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  • TCL Took My Favorite Value TV, Bumped the Brightness and Kept the Same Price

    TCL Took My Favorite Value TV, Bumped the Brightness and Kept the Same Price

    TVs just seem to be getting bigger, brighter and better every year, and value-first companies like TCL are doing it without jacking prices. I previewed the company’s latest lineup of televisions at CES 2024 and from what I’ve seen so far, they once again look like superb performers for the money.

    The most intriguing series — aside from a 115-inch behemoth that costs $20,000 — is the new QM851. TCL says it will cost about the same as the QM850 it replaces (around $900 for the 65-inch size), but it’s nearly twice as bright. The company claims 5,000 nits in highlights, compared with 2,800 nits last year.

    The QM850 was my favorite TV for the money last year, in part thanks to superior brightness, and its overall image quality was superb. The 851, with its higher brightness and more mini-LED dimming zones (up to 5,000, again up from 2,800), should be even better. I had the chance to check out the 851 in person at TCL’s suite, and while my viewing time was brief and as usual restricted to canned demo footage, the TV definitely looked good.

    The QM851 comes in 65-, 75-, 85- and 98-inch sizes — unfortunately it lacks a 55-inch size. Also new for 2024 is a 2.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos sound system and a NextGen TV tuner.

    The step-down QM751 does offer a 55-inch size, however, in addition to all of the sizes found on the 851. This series isn’t as bright, but TCL still claims 2,000 nits thanks to a mini-LED backlight with up to 1,300 zones. Both the 851 and 751 offer quantum dot color, a 120Hz panel and TCL’s game accelerator system, which can refresh at up to 240Hz by cuttng resolution in half. It’s a neat feature but hardly (cough) a game-changer since it works only with PCs.

    TCL’s final pair of quantum dot TV series, the Q651G-Pro and vanilla Q651, lack mini-LED so they won’t be as bright. The main difference between the two is that the Pro has local dimming, so it should have better contrast and picture quality, and the non-Pro comes in more sizes (down to 43 inches and up to 98). In both series, only the 85- and 98-inch models have 120Hz refresh rate panels — the others are 60Hz native, so they can’t take advantage of smoother 4K/120Hz gaming from a PS5 or Xbox Series X.

    Once again TCL is using the Google TV operating system exclusively in its midrange and high-end TVs. It will continue to sell a handful of smaller, less-expensive Roku TVs in its S series. I prefer built-in Roku to Google TV, but the latter is solid in its own right, and you can always add a Roku streamer to any TV if you want.

    The new TCL TVs go on sale this spring and I’m looking forward to the chance to review them in CNET’s lab.

  • TCL’s New Phones Will Be Easier On Your Eyes. Literally

    TCL’s New Phones Will Be Easier On Your Eyes. Literally

    TCL’s new phones want to make staring at your phone all day feel less burdensome on your eyes. The TCL 50 XL Nxtpaper 5G and 50 XE Nxtpaper 5G, announced Monday at CES 2024, both have a matte screen meant to simulate the experience of reading on paper versus a screen.

    TCL’s appropriately named Nxtpaper screens aren’t new to phones; the company launched two phones last year with the technology. But these are TCL’s first Nxtpaper phones to launch in the US as part of its broader 50 series phone lineup. Pricing and full details haven’t been announced yet, but all models in the new TCL 50 family — including those with its Nxtpaper screen — will cost under $300.

    The biggest benefit behind NxtPaper is that it should be easier on the eyes, with the company claiming that it filters blue light by up to 61%. It was difficult to tell how well the TCL 50 XL NxtPaper 5G lives up to those claims after using it for only a few minutes. But the screen’s matte finish was immediately noticeable, which I can imagine would make it more resistant to fingerprint smudges than a typical phone.

    Read more: Best Phones of 2024

    There was also virtually no glare on the display, which could make TCL’s Nxtpaper phones ideal for those who frequently read outdoors in bright sunlight. You can really notice this most when turning off the screen. Unlike many other electronics, the TCL’s Nxtpaper screen doesn’t turn into a black mirror. The step-down TCL 50 XE Nxtpaper 5G uses the previous generation of TCL’s Nxtpaper technology, while the XL version has the noticeably brighter 3.0 edition.

    The TCL 50 XL Nxtpaper 5G being held next to another TCL phone without Nxtpaper.

