By Matthew Henry

SEOUL, KOREA: Samsung Electronics has unveiled the world’s largest LCD panel designed for mass production at 70-inches (1.83 metres), which could be incorporated into LCD TVs for the Korean consumer market some time next year.

Although not the largest LCD panel in existence – a title currently held by LG Electronics with its prototype 100-inch panel – Samsung’s 70-inch panel is expected to supercede Sharp’s 65-inch Aquos as the largest LCD sold to consumers.

A Samsung Australia spokesperson has labeled the 70-inch panel a ‘technology statement’ given that it has not been incorporated into a commercially available LCD.

However, Samsung will present the panel tomorrow at the International Meeting on Information Displays in Daegu, Korea, and mass production is expected to begin in the first half of 2007.

Pricing for LCD TVs equipped with the panel has not been confirmed, and Samsung Australia would not comment on any possible Australian launch.

The panel features full 1080p high definition resolution with 1,920×1,080 pixels, 2000:1 contrast ratio and 1.07 billion colours.

“Our new 70-inch LCD is not only significantly larger, but also sets a new benchmark of excellence in terms of video image reproduction, viewing angle and image quality. We’ve designed it to dramatically enhance the large screen LCD TV users’ viewing experience,” said Samsung Electronics executive vice president, Kim Sang-Soo.

Samsung is the world’s largest provider of thin film transistor (TFT) LCD panels, and the company believes the introduction of the 70-inch model will enable it to go head to head with plasma and rear projection TV makers in the ultra-large screen segment.

The largest LCD TV Samsung currently makes is an 82-inch prototype, which was formerly the world’s largest before LG launched the 100-inch model in March this year.

Sony Australia recently demonstrated a similar Bravia 82-inch LCD in Sydney during its Sony. Experience More trade event.