Sony XEL-1 OLED slips into US stores

As expected, Sony has released the first OLED display in the US, with the 11-inch XEL-1 available now at select Sony Style locations for $2,500. Japanese customers have been able to purchase the 3mm-thick XEL-1 since late last year for ¥200,000, but the US has had to wait until now to get its organically 1,000,000:1-contrasted fix. The XEL-1 also offers support for DMeX so consumers can download content via the BRAVIA Internet Video Link service. If you're hankering for something even thinner than a 9mm plasma and looking to spend a whopping $227 per inch, head on over to a Sony store today.

[elmopio @ Jan 6th 2008 8:41PM]

I know I wouldn't buy one. They are out of thier mind.

[Alan Partridge @ Jan 6th 2008 10:30PM]

Why? This is the future and it costs a lot to buy because it costs a lot to make!

[hemmy @ Jan 6th 2008 10:58PM]

So is every company out of their mind for introducing new technology? Do you not remember what plasmas initially cost? Newsflash, every new tech is expensive.

I'm dying for an OLED tv, and you'd have to be some jaded fanboy with an agenda not to credit Sony for at the very least kickstarting what will be competition in the OLED arena, and economies of scale will drop prices making it affordable for us all.

[Zap @ Jan 6th 2008 8:41PM]

Damn! (that price!)

but DAMN!!(that screen)

[Cash @ Jan 6th 2008 10:30PM]

?? I don't get all the hooplah... If you took a standard LCD panel, and then built its guts into the stand instead of the back of the panel like they have done here, it would only be about 1mm thicker then an OLED display. Likewise, if you put the guts of this thing on the back of the panel instead of the base, it wouldn't be that much smaller then a standard LCD display, so what is everyone wetting themselves over?

I'm all for new technology, but it would be nice if there was some kind of real benefit to it that justified the ungodly price tag.

[hemmy @ Jan 6th 2008 11:25PM]

@Cash

More efficient power consumption, ungodly picture in terms of brightness and contrast, no viewing angle issues, no frame rate issues. LCD is shit by comparison. If you're a fan of CRT and recognize it still represents the best in picture display quality, then you'd be happy with OLED.

The ungodly price tag is a given with all new tech. You could pay $10k for a small plasma tv way back when. Prices come down eventually.

[Colin B @ Jan 6th 2008 8:45PM]

Just wanted to mention that I wandered into a Sony Style store on Tuesday and saw one in person...and while the price/in. ratio is way too high right now, the prospect of a 60 in. version of one of these hanging on a wall in a few years time is insanely awesome. I literally walked around the thing about 6 times before words came out of my mouth.

[Chuckles McGee @ Jan 6th 2008 9:27PM]

Prototypes are nice, and OLEDs are going to be pretty awesome, sure, but I pity the person who blows $2500 on this screen. Or perhaps I envy the person who has enough money to spend $2500 on an 11 inch screen.

[Brian @ Jan 6th 2008 8:58PM]

$2,500 for a proof of concept? No thanks.

I don't think even 50 Cent would buy something so astonishingly overpriced.

[LiqwidZero @ Jan 6th 2008 9:12PM]

I actually think he would, just to prove he has money and that he had to "work" his way out of "da hood", yo.

[LiqwidZero @ Jan 6th 2008 9:12PM]

I actually think he would, just to prove he has money and that he had to "work" his way out of "da hood", yo.

[AL7AIR @ Jan 6th 2008 9:27PM]

He bought an Enzo just to say "Yes, I got one off those" at a conversation ... so no he wouldn't buy this screen for one of his monochrome security cameras :)

[paperless @ Jan 6th 2008 9:06PM]

Am i the only one who thinks that base is really ugly? Couldnt they have made it more "squarish", a regular shape?

The screen itself looks good but whats below it really ruins it.

[James Cameron @ Jan 6th 2008 9:16PM]

I would love to see one of this in person in one of the Sony store. But I'm sure they won't put this baby out for a display. You're gonna have to buy it to see it for yourself in person.

[Matt O @ Jan 6th 2008 9:56PM]

your wrong

[hemmy @ Jan 6th 2008 11:36PM]

James, they're already put them out for display for your viewing pleasure

[Vanguard @ Jan 7th 2008 9:55AM]

Sony,

Excellent.
Gorgeous TV!
Glad to see this in North America now.

Vanguard.

[Simon @ Jan 8th 2008 2:32PM]

I saw it in person in Fashion Vally Mall, San Diego durning my Christmas trip. It's beautiful. :)

[hortonm @ Jan 8th 2008 5:17PM]

I'm told by the Sony Style Store that I'm the first person in the entire country to buy one of these. (That was only because I happened at the store on Monday the minute they opened - so, no big deal. And no, I'm not some rich guy that bought this for his bathroom in his palatial estate). It sets on my desk about 2 feet away. Compare that to the new 150" plasma TV display that must be viewed from 30 feet away! No thanks - I'd rather have my 11 incher. I've had a chance so far to view only one movie (Bond's License To Kill), which was not even in high def. Nevertheless, I was so totally captivated by the color saturation and vividness that I honestly forgot to pay any attention at all to the story. Now, I'll have to watch the movie all over again. :)

[Jon|Red @ Jan 16th 2008 12:02AM]

Could anyone please tell me what happened to the original, and in my opinion much nicer, design of the Sony OLED displays?

http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/08/sonys-1-000-000-1-contrast-ratio-27-inch-oled-hdtv/