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Samsung, LG to face off at German electronics expo

By Kim Young-won

Published : Aug. 27, 2014 - 20:39

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Models pose with LG Electronics’ 65-inch ultrahigh-definition OLED TV. (LG Electronics) Models pose with LG Electronics’ 65-inch ultrahigh-definition OLED TV. (LG Electronics)
Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, South Korea’s two tech heavyweights, are going full throttle to take the spotlight at IFA 2014, the world’s largest electronics trade show.

They have a wide variety of products, including flexible TVs, energy-efficient fridges and washers controlled through voice commands, smartphones and smartwatches, up their sleeves to wow consumers around the world.

However, some market analysts believe the two giants may not gain much attention at home as the global exhibition will be held from Sept. 5 to 10, during Chuseok, Korean Thanksgiving.
A model poses with Samsung Electronics’ smart home system, which enables consumers to control home appliances with their smartphones. (Samsung Electronics) A model poses with Samsung Electronics’ smart home system, which enables consumers to control home appliances with their smartphones. (Samsung Electronics)

The world’s largest bendable TV, which Samsung plans to unveil at the electronics fair, will be one of those knockout products in Berlin.

The 105-inch display can go from flat to curved, or vice versa, with the use of a remote control.

“Samsung will prove the power of the curved TVs at the trade show,” Kim Hyun-suk, the head of Samsung Electronics’ visual display business, said in a press release.

The new flagship phablet Galaxy Note 4 and a standalone smartwatch, called the Samsung Gear Solo, are also among the products that Samsung will showcase at Berlin.

The new phablet will likely mark a technological advancement as it is expected to feature a 64-bit processor chip, 4GB of RAM and a 5.7-inch quad-HD display.

LG Electronics, which is focusing on promoting its OLED TV business, is set to introduce its new OLED TV lineup in Berlin.

Korean consumers already got a glimpse of its 65-inch ultrahigh-definition OLED TV earlier this week.

“The UHD OLED TV, which boasts the best display and a high resolution, will be a game changer in the TV market,” said Ha Hyun-hwoi, the president of LG Electronics’ home entertainment company, at the launch event for the new OLED TV.

The tech giant also announced it would unveil a new smartwatch, named the G Watch R, fitted with a round display.

The company unveiled its first smartwatch at Google’s developers conference in San Francisco in June.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)