Has Samsung Given Up on LCD TV?
On Sunday night, I attended a Best Buy invitation-only event for Reward Zone members here in Atlanta. This event ran nationwide at select Best Buy locations in various markets. “Samsung LED” was the featured item at the event, which highlighted a promotion of 46″ and 55″ derivative 7100 series models sold exclusively at Best Buy. A Samsung representative was in attendance. However, it should be pointed out that while she characterized herself as a “Samsung Sales Rep,” she was most likely part of a sourced sales support effort-minimally trained-in order to cover all of the storefronts. I note this because I represented myself as a serious customer for the Samsung LED. I first talked to a couple of Best Buy salespeople who pretty much verbalized the Point-of-Purchase highlights attached to the end-cap display, discussed the new LED display (in general terms) and showed me the thin profile.
After their presentations were exhausted, I then asked each if this was literally an LED TV-specifically if the display was LED. I was assured it was LED. I then said I had been told by a friend that this was not really an LED TV but an LED-backlit LCD TV. Both salespeople assured me it was an LED TV. I was then referred to the Samsung rep, who also assured me it was an LED TV. As she opened her sales binder with talking points to show me “LED TV,” she mentioned that she had heard there were LCD TVs out there that were LED backlit as I described, but that was not the case with these Samsung models.
I realize Samsung and mainstream retail in general seem comfortable characterizing these models as simply “LED.” It is noteworthy, though, that both salespeople and a Samsung representative, probably all in innocent ignorance, hold the LED line even when directly questioned. While I have heard clarification, unprompted, from specialty and custom retailers for whom this is the second generation of LED-backlit Samsung LCD TVs, it is clear that there is definitely no message coming from training at the big-box level that these are not pure LED TVs. With the two words “Samsung LED” ubiquitous in advertising and heavy promotional activity at Best Buy, Sears and elsewhere in print and TV spots, the brand is clearly setting the tone for representation on the sales floor. When I talked with Sears salespeople as well as their telephone product support specialists about their main line 7000 series models, I was given the same response as at Best Buy: “Those are LED TVs.” As a technology to generate excitement at retail, has Samsung given up on LCD TV?
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Samsung 7000 series is LCD TV with LED back light. It is better for
Samsung to mention clearly about it. Because some of the buyers might
think it is real LED TV, which named OLED.
OLED is not LCD. Each of its pixels emits light.
Samsung – LED TV’s as advertised on Televisions are LED – backlit and not OLED, wonder why Samsung is not coming out clear about it.
So you blame Samsung for using the word LED for a TV that uses LED’s for the backlight?
This could lead to a controversial leagl matter due to misleading advertisement or information.
Samsung can call them LED TVs since LEDs are technically inside the TV. Even though many people will assume LED technology is responsible for the picture, it is indeed only used for backlighting. There are a number of advantages in this technology – less weight, lower power consumption, no need for high voltage inverters, and thinner overall TV size to name a few. In closing, I can assure you that Samsung is not only not getting out of LCD game, but is investing in a generation 11 LCD plant south of Seoul. This is a technology with many years left in it. The OLED approach in which LEDs will provide pixel-level images is too expensive and unproven. It is primarily used in small screen sizes, such as those used in mobile phones, MP3 players, etc.
I think the author is using a tongue-in-cheek title to bring up a very valid observation … that even though LCD is the foundation of Samsung’s new 6000, 7000 and 8000 series LED TVs, there is no mention of it in the marketing materials and even the product descriptions on the Best Buy website product page only mention LCD once on the specifications tab and none on the landing page. Clearly there is an attempt here to distance the LED TV’s from the LCD TV base technology, perhaps to preserve some measure of premium by avoiding mental linkage with a much lower price point ‘LCD’ product? Much in the same way that Mitsubishi avoided mentioning DLP as the imaging device in their LaserVue TV marketing. Nothing wrong with it per se, just an observation.
Are there other incarnations of LCD or Plasma TV that can be created to try differentiating them from mainstream mass market models (and price points)?
LCD TV vs LED TV:
LCD TV vs OLED TV;
CCFL B/L LCD TV vs LED B/L LCD TV;
My LCD has a Blue LED light on the front of it. Can I now say it is an LED TV because it “TECHNICALLY” has LED in it??? LCD is LCD – let’s call it what it is!
Samsung – LED TV’s as advertised on Televisions are LED – backlit and not OLED, wonder why Samsung is not coming out clear about it.
What drives me crazy is not the label “LED TV”, it’s the massive price jump for a technology that isn’t a significant extra cost for the manufacturer. LED backlights haven’t caused a massive spike in the price of laptops that are so-equipped (Apple MacBook for example), so why must this be the case with TVs?
This is simply a marketing ploy to try and differentiate their LED lit LCDs. Perhaps to be fair, they should start referring to their cheaper LCD TVs as their ‘CCFL line’.
Poorly educated salespeople.
If store sales people do not educate themselves, like on this forum, they should not totally believe everything a manufacturer sales rep tells them, as most of their info is scripted.
Do research first, then challenge the factory rep. An educated consumer will tear those box store sales reps apart…remember DiamondVision
Who really cares. I just purchased a 46′ Samsung 7100 series “LED” TV. Best Buy sales person told us it was only back lit by LED, and that it still had the LCD front panel.
Hey, I had just put our old 32″ tube out to pasture.
Did look at an LG brand 46′ with the mat finish screen, just couldn’t get the thrill of the picture that the Samsung 46″ gave us.
As a consumer I did read all of the above comments on your web site & was really informed, Thank You….
But on the final call, I really love the TV in Question & I really don’t care about the purity of the (all LED screen) or just back lighting. What a picture any way at a very resonable price.
Just $1883.00.
Thanks for your good people (experts) writing in.
It really doesnt matter either way as long as you like what you are getting for the price. I myself would not pay that much extra for the LED, but out of all the LCD TVS I looked at it was by far the clearest picture available just not worth the price they are asking for this new technology.
Samsung LEDs are really great performance wise but i would always prefer LCD because they are affordable and paying so much more or similar technology doesn’t makes any sense. There is obviously difference in quality but Samsung should really improve thier reviews to have a better sales.
Unbelievable color and clarity is what you can expect from Samsung’s 24” TFT flat panel displays. These LCD monitors feature multiple input sources, completely flat image areas, and a distortion free viewing experience.
Led does make a difference as the whole picture corner to corner is lit the same. no dark patches, I got a LG plasma and must say the led is much clearer.
Yes samsung has left LCD and movies to LED. The LED models from samsung are great! they are better than SONY and Panasonic