In an announcement that makes Sony's $25,000 Ultra HD TV look like a good deal and LG's $17,000 UHD TV look like an absolute steal, Samsung this morning said you can pre-order its own ultra-large Ultra HD TV later this month, provided you have $40,000 and a really understanding significant other.
Admittedly, the Samsung UN85S9 Ultra HD is visually striking, with an eye-catching, easel-style stand that looks like nothing else on the market. The LCD set also has a he-man-sized 85-inch screen, 4K (3840x2160) resolution, all the features—built-in Wi-Fi, Samsung's smart TV platform, a quad-core processor, and 3D capability—found on other Samsung flagship TV models. It also has a full-array LED backlight with local dimming and Precision Pro Black technology, which should beef up black levels, plus a powerful audio system with speakers built into the frame of the stand.
Given its price, the UN85S9 isn't for everyone (or hardly anyone), but it sure is impressive to behold. We're hoping to be able to rent one of these sets for a week or two so that we can test the TV in our labs, much like we did with the LG 84LM9600 Ultra HD model. We also recently visited Sony to give our initial impressions of its XBR-84X900 Ultra HD TV.
Keep checking back for back for our Ultra HD TV updates, including our First Look takes when the first smaller, less expensive models begin to arrive.
Find the best model for you and your family: Check our TV buying guide and Ratings.