homehome Home chatchat Notifications


LG’s $60,000 Transparent TV Is So Luxe It’s Practically Invisible

This TV screen vanishes at the push of a button.

Tibi Puiu
December 20, 2024 @ 1:35 pm

share Share

Credit: LG.

Imagine watching the sunrise through your television on a clear morning. Not a picturesque simulation of a sunrise, but the actual light streaming in from behind the screen. For the elite few willing to part with $60,000, LG’s new Signature OLED T offers precisely that—a 77-inch window-like television that seems to defy expectations about what a screen can be.

It’s a showstopper of a TV, revealed to the public during CES 2024, and now finally available for purchase—albeit in exclusive retail settings like Best Buy’s high-end departments or special orders through LG’s website. The “T” in OLED T stands for “Transparent,” an apt descriptor for a TV that delivers visuals while maintaining a ghostly view of what lies beyond.

The Illusion of a TV Screen

The OLED T is a feat of engineering designed not just to entertain, but to blend seamlessly with the design of modern, lavish homes. With its transparent display, the TV all but disappears when not in use, allowing floor-to-ceiling windows or carefully curated interiors to remain the focal point.

With the press of a button, a retractable black shade descends, transforming the see-through panel into a conventional 4K OLED screen. You decide when the TV should command attention and when it should fade into the background.

LG describes this as a solution for homeowners who don’t want a massive black rectangle dominating their living space. The company even showcases scenarios where the TV stands at the foot of a bed, offering unobstructed views of ocean horizons and sunrise-lit skies.

In other words, it’s a TV designed not to be seen—until you want it to be.

The Luxury of Transparency

Credit: LG Electronics USA.

LG’s software enhances the experience with modes that showcase art, weather updates, and even IoT notifications. These features include “T-Objet,” a mode that transforms the display into a translucent canvas for artwork and videos, and “T-Bar,” a sleek info ticker that hovers along the bottom edge, offering quick updates on weather, sports scores, or the time. The rest of the screen remains clear, maintaining the minimalist aesthetic. Then there’s “T-Home,” LG’s reimagined interface that provides access to apps and settings.

From a technical standpoint, the OLED T matches other high-end LG sets. It supports 4K resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and the latest HDR formats like Dolby Vision and HDR10. LG’s a11 AI Processor ensures that images remain crisp, with upscaling technology that sharpens lower-resolution content. Gamers can take advantage of G-Sync compatibility and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support.

The TV pairs with LG’s “Zero Connect Box,” a device that transmits video and audio signals up to 30 feet away, eliminating the need for unsightly cables. The box can be tucked away in a cabinet, leaving the TV free to float, unencumbered, in the middle of a room.

A Price Tag Beyond the Ordinary

Credit: LG Electronics USA.

At $60,000, the Signature OLED T is far beyond the reach of most consumers. For context, similarly sized OLED TVs from LG’s standard range cost a fraction of that—around $1,700. The price tag positions the OLED T firmly in the realm of luxury design rather than mainstream tech. As Forbes quipped, “Let’s be transparent here: This set is seriously expensive.”

But the technology itself offers a glimpse of a future where screens adapt to their surroundings. LG’s innovation could one day trickle down into more affordable devices. For now, it remains a premium curiosity—a symbol of what’s possible when technology intersects with high-end design.

Whether this transparent marvel is a sign of things to come or simply a niche luxury, one thing is clear: sometimes, the most striking screens are the ones you barely notice.

share Share

What's Seasonal Body Image Dissatisfaction and How Not to Fall into Its Trap

This season doesn’t have to be about comparison or self-criticism.

Why a 20-Minute Nap Could Be Key to Unlocking 'Eureka!' Moments Like Salvador Dalí

A 20-minute nap can boost your chances of a creative breakthrough, according to new research.

The world's oldest boomerang is even older than we thought, but it's not Australian

The story of the boomerang goes back in time even more.

Swarms of tiny robots could go up your nose, melt the mucus and clean your sinuses

The "search-and-destroy” microrobot system can chemically shred the resident bacterial biofilm.

What if Every Roadkill Had a Memorial?

Road ecology, the scientific study of how road networks impact ecosystems, presents a perfect opportunity for community science projects.

Fireball Passes Over Southeastern United States

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s… a bolide!

What side do cats prefer to sleep on? The left side, and there's a good reason for that

The fluffier side of science.

This Bear Lived Two Years With a Barrel Lid Stuck on Its Neck Before Finally Being Freed

A Michigan bear wore a plastic ring for two years. Somehow, it’s doing just fine.

The James Webb telescope just found a planet by actually ‘seeing’ it

It's exactly what we were hoping from JWST.

Is Being Filthy Rich Immoral? It Depends Who You Ask

The world's 8 richest people have more wealth than the poorest few billion.