    The phones have three different viewing modes: a normal view for general use with Android apps, a low-contrast color paper mode for comics and a black-and-white ink paper mode to act more like an e-reader. The NxtPaper phones will both include a 50-megapixel main camera, 5,010mAh battery and 128GB of storage. The XL will have a 6.8-inch FHD+ display, while the XE will have a slightly smaller 6.6-inch HD+ display with Nxtpaper 2.0 versus the XL’s brigher Nxtpaper 3.0 technology. While both phones will be the debut of the NxtPaper display in the US, TCL has previously included it in two phones that debuted internationally in August.

    TCL is also releasing two tablets with this newer version of NxtPaper: the TCL NxtPaper 14 Pro and the Tab 10 NxtPaper 5G. The 14 Pro will include a 14-inch screen with a 2.8K resolution display and run on a MediaTek 8020 processor. The Tab 10 has a 10.4-inch display with a 2K resolution alongside 5G compatibility.

    While TCL’s Nxtpaper display isn’t new, its expansion to the US market is another sign that tech companies are trying to upgrade the part of your phone you use the most: its screen. There have been several efforts to enhance the display on your phone beyond just making it sharper and brighter in recent years, such as the iPhone’s Dynamic Island and the bendable displays on phones from Samsung, Google and Motorola. Those approaches are way different than TCL’s Nxtpaper screen, but the common thread between them is that they all represent an effort to make your screen more useful in one way or another.

    15 Years of Android: Comparing the Newest Android Phone to the First

    See all photos

  • TCL’s Huge 115-inch TV Is Among the Biggest, Brightest Screens I’ve Seen

    TCL’s Huge 115-inch TV Is Among the Biggest, Brightest Screens I’ve Seen

    When I walked into TCL’s private suite at the MGM Grand at CES 2024, I was hoping for something big. Namely, a 115-inch TV called the 115QM891G. The company had unveiled the existence of this huge TV a few weeks earlier, but seeing it in person was another thing entirely. I’ve been reviewing TVs for two decades, and I’ve experienced some massive, searingly bright televisions. This is one is right up there.

    The screen is eight and a half feet wide and nearly five feet tall. On its stand, which TCL told me isn’t the final design, the whole thing stood almost as tall as me, and I’m 6 feet 3 inches tall. It weighs nearly 200 pounds. TCL had set it up in a modest size room, with the couch maybe seven feet away, and from that seating distance it filled my field of view like an IMAX theater.

    The thing about a mini-LED-powered TV, however, is that it can get much, much brighter than any projector. TCL claims a peak brightness of 5,000 nits, among the brightest TVs on the market, and its 20,000 local dimming zones should deliver precise lighting even on such a large screen. In my brief time watching, I didn’t notice overt blooming or stray illumination — my main impression was of extreme brightness and really impressive contrast.

    That’s not surprising to me since the “baby” version of this TV, the 65-inch QM8 I reviewed in 2023, showed superb image quality using similar technology (on a much smaller scale). Of course, the 115QM891G includes all the other extras I’d expect, such as quantum dot color, a 120Hz panel, a tricked-out 6.2.2 channel Dolby Atmos sound system and a NextGen TV tuner. It’s not an 8K screen, but I didn’t notice any lack of sharpness.

    Bigger TVs have graced the halls of CES, such as Samsung’s 292-inch Wall, but none were mass-market models. In other words, they all cost a lot more than this one. TCL is charging “under $20,000” for the 115QM891G when it goes on sale (my bet: $19,999), likely toward late spring or early summer 2024. It’s worth noting that rival Hisense has a 100-inch TV that costs a lot less (around $5,000), and don’t be surprised if other TV makers break the triple digit barrier soon. Ninety-eight-inch TVs are soooo 2023.

    TCL also announced a range of smaller, much more affordable TVs at CES 2024.

  • TCL’s Bringing 120Hz Displays to Its Cheaper Phones, Debuts New AR Glasses

    TCL’s Bringing 120Hz Displays to Its Cheaper Phones, Debuts New AR Glasses

    TCL is unveiling its new line of cheaper phones at CES 2024 on Monday alongside a step-down model of the company’s augmented reality glasses. The TCL 50 series of phones put particular focus on the screens, with handsets that have a 120Hz refresh rate and the company’s paperlike NxtPaper technology. Meanwhile, the company’s RayNeo X2 Lite glasses tout its ability to do real-time translations and a newer Qualcomm chip.

    The TCL 50 series is led by the TCL 50 XL 5G, which includes a 6.8-inch 120Hz refresh rate display, dual speakers, a 50-megapixel main camera, a 5,010mAh battery and 128GB of storage. The device itself also includes a leather-like back.

