Pioneer's 50-inch plasma is thinner than an iPhone

In case you missed the presser, Pioneer just announced a 9mm thin, 50-inch Plasma. That's right, thinner than an iPhone and 50 freakin' inches across the diagonal. We won't see these in 2008 however, it's just a glimpse of the future. We'll catch up with these at the Pioneer booth on Monday.

Gallery: Pioneer's 50-inch plasma is thinner than an iPhone

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[Andy @ Jan 6th 2008 12:42PM]

wow, that is thin.

[Travis Tomlinson @ Jan 6th 2008 12:43PM]

damn

[kev @ Jan 6th 2008 12:45PM]

They really need to work on resolution...1366x768 doesn't cut it anymore for big screen TVs.

[jamma @ Jan 6th 2008 12:49PM]

Jesus, my 2006 laptop has a higher resolution than that (1440 x 900)!

I'll gladly sacrifice a few inches thickness for a better resolution on something that big

[jamma @ Jan 6th 2008 12:50PM]

btw, forgot to mention that its 1440 x 900 on a 17inch screen

[DWells55 @ Jan 6th 2008 12:51PM]

Agreed, the resolution is pretty disappointing given all the hype around 1080p these days. However, 9mm thin is still pretty awesome and they'll probably keep up the trend and have a very thin 1080p screen not too far in the future.

[Michael LaFramboise @ Jan 6th 2008 1:23PM]

jamma, even in 2006, 1440x900 for a 17" laptop was pretty pathetic... - and now w/ 1920x1200 17" screens... well yeah...

[zargon @ Jan 6th 2008 2:19PM]

As far as trying to compare a computer monitor to a HDTV, there is a reason why computer monitors are exactly cheap. To scale up monitor to the size of what an HDTV should be (min 42" or so) is not cheap, let alone trying to get a higher resolution out of it.

On top of that, going above HD or close resolution on a small TV or monitor (like 17") is not really beneficial as the quality gain isn't going to be that noticeable.

Thin really isn't a big deal, my 42" LCD is a few inchs thick, saving a inch or so means nothing to me and I am sure most people. It could be worse after all, look at CRT HDTVs that are more than a foot and 38" being more then two feet.

[Kai @ Jan 8th 2008 7:08PM]

If you haven't heard or noticed, Pioneer and Panasonic are currently the companies to beat in the TV market, unless you are looking at very high-end products. I hope for your sake this is just a joke.

[saspr @ Jan 6th 2008 12:45PM]

whoa

[Alan @ Jan 6th 2008 12:48PM]

Wow, easily karate-chop-able.

[Chuckles McGee @ Jan 6th 2008 2:10PM]

Probably snaps in two like a saltine cracker.

[Davor @ Jan 6th 2008 12:48PM]

that damn pretty f*@king impressive i think next year will see 1mm thin 65inch displays

[timmer @ Jan 6th 2008 12:53PM]

But can it tell me my wifes boss' name?
Can it make a phone call?
Does it sync with my mac?
Does it have coverflow?
Does it browse the interwebs?

I didn't think so. My iPhone is superior*.





*I do not own an iPhone. Apple products are garbage.

[Tom @ Jan 6th 2008 12:57PM]

this tv is garbage, each pixel is bigger than an iphone

[Big Ed @ Jan 6th 2008 1:01PM]

What? Looks like someone dropped out of their sophomore year of troll school.

[richardofmystery @ Jan 6th 2008 1:42PM]

Shorter Thinner:

"Wah!"

Seriously, why can't people who whine every time Engadget mentions an Apple product just stop reading Engadget?

[Doug @ Feb 10th 2008 12:53PM]

Pioneer "garbage"? What a no-nothing thing to say. You'd probably choose some cut-rate Vizio with a 1080p resolution over the best home TV picture in the US which is what Pioneer has ALWAYS had. You guys who've read a lot about specs on the net and now think you're TV experts need to take a reality break. Go to the stores and use the best test equipment available for judging a TV picture: a well-calibrated eyeball. Watch, don't just look. After recently retiring from 35 years of TV repair I have watched thousands of TVs. NOBODY, BUT NOBODY produces as good a picture as Pioneer does. They cost more, sometimes a lot more, but are worth every dime. Remember: Manufacturers KNOW how you shop. They give you the specs you think are best but after watching the thing for a week you realize you've been screwed by numbers. Forget the numbers. The really meaningful specs you wouldn't understand anyway. Use your eyeballs and then come back and tell me Pioneer is garbage or that your "laptop has better resolution"

[Adoniteking @ Jan 6th 2008 12:57PM]

OMG! these guys are truly Pioneers

[Carl Vitullo @ Jan 6th 2008 1:03PM]

as long as the owner doesn't get frivolous with his wiimote, it should be fine.

[Neebs @ Jan 6th 2008 1:11PM]

Reminder: Use another analogy. There are those still on the no iPhone RSS pipe.

[MrSid @ Jan 6th 2008 1:21PM]

Yet another reminder of how much engadget loves apple. I wonder how much they get paid.

[jamma @ Jan 6th 2008 2:05PM]

MrSid: it's just a point of reference, using a well known device. The could have said "thinner than a Samsung U600" or whatever, but few people would know how thin that actually is. Everyone, whether they love or hate the iPhone, knows roughly how thin it is, so it's better to use

[reallynotnick @ Jan 6th 2008 1:44PM]

Yeah, well my imaginary plasma that is not coming to the market anytime soon is 8mm AND 1080p. So looks like reallynotnick inc. pretty much is way better then Pioneer.

Wake me up, when I can actually buy one of these, until then I don't care.

[JCollum @ Jan 6th 2008 1:55PM]

Wow, their translator should be fired. "Concept model for advanced design", I mean I get it, it almost makes sense but still that's a pretty crappy translation.

[Tim Abbott @ Jan 6th 2008 1:56PM]

call me when its thinner the touch

[Jake @ Jan 6th 2008 2:18PM]

That's, like, Tara Reid thin! Might as well call the next plasma the Olsen.

Can't wait until I can hang my TV on a wall like a picture: with just a nail!

[eEZER @ Jan 6th 2008 5:47PM]

I always thought the iphone was too thick.