TVs have been around for decades, but it was the pandemic that highlighted the need to bring the theatre home. In the good old days, all you needed to worry about was the screen size of the TV in your living room. Today, there are numerous technologies in TVs giving consumers more options to choose from based on the lighting in their room, their need for different features and more importantly, their budget. From resolution to backlighting technology, and smart capabilities, the sky is the limit for the options users have.
We had a chance to chat with Abhiral Bhansali, Business Head (Home Entertainment) at LG Electronics and understand how LG is dominating the big screen in your living room. Abhiral highlights the changing trends in the TV market along with shedding light on LG’s cutting-edge TV technology and how that will trickle down to their more affordable TVs in the near future.
1. India Smart Television Market Grew by 8% YoY in 1H23 With 4.5 Million Unit Shipments, Says IDC. Can you shed light on how LG performed in 2023 in the smart TV segment?
LG has been a leading player in the smart TV market, and we are consistently focused on innovation and delivering high-quality products. In 2023, LG continued to perform well in the smart TV segment in India. In the OLED space, LG has been a market leader with a 70% market share, showcasing our expertise and dominance in this segment. Additionally, in the overall TV category, LG holds a leading position with a no. 1 market share, with around 20% contribution coming from OLED TVs. These figures reflect the trust and preference that consumers have shown towards LG’s smart TV products. We will continue to strive for excellence, innovation, and customer satisfaction to maintain our position as a leader in the smart TV segment in India.
2. LG has a vast portfolio of TVs ranging from the budget to Nanocell to OLED. Can you shed light on which range of TV is targeted at what type of consumer?
LG offers a wide range of TVs starting from the smallest 81.28 cm to the largest 245 cm TV to cater to different types of consumers. Here’s a breakdown of LG’s TV ranges and the type of consumer they are targeted at:
- OLED TVs: LG’s OLED TVs are targeted at consumers who demand the Premium & best-in-class picture quality and an immersive viewing experience. OLED technology offers self-lit pixels that can individually turn on and off, resulting in perfect black levels, infinite contrast, and exceptional colour accuracy. These TVs are favoured by cinephiles, gamers, and those who appreciate the finest details in their content.
- QNED TVs: LG’s QNED TVs are targeted at consumers who want a premium viewing experience with advanced picture quality. QNED technology combines Quantum Dot and NanoCell technologies to deliver vibrant colours, sharp contrast, and enhanced brightness. These TVs are ideal for those who prioritize visual performance and enjoy a wide range of content.
- Nanocell TVs: LG’s Nanocell TVs are designed for consumers who seek enhanced picture quality and accurate colors. These TVs utilize NanoCell technology to deliver more precise colour reproduction and wider viewing angles. They are suitable for those who enjoy watching movies, sports, and gaming with realistic visuals.
- UHD and FHD Smart TVs: LG’s UHD and FHD Smart TVs are targeted at consumers who want a balance between picture quality, affordability, and smart features. These TVs offer high-definition visuals and smart functionality, allowing users to access a variety of streaming services and apps.
- In addition to the aforementioned TV ranges, LG also offers Lifestyle TVs such as the LG Pose`and LG Flex. These TVs are targeted at consumers who prioritize aesthetics and unique design in their living spaces.
LG’s diverse range of TVs ensures that there is an option for every type of consumer, whether they are looking for an affordable TV, advanced picture quality, or a combination of smart features and performance. By offering a variety of choices, LG aims to meet the diverse needs and preferences of consumers in the TV market
3. Over the past 2 years, LG has been licensing its WebOS to other TV OEMs. Can you shed light on how this has helped the smart TV ecosystem? What led to LG opening its doors to other OEM for WebOS? What is the market share for WebOS?Licensing WebOS to other TV OEMs has helped the smart TV ecosystem by enhancing the user experience, increasing app and content availability, and fostering market competition and innovation. LG opened its doors to other OEMs to establish WebOS as a widely adopted platform. While specific market share figures may vary, WebOS has gained a significant presence in the smart TV market.
4. LG has been at the forefront of technology with features like MLA, Adding a heat sync for better brightness to OLED TVs, etc. Can you shed light on some future technologies LG will implement in their TVs?
LG has been consistently at the forefront of the TV industry through its innovative features and advancements in technologies.
Advanced Display Technologies: LG may continue to push the boundaries of display technologies, such as further improving OLED panels for better brightness, and contrast. We are also reinforcing new display technologies like QNED Mini-LED, which offer enhanced picture quality and energy efficiency by combining the Quantum Dot with Nano Cell.
AI and Smart Features: LG has been investing in artificial intelligence (AI) and smart features for their TVs. We can expect further integration of AI assistants, improved voice control capabilities, and smarter content recommendation algorithms to enhance the user experience and make TVs more intuitive and convenient to use.
Connectivity and IoT Integration: With the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT), LG may focus on enhancing connectivity options and integrating their TVs with other smart devices in the home. This could include features like seamless integration with smart home systems, voice control of connected devices, and the ability to control and monitor other IoT devices directly from the TV.
Gaming and Enhanced Performance: As gaming becomes increasingly popular, LG may introduce technologies to enhance the gaming experience on their TVs. This could include features like low input lag, high refresh rates, and support for advanced gaming features like variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low latency mode (ALLM).
5. Competing TV makers have gone with QD-OLED technology this generation, while LG has not. Can you shed light on the pros and cons of this technology?OLED Evo is considered better than QD-OLED due to its superior colour accuracy, brightness, and longevity, QD-OLED (Quantum Dot-OLED) technology is a hybrid display technology that combines the OLED and quantum dot technologies. The production process for QD-OLED displays is more complex and challenging and it’s important to note that advancements in OLED technology have significantly reduced the likelihood of burn-in, and QD-OLED displays may also incorporate measures to mitigate this issue but currently they are in high risk of burn-in.
LG has chosen to focus on further improving its OLED technology, which has its own set of advantages and has been well-received by consumers.
6. LG has kept gamers in their sights being the first to implement features like HDMI 2.1, detailed game modes in their TVs and more. Can you shed light on the TV market when it comes to gamers?
LG has been actively working on bringing flagship features to budget TVs to cater to the needs of Indian consumers. LG has already introduced technologies like HDMI 2.1, α5 AI Processor Gen 6, Dynamic Tone Mapping, HDR10, AI Sound Game Dashboard & Optimizer, New WebOS 23 & Magic Remote in its budget TV lineup.
LG aims to make more flagship features more accessible to a wider range of consumers by incorporating them into their budget TV offerings. While specific timelines may vary, LG is committed to bringing advanced features to budget TVs in the near future, ensuring that consumers can enjoy enhanced picture quality and gaming experiences at affordable price points.
7. How has the budget TV space evolved in India according to LG? When can we see flagship features like dimming zones, high peak brightness and HDMI 2.1 come to budget TVs?
According to LG, the budget TV space in India has evolved significantly in recent years. LG has observed a growing demand for affordable TVs with advanced features and technologies. As a result, LG has been actively working on bringing flagship features to budget TVs to cater to the needs of Indian consumers.
LG has already introduced technologies like HDMI 2.1, α5 AI Processor Gen 6, Dynamic Tone Mapping, HDR10, AI Sound Game Dashboard & Optimizer, New WebOS 23 & Magic Remote in its budget TV lineup.
LG aims to make more flagship features accessible to a wider range of consumers by incorporating them into their budget TV offerings. While specific timelines may vary, LG is committed to bringing advanced features to budget TVs in the near future, ensuring that consumers can enjoy enhanced picture quality and gaming experiences at affordable price points.
