LG, Westinghouse Tip 4K HDTVs for CES

1080p might still be the standard in HDTVs, but several companies are looking toward the future of high definition with ultra high-definition (UHD), or 4K technology. LG and Westinghouse announced that they will be showing off big-screen UHDTVs that early adopters will be able to get their hands on later this year.

LG, which already announced that it will begin shipping its 55-inch OLED HDTV next month, will be showing off that set and an 84-inch 4K HDTV at CES next week. The screen will be able to display 3,840-by-2,160 resolution, or 8 million pixels, four times as high as the 2 million pixels shown on 1080p screens.

While LG hasn't announced pricing or availability for the 4K HDTV, it will be a fully equipped connected TV with all the features of LG's other high-end HDTVs. It will have LG's motion-sensing Magic Remote, gesture and voice control, built-in Wi-Fi, and even WiDi for connecting notebook computers to it wirelessly.

Westinghouse will also show off its line of 4K HDTVs at CES, including a 110-inch screen. Connectivity and other features have not yet been announced, nor has pricing for the big UHDTV, but it will be available as a special order in the first quarter of 2013. Westinghouse will also launch 50-, 55-, and 65-inch 4K HDTVs this year, but pricing and availability have not been announced for them, either.

4K video stands to be the next step in high definition, but it has a long way to go. Multiple companies will show off 4K screens at CES, but like the first HD televisions, they will be priced out of all but the most eager early adopters' budgets. The first 4K HDTVs will have five-digit price tags minimum, and won't be readily available through consumer channels. However, consumer-ready models might start trickling into the market as early as the holiday season of this year.

For more, check out What Is Ultra HD (4K)?