Sony Europe has just confirmed the price and an approximate release date for its popular 9-Series 4K LCD TVs that feature local dimming technology.
The new 4K resolution X950G series is Sony’s premium LCD TV range, and comes in four different sizes – a choice of 55, 65, 75 and 85-inch models.
The 9-Series has been a popular choice among consumers in recent years thanks to its Full Array Local Dimming (FALD) technology that brings High Dynamic Range capabilities to LCD panels.
FALD systems place LED dimming zones behind the LCD panel. That’s in contrast to regular edge LED where the diodes are located at the edge of the panel. Sony says that by doing this, it enables superior backlight control, with improved luminance and higher contrast ratios, though the image quality depends on the exact number of dimming zones available.
Sony’s X950G series does face competition, with rival brands such as Samsung, TCL and Vizio all integrating FALD technology into their own models.
Still, Sony sounds confident that its new lineup will continue to be a best seller. The company said the 2019 X950G models improve on last year’s X900F series in several ways, with superior viewing angles on the larger models, a better sound system, and HDMI eARC among other improvements. The TVs also boast support for the Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG High Dynamic Range formats. Each one is “IMAX Enhanced” and runs on Google’s Android TV operating system.
The superior viewing angles on the 75-inch and 85-inch models are enabled by Sony’s new X-Wide Angle technology, which helps to ensure that the onscreen images retain their brightness and sharpness even when viewed from the side.
“Sony's original optical design to control light from the backlight ensures colours stay true no matter the viewer’s position with reduced shifts when viewing the screen off-axis,” the company explains. “Together with X-Motion Clarity™, which minimises motion blur without sacrificing screen brightness during sports and fast action scenes, the XG95 provides improved picture quality beyond the normal capabilities of an LCD TV.”
Sony has already published prices on its website, and says the new TVs are available for pre-order now, ahead of their release next month. That's somewhat earlier than anticipated, with Sony initially saying the TVs would go on sale in May or June when they were first announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last month.
Pricing starts at £1,899 for the 55-inch version, £2,499 for the 65-inch model, and £3,999 for the 75-inch screen. Pricing for the 85-inch flagship, which might arrive in stores a few weeks later than the others, has not yet been announced.
