commonplace LED/LCD TV backlight panels. 

Within the case of Sharp XLED TVs, there are 2,000+ dimming zones (the precise quantity could fluctuate relying on display screen dimension).

Xtreme Brightness

Along with the variety of mini LEDs and dimming zones, Sharp has applied the high-brightness functionality for its mini-LED backlight panel. Sharp claims that its mini-LED blacklight can ship as much as 6x the height brightness of most LED/LCD TVs. That is vital for options similar to HDR, which rely upon excessive brightness output to offer the absolute best outcomes. XLED TVs are suitable with HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision.

Deep Chroma QD

The third core know-how that rounds out Sharp’s XLED know-how is the implementation of Quantum Dots. 

Quantum Dots are color-sensitive nanocrystals that vary from 2 Nanometers (15 atoms) to 7 Nanometers (150 atoms) in dimension. Quantum Dots are positioned on a sheet (Quantum Dot Enhancement Movie – QDEF) that’s positioned between an LED backlight and the LCD Show panel of a TV. With their microscopic dimension, the variety of quantum dots in TV numbers within the hundreds of thousands.  

The method of a quantum dot emitting gentle of a particular coloration after being struck by a light-weight supply is known as Quantum Dot Coloration Conversion (aka QDCC). 

This coloration conversion functionality boosts coloration accuracy and vary. For Sharp’s XLED TVs that may be as a lot as a 20% enchancment in coloration vary over LCD-based TVs with out Quantum Dots. 

Different options (along with Sharp’s XLED basis) embrace Google TV OS,  HDMI 2.1a (eARC, VRR, ALLM), Wi-Fi 6, and Rotating Stand. 

Though the 120-inch XLED TV proven at CES was solely a prototype, Sharp has indicated that 65, 70, and 75-inch variations are deliberate to be launched to the U.S. market in Spring 2023. There’s additionally a risk that an 85-inch mannequin will develop into accessible later within the yr. 

XLED TV Sound

AQUOS XLED TVs include Sharp’s ARSS+ (Round Speaker System) loud speaker. This method is supplied with 10 audio system surrounding the display screen and a subwoofer behind the display screen. Sound replica is enabled by the mixture of audio system optimized for prime, mid, and low-frequency ranges. Sharp claims that this speaker system will likely be supported by 85 watts of amplification. Dolby Atmos support can also be included. 

From Hirofumi Okamoto, BU President of Sharp Company’s Sensible Show Methods Enterprise Unit: “I’m thrilled that Sharp is launching its flagship TV mannequin, AQUOS XLED, to shoppers within the U.S. and in different nations and areas. The exact management made attainable by its backlight of densely laid mini LEDs and its quantum dot know-how allows powerfully expressive brightness and coloration. The beautiful photographs are accompanied by sound that can little question give viewers an “glorious expertise,” a phrase which conjures up the product identify.”

Sharp OLED/Roku TV

Together with the AQUOS XLED launch, Sharp plans to introduce six Roku TV fashions within the U.S. market. Two will likely be OLED TVs (55 and 65 inches) and 4 will likely be non-XLED LCD-based TVs with standard LED backlighting (50, 55, 65, and 75 inches).

Though LCD-based Roku TVs have been accessible for a number of years, 2023 would be the first yr that choose Sharp OLED TVs will likely be geared up with the Roku OS. 

What’s attention-grabbing about this announcement is that Roku announced a new, premium OLED TV reference design, accessible to all Roku TV companions (Sharp is a Roku TV Accomplice). If Sharp is utilizing Roku’s reference design, then it signifies that the TV meets each Sharp’s and Roku’s technical requirements. Extra particulars are forthcoming. 

Tip: All OLED panels utilized by Sharp and Roku, in addition to different TV manufacturers, are made by the LG Display Company. Sharp has been promoting OLED TV fashions in Japan and different choose markets for a number of years. 

Value and Availability for Sharp’s 2023 TV line are nonetheless forthcoming.

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