    TCL 50 XL 5G

    The step-down TCL 50 XE 5G includes a slightly smaller 6.6-inch 90Hz refresh rate display, but otherwise also the same speakers, camera, battery and storage options.

    TCL 50 XL NxtPaper 5G and TCL 50 XE NxtPaper 5G

    TCL is also announcing NxtPaper versions of the XL and XE phones, which are both the first US-bound devices from TCL to include its paperlike display. TCL claims those displays reduce blue light by 61%, and my colleague Lisa Eadicicco notes from her hands-on time that the screens have a more matte look in comparison to traditional screens.

    The TCL 50 LE is a 4G-only phone that will round out the low end of the company’s lineup and is targeted at the prepaid phone market. That phone will include a 6.6-inch 90Hz refresh rate display, a 13-megapixel camera and 64GB of storage.

    TCL did not reveal pricing for its new phone lineup, but last year’s 40 Series of phones all priced for under $200.

    Alongside the phones, TCL’s RayNeo X2 Lite glasses are a step-down model to the original RayNeo X2 but still include the live translation feature those glasses spotlighted. The company touts that the Lite glasses include Qualcomm’s Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 chip, which powers features like its AI assistant, photography and object detection. Availability and pricing were not yet announced for these glasses. The original RayNeo X2 is also going global through crowdfunding, with TCL announcing Monday that it will hit the Indiegogo platform in February.

    The RayNeo X2 Lite debuts hours after Apple announced preorders for its high-end Apple Vision Pro headset, which will be released on Feb. 2. Both TCL and Apple’s devices compete against headsets like the Meta Quest 2, all of which are bringing their spin on mixed reality experiences.

  • Save Up to $40 on a Costco Membership With These Bonus Gift Card Deals

    Save Up to $40 on a Costco Membership With These Bonus Gift Card Deals

    If you’re looking for ways to stick to a budget this year, one way to save some cash on your everyday essentials is buying in bulk. And if you’re looking to save money on a membership to a big box store, StackSocial has a solid deal on annual Costco memberships. Rather than getting a traditional discount on the membership itself, you’ll get back Costco credit that you can use toward a future purchase. That saves you roughly 33% off the cost of membership.

    There are two different levels that you can choose from with this StackSocial deal. You can snag a one-year Gold Star Costco membership for $60, and you’ll get back $20 worth of Costco credit. While you still need to shell out the original $60, it essentially means you’ll get the one-year membership for just $40. Or spring for the Executive Gold Star Costco membership for $120 and get back $40 worth of Costco credit, which means the one-year membership at the higher tier will essentially cost you just $80.

    StackSocial doesn’t list a specific date for when this deal will end, so we recommend making your purchase sooner rather than later if you want to take advantage of this offer. Keep in mind, this offer is only available only to new customers, or those whose memberships have expired for more than 18 months. If you’ve been thinking of picking up an annual Costco membership, this is a great way to keep more cash in your pocket.

    Read more: How to Get the Most Out of Your Costco Membership

    With a Costco Gold Star subscription, you’ll get one membership card for your household. It allows you to shop at any Costco warehouse worldwide, as well as online at Costco.com. While Costco is a great place to save on groceries and other everyday essentials, it offers a lot more. A Gold Star membership also means you can use Costco’s gas stations and pharmacies, as well as Costco’s optical and hearing aid centers. And Costco frequently has seasonal plants, decor, furniture, electronics and other products as well.

    If you sign up for a Costco Executive Gold Star membership, you’ll can take advantage of all of the features of the regular Gold Star subscription, as well as additional benefits and greater discounts on select Costco services. Plus, you’ll earn an annual 2% reward up to $1,000 on qualified purchases.

    After you sign up, you’ll receive your bonus shop card via email. The card can be used both in store and online, so you can use it right away. It’s also worth noting that after you pay for membership through StackSocial, you’ll have until June 30 to redeem the membership, or you may not be able to take advantage of the deal.

  • AMD Is All About Mainstream PC CPUs, Entry Gaming GPUs at CES

    AMD Is All About Mainstream PC CPUs, Entry Gaming GPUs at CES

    AMD launched its high-profile, newest-generation Ryzen 8000-series mobile CPUs less than a month ago, saving the more mainstream (read “less expensive”), meat-and-potatoes announcements for CES. As usual, that means a step-up-from-entry-priced graphics chip, the Radeon RX 7600 XT, for cards starting at about $329, and a new slate of low-power Ryzen desktop CPUs, made up of new 8000 series chips and additions to the old 5000 series.

