LG OLED TV roadmap forecasts 40-inchers for 2012

But they won't become as cheap as LCDs until 2016

LG has reaffirmed its OLED TV roadmap, but warned that the price of tellies based on the technology won’t match those of LCDs for at least seven more years.

The company first outlined its OLED TV roadmap back in April 2008, when it promised to have 32in models in volume production by 2011.

LG still seems keen to keeping to this promise. At last week’s FPD tech fair in Japan, it said it will produce 30in and larger OLED panels throughout 2011.

LG will also launch a 15in OLED TV this year – probably as a high-end rival to Sony’s 11in Xel-1 – and then pump out 20in and larger OLED panels during 2010.

Although the firm plans to extend production to 40in and larger OLED screens in 2012, Won Kim, LG display's OLED Sales and Marketing VP, told website Tech-On that they will still be “fairly expensive”.

Kim forecast that LG's OLED TVs won’t cost less than LCD screens until 2016.

He said that price reductions will come as the result of a 20-30 per cent drop in material costs, achieved through switching to more cost-effective OLED panel production methods. ®