Best Buy began taking pre-orders Monday for a $3,499...

Best Buy began taking pre-orders Monday for a $3,499 55-inch curved OLED 1080p TV, more than 75 percent off the price of LG’s initial OLED TV that hit the market last summer at $14,999. The sub-$3,500 retail price is due to “very significant yield improvements” comparable to large-screen LCD TV yields at a similar stage of that technology’s evolution, John Taylor, LG vice president-government and public affairs, told Consumer Electronics Daily. In a news release Monday, LG took shots at Panasonic and Samsung, saying: “As other TV manufacturers abandon plasma and struggle with OLED production, LG Electronics is reinforcing its leadership in this premium display technology with the official U.S. launch of its next-generation OLED TV.” LG also plans to launch 55- and 65-inch Ultra HD OLED models this fall, but a launch date hasn’t been set, Taylor said. The 55-inch 55EC9300 HD model will begin shipping Aug. 24 at Best Buy and will be available at other regional retailers including Abt Electronics, BrandsMart and P.C. Richard this month following the Best Buy launch, LG said. The 55EC9300 is LG’s third OLED TV release in 13 months and is the first OLED in LG’s line with the LG Smart TV+webOS connected TV platform. LG called the platform a “speedy interface that delivers lightning-quick transitions” between broadcast TV, streaming services and external devices. The TV comes with LG’s gesture-driven Magic remote control. According to the TV’s FTC Energy Guide label, annual energy costs for using the 55EC9300 TV are roughly $17. Meanwhile, LG chopped $4,700 off the price of the predecessor 55-inch HD 3D smart and curved OLED TV, bringing it to $3,299. The limited-market 55EA8800 55-inch gallery OLED TV -- with pre-loaded artwork, an articulating arm and integrated 100-watt speaker system -- remains in the line at $8,499. “It’s a different animal,” Taylor said.