The next generation of flat screen TVs may soon be upon us.  Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology has been around for a few years now, mostly finding use in cell phones, personal media players, and Sony’s 11″ XEL-1 TV which debuted in 2007.  Up until now and at great cost with an MSRP of $2500, Sony’s 11″ OLED TV was the largest production model available for purchase.  But in a few days at the a IFA 2009 consumer electric show in Berlin, LG will announce a 15″ OLED production model TV available early next year and plans for a 40″ version sometime in the not to distant future.

The pictures of LG’s 15″ OLED TV are stunning.  Since OLED displays don’t need back-lights or polarizers, they can be made significantly thinner than even the thinnest of their LCD counterparts (the XEL-1 is 3mm thin).  Additionally, they use a fraction of the energy and have superior color representation, brightness, and contrast ratios.

So anyone considering buying a new TV in the next few years may want to seriously reconsider, or at least be aware of other choices.  OLED TVs are expensive and buying one will require a hefty “early adopter” fee, but placed in comparison to any other technology currently on the market, OLED TVs will definitely have you considering the upgrade.

Via:  Engadget