Samsung’s new microLED TVs cost up to $150,000

Samsung expanded its short roster of microLED TVs on Wednesday, shipping models in three sizes: 89 inches, 101 inches, and a wall-filling 114 inches. As you might imagine, the sets include a number of other top-end features aimed at a rich audience. These include Samsung’s “Monolith Design,” shorthand for the screens being completely bezel-free and engineered to mount perfectly flat against a wall. Also present is 3D Arena Sound, which is paired with Dolby Atmos and Samsung’s own Object Tracking Sound Pro technology — though chances are anyone who can afford one of the TVs is going to use their own surround sound system instead of internal speakers.

Just how expensive are the new microLEDs? The 89-inch model will set you back $109,999, which is already more expensive than some new Porsche models. That only increases to $129,999.99 for the 104-inch set, and a colossal $149,999.99 for 114 inches. In many parts of the US, that could be a sizable downpayment on a nice home — or in some places, the entirety of your mortgage.

Samsung says it’s currently “out of stock” for the TVs, but it’s asking potential customers to leave their email address and/or phone number. That makes sense, given that the TVs are so high-end they may need to be custom-manufactured for individual buyers, likely celebrities and C-suite executives.

What makes microLED so special?

Not to be confused with mini LED, microLED relies on microscopic LEDs for each pixel. This not only eliminates the need for backlights, but offers brightness, colors, and contrast superior to OLED. Because microLED doesn’t rely on organic material (the O in OLED), panel makers can crank up each pixel without worrying about premature burnout. Indeed Samsung claims its panels deliver “ultra-realistic texture and dimension through nearly infinite shades of color,” aided by the company’s Micro AI processor, which handles custom 4K upscaling. That’s right — despite the pricetag, you’re not getting 8K resolution.

Ultimately, the new TVs may be most significant for gradually paving the way towards general availability. They should help subsidize the cost of subsequent smaller sets, and as production capacity increases, retail prices should slowly come down. Expect it to be several years before microLED takes over the display models at your local big-box retailer, however.