LG Electronics postpones 42-inch OLED Gaming TV launch to early 2022

LG Electronics Inc., one of the world’s largest TV makers, plans to launch the much-anticipated 42-inch organic light-emitting diode (OLED) TV early next year, including the model in its new 2022 TV lineup.

According to industry sources on Aug. 19, the South Korean home appliance giant will likely showcase the 42-inch model suitable for gaming during next year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January.

“Apparently, LG wants to add the model to next year’s TV lineup to maximize its marketing efforts rather than unveiling it later this year,” said an industry official.

LG was expected to launch the model later this year as big-screen gaming is gaining popularity in the stay-at-home non-contract era.

In early May, industry sources said LG Electronics plans to launch a 42-inch OLED TV in the second half of this year, when its display affiliate LG Display Co. is slated to mass produce 42-inch panels.

Currently, LG’s smallest OLED TV measures 48 inches, but the company has said it will unveil a smaller 42-inch model to better appeal to gamers, emerging as key customers in the OLED TV segment that offers stunning picture quality.

LG’s C1 series of OLED TVs come in sizes between 48 inches and 83 inches.

OPTIMIZED FOR PS5, XBOX SERIES X

LG, the world's largest OLED TV vendor, said in late June its OLED TVs support advanced video processing technology for gamers at 4K resolution with 120 Hz refresh rate.

LG said its 2021 OLED TV models, including the G1 and C1 series, are compatible with Dolby Vision Gaming at 4K, 120 Hz, becoming the industry's first TV products to support the solution in such picture settings.

Dolby Vision Gaming, developed by Dolby Laboratories Inc., is an imaging technology dedicated to the gaming environment that provides sharper contrast, vibrant colors and brighter highlights.

Industry officials said LG’s 42-inch OLED TV will be optimized for game consoles such as PlayStation 5 (PS5) and Xbox Series X.

According to the Games Marketing Insight for 2021 announced by Facebook Inc., the US had seen 28 million new gamers in a year since March 2020, signifying their growing influence in the gaming TV market. South Korea had 9.4 million new gamers in the same period.

Market researcher Omdia forecasts shipments of TV panels with a 120Hz refresh rate will increase 7% this year from 2020 while total TV panel shipments are expected to decline 1% in the same period.

Write to Su-Bin Lee at lsb@hankyung.com
In-Soo Nam edited this article.