This transparent OLED TV is the ultimate status symbol, and it's actually going on sale

Xiaomi has made the first transparent OLED TV you could actually buy, and it's just as cool as you'd think

Xiaomi transparent OLED TV
(Image credit: Xiaomi)
Matthew Bolton
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The possibility of transparent OLED TVs has been around ever since the technology was announced – because OLED TVs use self-emissive pixels (meaning they emit their own light, rather than needing a backlight like QLED TVs), in theory you could make a panel from pixels that are clear when deactivated, and if you didn't put anything behind it you'd have… a transparent TV.

We've seen plenty of prototypes of these working at places like CES, but Xiaomi has only gone and released an actual TV made this way. Frankly, we weren't sure it would ever happen, but at least someone wants the year 2020 to feel like living in the future, so we're grateful to Xiaomi for that. 

The Xiaomi Mi TV Lux Transparent Edition is 4K and 55 inches, and comes in just the one size. All of the connections and processing are fit into the oval base that the TV sits in, which we presume it also the key to its structure, given that there's only the thinnest of frames around the edge of the panel.

Xiaomi transparent OLED TV

(Image credit: Xiaomi)

Apart from the stand, it looks like just a glass frame, and suddenly springs to life with images that look like they're "suspended in the air" according to Xiaomi.

The operating system is design to take advantage of this with cool floating app interfaces, and there's an always-on' mode that's designed to show off what the panel can do when you're not actually watching anything.

Given that the screen is a 10-bit panel, with support for 4K 120fps video and low input lag, it should be a good performer too, and would technically be a great match for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X with that high frame-rate support, though alas it'll only be available in China at first.

It also costs CNY49,999, which is a cool £5,500/$7,200… which is actually less than we'd have guessed, to be honest. There are boring opaque TVs that cost that kind of money, so why not make things a little interesting, eh?

• Via What Hi-Fi

Matthew Bolton
Matthew Bolton

Matt is T3's former AV and Smart Home Editor (UK), master of all things audiovisual, overseeing our TV, speakers and headphones coverage. He also covered smart home products and large appliances, as well as our toys and games articles. He's can explain both what Dolby Vision IQ is and why the Lego you're building doesn't fit together the way the instructions say, so is truly invaluable. Matt has worked for tech publications for over 10 years, in print and online, including running T3's print magazine and launching its most recent redesign. He's also contributed to a huge number of tech and gaming titles over the years. Say hello if you see him roaming the halls at CES, IFA or Toy Fair. Matt now works for our sister title TechRadar.

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