    The $269 Radeon RX 7600 remains at the bottom of AMD’s current-generation pecking order, now joined by the XT version. As is common — Nvidia frequently does the same — they use the same GPU, but AMD kind of unbottlenecks it. That means more memory (16GB vs. 8GB) and higher frequencies, with a concomitant increase in power requirements (25 watts more) to drive it all. That means the XT is bigger and takes two 8 pin power connections rather than one.

    Radeon RX 7600 XT

    Memory 16GB GDDR6
    GPU clock (GHz, game/boost) 2.47/2.76
    Memory data rate/Interface 18Gbps/128 bits
    Ray accelerators 32
    Stream processors 2,048
    Compute Units 32
    AI accelerators 64
    Process 6nm
    Total board power (watts) 190
    Bus PCIe 4.0×8
    Size 2 slots
    Launch price Starts at $329
    Ship date January 24, 2024

    In practice, the XT probably won’t bump you up a resolution class — in other words, it won’t really get you from 1080p to 1440p gaming without sacrifices. But it could conceivably lift you a quality class at the same frame rate, give you a little more headroom for video editing and viewing large 3D models, or give some generative AI calculations a little boost. Those are the types of things that benefit from the extra memory and the slight speed uptick. The larger size and needier power may disqualify it from fitting into your system as a replacement, depending upon how small it is.

    AMD won’t offer its own card with the GPU; it will only be available from the company’s typical partners including Acer, PowerColor, Sapphire, XFX and others. It’s expected to ship on Jan. 24.

    Along with the card, AMD announced some updates to its Adrenalin software, including video upscaling and improvements in streaming video quality.

    amd-ryzen-8000-series-desktop-cpu

    On the other side of the processing fence, new Ryzen CPUs are on their way. They’re predominantly 65-watt CPUs, lower power for desktops but a power class formerly used for high-power laptops. Now they’re commonly used for entry-level gaming as well as small-form and general-purpose desktop PCs.

    The 8000 series incorporates the new technologies that debuted in December, notably more-powerful Radeon 700-series integrated graphics (the “M” designation is for mobile) and generationally improved AI processing with AMD’s XDNA neural processing.

    Mainstream Ryzen desktop CPU specs

    Max boost (GHz) Cores Threads NPU Power class Integrated graphics Generation (socket)
    Ryzen 7 8700G 5.1 8 16 Yes 65W Radeon 780M Zen 4 (AM5)
    Ryzen 5 8600G 5.0 6 12 Yes 65W Radeon 760M Zen 4 (AM5)
    Ryzen 5 8500G 5.0 6 12 Yes 65W Radeon 740M Zen 4 (AM5)
    Ryzen 3 8300G 4.9 4 8 Yes 65W Radeon 740M Zen 4 (AM5)
    Ryzen 7 5700X3D 4.1 8 16 No 105W None Zen 3 (AM4)
    Ryzen 7 5700 4.6 8 16 No 65W None Zen 3 (AM4)
    Ryzen 5 5600GT 4.6 6 12 No 65W Radeon Graphics Zen 3 (AM4)
    Ryzen 5 5500GT 4.4 6 12 No 65W Radeon Graphics Zen 3 (AM4)

    The 8000 series requires AMD’s newest-generation AM5 socket, which makes it suboptimal for DIY upgraders, who probably have older motherboards, or buyers on a really tight budget. Because of this, AMD has also expanded its last-gen 5000 series with new CPUs that can fit into the older AM4 socket, but they have inferior integrated graphics and lack any sort of dedicated AI acceleration.

    Most notable among them is the Ryzen 7 5700X3D, which uses AMD’s stacked-chip design (denoted by “X3D”) for faster-than-usual performance; it’s typically for gaming PCs with standalone graphics cards in them, and in this case, for midpriced systems.

    Previously, the company’s AMD Advantage badging program denoted systems that maxed out all the AMD components and features possible and were designed in conjunction with AMD to do so. Now, those are being bumped up to a new AMD Advantage Premium slot, and poor, generic AMD Advantage will be used to denote more hands-off relationships — AMD “verified” without “rigorous qualification.”

    This opens up marketing subsidies for custom builders and more prebuilt systems or laptops that don’t merit the co-development — companies such as Maingear, CLX, ABS and CyberPower PC — and existing partners including HP and Asus. Like Intel’s Evo badging, it rarely impacts your buying decisions in a meaningful way.

