LG Starts 2019 OLED Lineup at a $200 Higher Price Point in 7-Model Rollout

LG announced pricing and availability Friday for a seven-set 2019 OLED TV lineup, led by the $2,499 OLED55C9PUA, due next month. More models and screen sizes are on deck for May, June and later in the year, said the company. The OLED TVs support Apple AirPlay2 and HomeKit, and built-in support for Alexa and Google Assistant gives consumers voice assistant control without the need for compatible smart speakers, LG said. In the box is LG’s Magic Remote, which allows users to access both voice assistant platforms and control smart home devices by voice, said the company, and the TVs incorporate Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos immersive audio. In 2018, LG OLED TVs started $200 lower, at $2,299, for the B8, which was selling during a Newegg sale Friday for $1,079 in a seven-day promotion. LG spokesperson John Taylor said the higher buy-in price reflects the 2019 TVs’ features, performance and competitive positioning. The other six LG OLED TVs are the 65- ($3,499, April) and 77-inch ($6,999, May) C9 series models; the 55-inch ($3,299, June) and 65-inch ($4,299, April) E9 sets and the 65-inch ($6,999, June) and 77-inch ($12,999, June) W9 TVs, the company said. LG previewed the lineup at CES (see 1901030022), crediting the new Alpha 9 Gen 2 processor, with artificial intelligence and deep learning technology, for the TVs’ ability to recognize source quality and implement the best algorithm for display. The processor also analyzes ambient room lighting conditions to achieve the optimal level of screen brightness, it said.