Television is not a dinosaur, it is evolving.
Back in favor with the confinements linked to the Covid-19 pandemic, indoor screens are being renewed under the action of increasingly imaginative manufacturers and more flexible and efficient materials.
Here's a glimpse into the future of televisions unveiled at the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show this week in virtual mode.
8K, future queen
Appeared for the first time 4 years ago, 8K televisions have a screen definition (7680 x 4320 pixels) 4 times higher than current models in 4K or UHD.
They provide an image with more depth and relief.
Happiness for the retinas?
Hard to say as there is still little content shot in this format.
Thanks to algorithms, current televisions are currently in charge of artificially inflating the quality of the image in 4K ("upscaling") but the 8K filming of sporting events (the Olympic Games, Roland Garros, etc.) or of films becomes little by little the norm.
A Sony XR Bravia television in 8K./DR/Sony format
The emergence of this format follows the demand for larger screens because beyond 65 inches (diagonal of 165.1 cm) the lack of fineness of the pixels is felt on the screen.
To accelerate their adoption, manufacturers like Samsung, LG or Sony posted lower starting prices than the first 4K televisions marketed in 2011 beyond 10,000 euros.
The most affordable models start at 3000 euros.
The Laser TV, space-saving
It is a new technique of diffusion by a short throw projector.
Placed near a wall, this box emits a blue laser towards a special projection screen which transcribes the image in 4K (UHD) on a beautiful diagonal of 2 to 2.5 m depending on the model.
Unlike lamp projectors, the Laser TV does not need to be heated and can be used without having to turn off the light.
Hisense Laser TV broadcasts on a passive panel to be fixed to the wall.
/ Hisense
Connected and equipped with a sound bar, the latest models, in particular those of the Chinese manufacturer Hisense, leader in this young market, are intended to replace classic televisions and old-fashioned video projectors within 5 years.
The first price Laser TVs are sold around 3000 euros.
Roll-up TV
Big sensation of the CES show in Las Vegas in 2019, the TV that rolls up like a poster, the Signature OLED R from the Korean manufacturer LG, is finally available for sale for ... 70,000 euros.
The 65-inch OLED screen is actually a flexible panel that folds into an imposing case like a tapestry.
LG's roll-up TV disappears in an imposing trunk like a parchment./AFP
The foldable screen can also come out halfway to use it as a connected home control panel or only use the audio functions of this great innovation.
LG promises a durability of 50,000 windings and unwinds.
Transparent screens
Although the first prototype was unveiled in 2012, the first transparent TV models have only been available for sale for a few months and at a minimum of 7,000 euros.
Asian manufacturers Panasonic and LG were among the first to draw with a panel whose pixel layout and absence of backlighting do not obstruct the view and therefore allow you to see what is happening behind the screen.
The Korean LG has even gone further by presenting this year at CES in Las Vegas a prototype of a transparent and mobile OLED screen, the Smart Bed Frame, to be installed at the foot of the bed and which comes out vertically from a large carrying case. storage.
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VIDEO. Transparent, curved, projected onto a frame, mini-Led: the televisions of the future are revealed
Be careful, however, before you crack, televisions on sale only display a definition in Full HD, far from current 4K standards.
They are also much heavier than conventional televisions and intended primarily for professionals including shops and showrooms.