Samsung is to replace its M8 series of Full HD flatscreens with a new F8 duo of 40- and 46in LCD TVs, plus launch new 52- and 70in F9 Full HD sets featuring LED backlighting for ultra-high contrast. We'll be first to test both new series.
Key to the F8 models is Samsung's take on 100Hz picture processing - 100Hz MotionPLUS - designed to eliminate motion-blur and offer smoother images. This is backed by a claimed contrast ratio of 25,000:1.
The F8s also feature Samsung's Wide Colour Enhancer, designed to boost colour detail by creating a wider range of hues.
Both F8 sets offer three HDMI sockets, plus a new WiseLink USB 2.0 feature to aid connectivity of devices from digital cameras and camcorders to MP3 and portable video players.
Samsung also claims the sets sound good - a boast rarely made for flatscreen TVs. It's built two subwoofers into the 46in F8 set and an enhanced sub into the 40in F8, backed by a bass-boost feature available in certain user modes - including Game Mode,which also aims to offer faster image response time.
The F8 sets will be in shops from September, priced around £1399 for the 40in and £1899 for the 46in.
Meanwhile, Samsung's new flagship flatscreens become the F9 range - 52- and 70in LCD sets that use LED backlighting to achieve 'local dimming' - and a claimed contrast ratio of a staggering 500,000:1!
Not sure about that one, but the sets looked pretty special on the IFA stand - as they should at the price: the 52in is likely to cost around £3000, while the 72in comes in at (wait for it) £20,000. Yes, twenty-grand.
The F9 models - due in late September - also claim to consume 30 percent less power than a conventional LCD.
Technorati Tags: Flatscreen TVs, IFA, LCD, Samsung