Is there a $100,000 TV? A Look at LG‘s Most Expensive TVs

For most consumers, buying a TV means a budget of $500 to $2,000 for a nice, new 4K smart TV. But at the ultra-high-end of the market, there exists a category of luxury TVs priced in the five to six-figure range. LG in particular caters to wealthy videophiles with statement-piece TVs up to a staggering $100,000.

Let‘s take an in-depth look at the exclusive technologies and premium experiences defining these aspirational LG TVs of the future.

The Market for Luxury TVs

While the mass TV market is focused on value, there is a small but growing segment of high net worth individuals interested in the ultimate television experience, regardless of price. Their motivations may include:

• Early adoption of the latest display innovations
• Exclusivity and status symbols
• Building extraordinary home theaters
• Pushing technology to the limits

According to research firm TrendForce, global shipments of TVs priced above $2,500 are estimated to grow from 5.3 million units in 2022 to 6.6 million units by 2026. This high-end segment is expected to outpace growth in the overall TV market.

LG Signature OLED R – $100,000

The showstopper of LG‘s luxury lineup is the LG Signature OLED R "rollable" TV. This 4K OLED smart TV has a flexible display that can extend and retract from its base on command. Fully extended, it‘s a 65-inch screen with self-lit OLED pixels and perfect black levels. Retracted, the display disappears into the base and it looks like a stylish furniture piece.

According to LG, the rollable mechanism underwent rigorous testing for reliability including over 50,000 rollouts. The OLED panel is coated in a protective film and the sides include mesh screens to prevent dust ingress when retracted.

Powering the visuals is LG‘s latest α (Alpha) 9 Gen 3 AI Processor 4K with deep learning for optimized picture and sound. It analyzes content in real-time and enhances detail, contrast, and color. This machine learning also recognizes faces and text to boost those areas specifically.

For gaming, it meets demanding specs like 4K/120Hz input, VRR, ALLM, and HDMI 2.1. The connectivity includes 4 HDMI ports, 3 USB inputs, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and optical digital audio output.

As an OLED TV, it delivers an effectively infinite contrast ratio for the deepest blacks right beside bright highlights. Colors are highly accurate with support for cinematic HDR formats like Dolby Vision and HDR10.

LG‘s webOS smart platform runs the streaming and smart home control features, interoperating with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple AirPlay 2, and HomeKit. The audio output is a powerful 80W 4.2-channel system with Dolby Atmos processing.

This engineering marvel carries an expected price tag of $100,000. As a halo product showcasing the brand‘s technology, only limited quantities are being produced. According to LG, it‘s aimed at luxury buyers who want the latest innovation and most unique TV.

LG Signature 8K OLED TV – $30,000

In addition to the rollable TV, LG offers an 88-inch 8K OLED model in their elite Signature series. It‘s specified at a still massive price of $30,000.

With over 33 million OLED pixels self-illuminating, it achieves a seamless 8K resolution of 7,680 x 4,320. This level of detail surpasses even the visual acuity of the human eye, creating an utterly lifelike viewing experience.

Pictures are powered by LG‘s latest α9 Gen 2 AI Processor 8K. This chip utilizes deep learning to scale content to 8K with enhanced texture, clarity and noise reduction. It leverages an enormous neural network with over 20 million image data points for optimization.

As an OLED TV, it delivers the perfect black levels and pixel-level precision that LCD/LED TVs cannot match. The self-lit pixels turn off completely to yield an infinite contrast ratio. It supports HDR formats like Dolby Vision IQ which dynamically adjusts picture based on ambient lighting conditions in your room.

For audio immersion, Dolby Atmos support and AI Acoustic Tuning analyze the content and space. The smart features run webOS with integrated voice assistants. For connectivity, it includes 4 HDMI 2.1 inputs, 3 USB ports, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Ethernet.

This TV provides an ultra-premium 8K OLED viewing experience. But with a 88-inch screen size requirement for 8K resolution, it remains a luxury product in limited production priced at $30,000.

More Super-Premium LG TVs

While not reaching the $100K price level of the rollable model, here are some other ultra-high-end LG TVs:

• 77" LG OLED C2 Series 4K TV – $5,000
• 83" LG OLED C1 Series 4K TV – $6,000
• 77" LG OLED G2 Gallery Series 4K TV – $7,000
• 97" LG OLED G2 Gallery Series 8K TV – $25,000

The G2 Gallery series has the super slim form factor for mounting flush to the wall like a piece of art. It uses LG‘s brighter new OLED Evo technology on select models for higher peak brightness and vibrant images.

What Makes These Luxury TVs So Expensive?

There are several key factors driving the sky-high pricing of LG‘s luxury TV lineup:

• Cutting-edge display technology – The proprietary flexible OLED panel and 8K OLED displays are extremely difficult to manufacture, especially at larger sizes. The yields are low, material costs are high, and production lines require expensive specialized equipment.
• Limited production volumes – As flagship halo products demonstrating technology, LG intentionally limits production. Lower economies of scale further increase costs.
• R&D investments – Developing world-first innovations like rollable OLED displays requires massive R&D budgets over multiple years that must be recouped.
• Luxury design and materials – Premium builds with metal, glass, thin profiles, and unique industrial design raise BOM (bill of materials) costs.
• Brand positioning – Priced at a premium for status appeal and exclusivity compared to mainstream models.

LG also integrates sophisticated processing, sleek styling, and the latest display advancements into more accessible high-end models. But the ultra-luxury segment pursues innovation and performance with little regard for cost.

Contrast to Future Display Technologies

LG‘s current luxury TVs utilize OLED panel technology. OLED offers key advantages like per-pixel lighting, infinite contrast, and wide viewing angles. But new display technologies are emerging that could push picture quality even further in the future:

• MicroLED – Microscopic self-emissive LEDs aimed to combine the perfect black levels of OLED with higher brightness and durability of LCD/LED TVs. Still in R&D phase.
• QD-OLED – Quantum dot OLED uses quantum dot nanocrystals on an OLED backplane for purer RGB colors. Being commercialized by Sony and Samsung.
• Direct View QD-LED – Quantum dot LED backlights in LCD TVs for high color volume. Used in some high-end Samsung TVs currently.

Which technology dominates the future ultra-high-end TV space will depend on advancements in manufacturing and performance. But for now, LG‘s OLED TVs have a multi-year lead at the pinnacle of the market.

Delivering a Luxury Experience

Given the stratospheric prices, LG goes the extra mile on delivering an exceptional customer experience:

• White glove delivery and installation from LG‘s concierge service
• Exclusive access to LG‘s premium support team
• Custom calibration for your environment by LG‘s technicians
• Invitations to private industry events and early previews

From the unboxing to setup to ongoing support, LG aims to provide a luxury service experience worthy of the price tags. For home theater aficionados, this specialty treatment enhances the appeal.

Of course, $10,000 TVs are not for everyone. But for those seeking the absolute cutting-edge displays with bespoke service, LG caters to the ultra-high-end with unique TVs that redefine what‘s possible.