The smart TV industry, even though it is still relatively young, has witnessed several monumental changes in recent years. It wasn’t that long ago when Sony unveiled its first smart LED TV model in India. Until 2018, consumers believed that smart TVs, much like iPhones, were only meant for the rich and hedonists. However, everything changed when Xiaomi decided to enter the fray. Today, smart TVs can be found in the majority of the urban Indian households, as they enable consumers to watch their favourite movies and TV series from OTT platforms on a large TV screen.
Mi’s 32-inch smart TV has quickly become the most popular smart TV model, while the LED TV price has gone down. Because of Xiaomi, Samsung had to alter its strategy, and the brand now offers excellent smart TVs for around Rs. 15,000. Newer brands like Vu, Realme and OnePlus also offer affordable smart TV models, while Sony remains one of the very few brands to focus solely on high-end smart LED TV models.
With so much happening in just the past 3 years, what changes can we witness in the smart TV industry over the next 3-4 years? We try to answer this question from a technological standpoint, and see how brands can push the envelope, and develop smart TVs that will redefine the customer experience.
8K to become mainstream
Today, consumers that prioritize clarity, and preserving the sanctity of the images opt for Ultra HD (4K) TVs. Most of the movies and TV series now support 4K resolution, but brands have already started pushing out 8K TVs. Companies try to stay three steps ahead of the consumers, and at least one step ahead of each other. However, consumers purchasing 8K TVs will be left disappointed at least for the time being, as there aren’t any movies or shows that currently support 8K. Thus, the extra pixels do not improve any images, and you are left with content that 4K UHD TVs can produce brilliantly.
However, over the next 3-4 years, 8K TVs will become extremely popular. This is because as consumers, we want to enjoy the content we see, and expect our TVs to leave us in awe. 8K TVs, although expensive, will become popular over the next couple of years.
Android OS to be replaced
This is a rather bold prediction, given how Android OS has been dominating the market for years. However, Google is currently developing Fuchsia OS, and expects the new operating system to eventually replace Android OS. Google has already developed and improved Android OS and Chrome OS, and with the Fuchsia operating system, Google wants to create an OS that solves technical problems faced by Android OS. As things stand, it is not a matter of ‘if’, but ‘when’ Fuchsia becomes the de facto OS offered by Google.
Large-screen TVs to become ubiquitous
Today, most consumers prefer purchasing 32 inch smart TV, as these are affordable, and offer images with decent clarity. However, with the progress that will be made in the smart TV segment in the coming years, even 55-inch TVs will become affordable. Soon, we can see consumers moving towards large-screen TVs with UHD resolution. Those who own 55-inch TVs today will move towards 75-inch models, while consumers with 32-inch smart TVs will likely own 55-inch TVs.
Portable smart TVs
At the opposite end of the table is the clamour for portable smart TVs. Decades ago, consumers were provided with portable TVs that used to have an antenna. While satellite TVs are now antiquated, we can soon witness brands once again offering portable TVs that can be carried around. Additionally, these TVs will also have smart attributes. Instead of carrying around a tablet, consumers may soon be able to carry a 20-inch sleek smart TV during road trips. The smallest smart TVs we can find today come with 24-inch displays, such as the ones offered by Vizio and Insignia.
MicroLED display
Moving beyond the realms of LCD and LED displays is the microLED technology, which seamlessly transfers micrometre-scale LEDs into the LED modules. This gives rise to a display similar to wall tiles that come with microscopic lights. These TVs offer stunning visual experiences, similar to premium QLED TVs, and Samsung has been doing pioneering work in this space. The brand offers TVs dubbed ‘The Wall’ which are awe-inspiring, and offer a surreal experience.
Want to invest in a futuristic smart TV model, but don’t have the funds at your immediate disposal? You can rely on the Bajaj Finserv EMI Network Card to finance your purchase. Just use the EMI Network Card to divide the cost of your preferred smart TV model into no-cost EMIs, and repay the amount in convenient monthly instalments. The EMI Network Card comes with a pre-approved loan of up to Rs. 4 lakh, with flexible tenors ranging from 3 months to 24 months.