The disruptive TV startup Displace, which came to the fore with the launch of the world’s first-ever totally wireless TV at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, is set to return to the 2024 edition next month with yet more innovative products. It’s planning to launch two new models there, including the Displace Flex, and the Displace Mini.
The 55-inch Displace Flex is a follow up to last year’s wireless, 55-inch 4K OLED Displace TV that runs on rechargeable batteries. It has many of the same specifications as the original model, with its extremely lightweight frame and wireless features, plus a battery life that is claimed to last for up to one month.
What’s new with the 55-inch Displace Flex is the thermal camera and NFC reader. The thermal camera will allow users to generate body heat maps that can be combined with fitness-focused and telehealth apps to help assess their health. More useful, perhaps, is the NFC reader, which makes it possible to pause TV playback to purchase items such as clothing, electronics and food. Once the user has selected the items they wish to buy, they can pay via the Displace app or mobile banking app.
Those new features will also appear in the 27-inch Displace Mini, which is roughly half the size of the original and weighs just 5.44 kilograms. With its smaller frame and reduced heft, Displace says the Mini can be installed in many different locations around the home, such as in the kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms etc. In addition, the Displace Mini can also be combined with other Displace TVs, just like the original and the Flex, to create a much larger screen. This gives its a level of versatility for business and commercial use cases that has previously only been available on ultra-expensive MicroLED displays.
Both of the new models are said to have a battery life of around one month, assuming the user switches them on for six hours per day on average. There’s also a wireless charger available on the Displace Stand, which provides an alternative for those who don’t want it to be mounted onto a wall, but this is sold separately.
The wall mounting capabilities of the Displace TVs are another differentiator. Last year’s model was the first to integrate Displace’s active loop vacuum technology, enabling it to stick to any wall without the need for a traditional mount that must be screwed into the wall.
The Displace is also notable for its support for hand gestures, which allow users to control many of its functions using their hands only, no remote control necessary. The hand gesture support also makes it easier to interact with certain kinds of TV apps, such as games, shopping apps and so on.
While the new models definitely sound intriguing, beware that they cost significantly more than most standard TVs. Displace has slapped a $5,499 price tag on the 55-inch Flex and $2,499 price on the 27-inch Mini, which makes them pricier than more advanced OLED TVs of similar sizes, such as LG’s G3 and Sony’s A90L and A85L models.
That said, the modular nature of Displace’s offerings may find some appeal among businesses and others who have commercial applications for the displays. For example, four 55-inch Flex (or original) models can be combined to make a massive, 220-inch display with 16K resolution. That’s much cheaper than the alternative, which is to buy a ridiculously expensive MicroLED TV such as LG’s 118-inch model, which retails at a cool $237,000.
All told, the Displace TVs probably aren’t going to sell like hot cakes, but they may have some success as a kind of niche product, either for businesses or individuals who appreciate the flexibility they provide. The 27-inch Displace Mini, especially, could come in handy for those looking for a portable display that can be moved around fairly easily. However, for anyone looking for a more conventional TV, it’s going to be hard to justify the higher costs of one of these new models.
