If you've ever thought your TV was a little too... opaque then 2024 is looking like your year. At CES 2024, we've already seen LG unveil a transparent (and wireless) television, the LG Signature OLED T, and it looks like Samsung has cooked up something similar.
Reportedly utilising Micro LEDs smaller than human hairs, nothing official has been announced yet but leaked footage of the TV in action has our jaws firmly on the floor.
Looking like something from Star Trek or Minority Report, the video demonstrates reading a newspaper behind the screen (just to prove it really is transparent) and using the display as some kind of overlay for what looks like a football match. Interesting.
So why would you want a transparent TV? Well, while the best TVs often look beautiful in motion, when idle, they are basically just a big black rectangle in your front room, which is pretty unsightly. Having a transparent display with images projected onto it is much more tasteful, almost like a picture frame.
Of course, no-one wants to see through the screen when watching films, LG's model has a 'contrast screen' that will give a traditional 'solid' image when watching movies and TV while it is thought that Samsung has opted for a zero backlight approach, meaning that you can just switch off each pixel to get a black screen.
As for price and mass availability, don't even think about it. These displays will like be measured in the hundreds of thousands of pounds and we don't anticipate them coming to the mass market anytime soon. That might be a relief if you're kind of person to not look where they're going.
We're definitely more in the fashion statement rather than the functionality phase of this technology, but it's interesting to see where it could go. Imagine a car windscreen or windows with this kind of functionality.
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
Andy was T3's Tech Staff Writer, covering all things technology, including his biggest passions such as gaming. If he had to save one possession from a fire it would be his PlayStation 5. He previously worked for Tom’s Guide – where he got paid to play with ChatGPT everyday. When it comes to streaming, Andy will have his headphones glued in whilst watching something that will make him laugh. He studied Creative Writing at university, but also enjoys supporting his favourite football team (Liverpool), watching F1, teaching himself guitar, and spending time with his dog.
-
Using the Ray-Ban Meta Headliner has me convinced that smart glasses are the future
Wearing Ray-Ban Meta’s latest smart glasses was a revelation and makes regular glasses feel like a waste of time
By Mat Gallagher Published
-
Apple TV+'s underground sci-fi sensation just ended, but there's good news
Silo's going to be back, eventually
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
How to watch Galaxy Unpacked 2025 and what to expect during the Samsung Galaxy S25 launch
Samsung's first major launch event of the year takes place next Wednesday – here's how to watch it all live
By Rik Henderson Published
-
One Samsung Galaxy S25 model will be missing from Galaxy Unpacked next week
Though we might still get a teaser
By Britta O'Boyle Published
-
Samsung’s 2025 soundbars include a clever convertible
Samsung is to introduce a new flagship soundbar for 2025 and a really clever compact model too
By Carrie Marshall Published
-
New Samsung Galaxy S25 marketing images show all phones in close-up detail
New leak reveals more on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and standard models
By Rik Henderson Published
-
There's an amazing money-off deal on Samsung Galaxy S25 already
Get £50 / $50 off a new Samsung Galaxy S25 when you register your interest
By Rik Henderson Published
-
Samsung's latest laptops changed my mind about AI – here's why
The Galaxy Book 5 Pro and Galaxy Book 5 360 are AI wunderkinds
By Britta O'Boyle Published
-
Samsung Galaxy S25 lineup fully revealed in press images leak – best look at the Ultra and standard models yet
Now Samsung just has to make them official
By Rik Henderson Published
-
The fourth, mystery Samsung Galaxy S25 might have been found online
Details about a slim Galaxy S25 have appeared – will it launch soon?
By Chris Hall Published