LG Announces 15-Inch OLED; Teases Massive 40-Inch Follow-Up

LG's 15-inch OLED TV

Making consumer OLED screens hasn't been easy. Sure, pocketable gadgets like the upcoming Zune HD have had them for a couple years now, but so far Sony has been the only company to get a screen on the market with a size in the double digits.

Over the weekend, LG announced plans to release a 15-inch OLED TV overseas in 2010. But that's not the big news: an exec is also teasing that a 40-inch set may not be far off. OLED screens at this size present a unique challenge in that the glass they require is difficult to produce in large sizes, which means major factory overhauls for manufacturers.

A 40-inch set is the largest claim we've heard on the OLED front; last year, Sony dangled the idea 27- and 32-inchers in 2011, but that's it.

In general, OLED screens are an enticing idea. Historically, they've had the best contrast, color saturation, and some of the thinnest profiles around. Bear in mind, though, they don't come cheap; Sony's 11-incher rings up at a cool $2,500, so be prepared for some major sticker shock when LG makes things officially official.

LG's 15-inch OLED TV:

[Reuters via Engadget]