Skip to main content

Roundup: LG’s 2013 A/V line-up condensed for your geeky pleasure

Like many of you, we at Digital Trends take the holidays seriously. It’s a time for family, friends, gifts, drinking and hopeful optimism – and drinking. Unfortunately for all of us, this doesn’t mean that the juggernaut that is the 24-hour tech news cycle takes a breather.

Over the recent holiday break, the PR mill was plenty busy doing its best to stir up interest about the loads of new products that we can expect to see at next week’s International CES 2013. But it was Korean electronics giant LG that stole the show before it got started.

Recommended Videos

Don’t worry if you missed it, though. Our stalwart home theater guru, Caleb Denison, set aside his holiday traditions (except the eggnog, of course) to cover all of LG’s announcements. Catch up with our round-up below.

OLED

At CES last year, OLED TVs by LG and Samsung were the devices du jour as the technology blew away those who were able to get their eyeballs on them. Unfortunately, neither company managed to put an OLED TV into the field, and as a result, the technology lost a bit of its shine. It didn’t help that LG and Sony both successfully launched consumer-ready 4K sets, either.

Not to worry, though. LG has promised its 55-inch OLED will be hitting the company’s home market of Korea in February with details concerning a U.S. release due in the coming weeks. For a few more details, check out our full coverage here.

47 flavors of HDTV

If LG’s advertisements for its 2013 TV-lineup sound like a rerun of the Six Million Dollar Man, you’re not far off. That’s because LG is making much of its new, almost exclusively LED TV line-up faster, smarter and brighter. The 2013 line is even losing a little bit of weight and more than a little bezel, though LG hasn’t confirmed how much yet. Beyond the size and look of LG’s new TVs, 2013 seems to focus on control and connectivity with all the company’s sets getting better smart app integration (which LG lagged in last year) and a pimped out version of LG’s Wii-esque Magic Motion remote control.

We will note that LG hasn’t completely abandoned you plasma lovers…yet. The company is bringing three plasma models in 2013, though its focus is clearly trending toward LED TVs.

Google TVs

Google TV has struggled to find its place in the TV marketplace, and with manufacturers getting aggressive with smart app integration and Internet connectivity, it’s only going to get tougher for the floundering platform.

However, that doesn’t mean LG is giving up on Google TV. In fact, the company is showing Google some big love with seven new Google TV-based models for 2013. Coupled with Magic Motion remote control integration and an overhaul of the user interface, 2013 might be the year that Google TV breaks though.

100-inch Laser projection TV for any home

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Projectors are a hard sell in the home theater world. For many, the burden of installing a projector into their homes isn’t worth the promise of a movie theater experience, especially when you can get an enormous television that’s half-again as easy to install (and half as expensive, for that matter).

But LG may have cracked the code for making large-screen projection TV a family friendly proposition with its new Laser TV projector unit. The black box that anchors this system is part TV, part projector, and only needs 22-inches of distance to display up to 100-inches of HD-quality images. It’s an interesting gamble that could change how you view the term “Home Theater”.

All the home theater you can handle

Lest we forget, LG doesn’t just make TVs, though you’d be forgiven for thinking so. The company also produces what has become an expansive line of audio and video equipment.

Some highlights include four new sound bars that LG will introduce at CES 2013, two of which feature Internet streaming for video-on-demand apps like Netflix and Pandora. For those not interested in shelling out the extra bucks for a connected TV, a streaming sound bar might be the way to go.

The media connectivity doesn’t stop there, as LG is introducing two new blu-ray players that will also offer Magic Motion integration and smart app connectivity. LG’s blu-ray players are also getting faster with the flagship BP730 slated to feature a dual-core processor for snappier loading times and navigation.

Of course, for all of the products mentioned above, LG has kept the price and full technical specifications close to its chest. But we’re sure to see more as CES gets rolling this Monday. Be sure to check back with Digital Trends for the latest developments.

Scott Younker
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Best Bluetooth speaker deals: Save on Bose, Sonos, JBL, and more
The JBL Boombox 3 Bluetooth speaker, placed outdoors.

Shopping Bluetooth speaker deals can be a great way to take your music on the go with some savings. You could even consider a Bluetooth speaker for your home theater if the current soundbar deals and subwoofer deals aren’t dropping prices enough for you. Some of the best Bluetooth speakers can get the job done with a home theater while simultaneously making a great portable audio option, and we’re currently seeing Bluetooth speaker deals across all price points. We’ve pieced together all of the best Bluetooth speaker deals going on right now, so read onward for those details. And if you need a device to pair with a new Bluetooth speaker don’t miss out on today’s best phone deals, best tablet deals, best laptop deals, and best TV deals.
JBL Flip 6 — $110 $130 15% off

One of JBL’s most popular Bluetooth speaker options is the JBL Flip 6. It offers louder, more powerful sound than earlier versions of the Flip, as it has a two-way speaker system. This speaker system is designed to deliver loud, crystal clear, powerful sound. This Bluetooth speaker is IP67 waterproof and dustproof, so you can take it to the pool, park, beach, or trail without worry. It will reach up to 12 hours of life on a single battery charge, making it a great portable audio option for just about everyone.

Read more
Best Bose deals: Save on soundbars, headphones, and earbuds
A woman in a park wearing Bose QuietComfort 45 Bluetooth wireless noise canceling headphones.

Even though Bose is one of the more highly regarded audio brands it still manages to offer some affordability for its various lineups, with Bose often finding itself among the best headphone deals, best Bluetooth speaker deals, best soundbar deals, and best subwoofer deals. All of these kinds of devices are in play for a discount right now, which is why we’ve rounded up all of today’s Best Bose deals. Read onward to get a jump on all of the details, and if you need some additional tech to pair with any of these Bose deals be sure to check out today’s TV deals, phone deals, tablet deals, and laptop deals.
Bose QuietComfort II — $219 $279 22% off

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are often recognized as some of the best wireless earbuds on the market. They have great noise-cancellation capability, which makes getting your work done at the office a less distracting endeavor, and which makes taking in movies on your laptop or home theater a more immersive experience. They also have a feature known as Aware Mode, which allows you to hear both your music and your surroundings at the same time. This makes them a safe option for daily commuters, fitness nuts, and bicyclists as well. Along lasting battery and easy phone call controls round out the top features of the QuietComfort II wireless earbuds.

Read more
One of our favorite Hisense TVs has a $400 discount today
Hisense U7N review

Hisense TVs have been rising in our ranks of the best TVs recently. This budget-friendly brand has climbed the ladder of TV stardom over the last few years and is now responsible for some of the most popular LED-LCDs and ULEDs (what Hisense calls a QLED TV). We’re always looking for great TV deals, and it just so happens that one of our favorite markdowns of the week is on an awesome Hisense:

For a limited time, when you purchase the Hisense 65-inch U7N ULED at Best Buy or Amazon, you’ll pay $700. At full price, this model goes for $1,100. Here’s an idea: why not put that $400 you saved toward one of the best soundbar deals we found?

Read more