Mayday for Swanky Samsung TVs

Samsung will roll out its groundbreaking SUHD TVs in New Zealand from May 1, with prices ranging from $6499 for a 55-inch model to an earth-shattering $20,000 for the 78-inch colossus.

There will be three new series of SUHD TVs – JS9500, JS9000 and JS8000 – in six screen sizes as well as four new UHD series (JU7500, JU7000, JU6600, JU6400), three new Full HD series (J6200, J5500, J5100) and one new HD series (J4100).

But it’s not yet clear if NZ buyers will be offered the six months of free Netflix membership with which Samsung hopes to entice Australian consumers.

The UHD TVs are priced from $3099-$20,000, with the smallest screen size being 40 inches and the largest 85 inches (other options include 40-, 48-, 50-, 55-, 60-, 65- and 75 inches).

The FHD and HD models are priced from $599-$2099, with 32 inches being the smallest and 60 inches the largest.

But it’s the SUHD range that will turn the most heads with the technology’s unprecedented contrast, brightness, colour reproduction and detail.

Samsung says SUHD’s nano-crystal semiconductor transmits different colours of light to produce the highest colour purity and light efficiency possible, providing 64 times more colour expression than conventional Samsung TVs.

“The SUHD re-mastering engine automatically analyses the brightness of images to minimise additional power consumption.

“The engine can produce darker blacks, an elevated brightness up to 2.5 times brighter than conventional Samsung TVs, and twice the colour adjustment points for a more accurate colour display.”

The SUHD TVs also stand out for their design. The flagship JS9500 and JS9000 are curved displays, with the former boasting a chamfered bezel design that Samsung reckons adds more depth to the screen while making it look like a piece of art.

The JS9000 model has a soft, textured shirred design on the back while the JS8000 offers many of the same features but a flat display.

All of Samsung’s 2015 TVs will be powered by Tizen, an open-source platform that supports the web standard for TV app development to provide a more integrated entertainment experience.