  • This Is Your Last Chance to Snag a Windows 11 Pro License for Just $30

    This Is Your Last Chance to Snag a Windows 11 Pro License for Just $30

    Buying the latest Windows OS directly at Microsoft will cost you a whopping $200. But if you’re building your own PC or are looking to upgrade your current one without breaking the bank, then you won’t want to miss out on this limited-time deal at StackSocial. This offer knocks 84% off a Windows 11 Pro lifetime license, which drops the price down to just $30.

    This is a great price, but it’s important to note that not every computer out there is able to run Windows 11, so before you buy it, you’re going to want to ensure that your machine will meet the requirements for the operating system. Additionally, the listing says that if you have a PC that’s already running Windows 10, and Windows Update doesn’t let you install the free Windows 11 upgrade, your computer won’t be compatible with this version either.

    After you’ve bought the license, you’ll get an activation key that you can use to install and activate Windows 11 Pro on one computer. To be clear, purchases like this are generally intended for advanced users — folks who are building a new computer or who want to dual-boot an existing computer with a second OS. If you’re doing that, you’ll need a secondary PC to access and download the files, so be sure you can access everything from another computer in your home, or that you have a friend’s machine you can use temporarily. Also note that you’ll want to have a USB thumb drive available to transfer the file.

  • LG’s Weird Speaker-TV Hybrid Puts Video on Top of Vacuum Tubes

    LG’s Weird Speaker-TV Hybrid Puts Video on Top of Vacuum Tubes

    If you’ve ever wanted to sync up The Wizard of Oz with Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, the LG Dukebox might be just the device for you. This little hybrid tube-speaker… thing could be one of the weirdest devices of CES 2024.

    The LG Duke Box is a 360-degree speaker with a transparent OLED panel at the front to show off the tube amplifier inside. Transparent OLEDs have been with us for a number of years, but the technology has yet to really take hold. LG says the screen can be used to watch movies, or “create a cozy fireplace ambiance where the vacuum tube is visible amidst the flickering flames”.

    The DukeBox is likely to take advantage of the pleasant sound properties of vacuum tubes, and you can see them used in a zillion cheap amps on Amazon, but also in guitar amps and preamplifiers.

    The DukeBox is reminiscent of last year’s StanbyMe Go — another TV-speaker combo from LG, except that one was designed to be portable. Samsung also released a soundbar with a vacuum tube in it many years ago. At the moment, the DukeBox appears to be a concept and not a real product, so pricing and availability are likely a ways off.

  • CES Brims With Cutting-Edge Tech Treasures. Here’s What Grabbed Our Eyeballs So Far

    CES Brims With Cutting-Edge Tech Treasures. Here’s What Grabbed Our Eyeballs So Far

    The CES 2024 product reveal is already in full swing, and while we’ve grown to expect a host of new laptops, TVs and smart speakers, the offerings at the world’s largest consumer electronics show this year also reflect our growing need for more specialized gadgets, our nostalgia for products thought obsolete and the quickly emerging presence of AI in our lives.

    So, without further delay, here is the future that’s captivating us at CES 2024. We’ll continue to update this story with new tech highlights we discover.


    bespoke jet bot combo

    Robot stain fighter

    We’ll kick things off with a product sure to clean up – literally. The new Bespoke Jet Bot AI+ smart robot vacuum does more than just sweep up dust bunnies and dog hair; it’s designed to roam your rooms scouting for stains as they happen and scrub them out so you don’t have to.

    And as the name suggests, the robot taps AI-powered object recognition to identify stains on rugs, carpets and hard flooring. And yes, it can tell the difference between the surfaces, presumably making adjustments to its clean technique accordingly. You can also tell this $1,000-plus household helper where it can and can’t go as it attacks stains as bad puppy piddle or a zinfandel spill with a spinning mop that hits 170 rpm.


    The Oclean X Ultra Wi-Fi Digital Toothbrush with extra heads and charger

    Teeth tech

    And AI isn’t just helping keep your floors clean – it’s also being used to make sure your teeth are as clean as they can be. The Oclean X Ultra Wi-Fi Digital Toothbrush features an algorithm-controlled motor, five brush modes tailored to specific needs, an interactive touchscreen that shows you areas you missed and an AI voice guide to help you improve your technique.

    It also features Wi-Fi connectivity so you can pair it with your home network, and it will store information about your brushing history until you can download it to your app. It also boasts 40 days of battery life through wireless charging. It will go sale in the US in the fall for $130.


    A person hands their iPhone to another to hold -- the phone is wrapped in the Clicks case-and-keyboard, which is bright yellow with stylish black keys.

    What’s old is new

    If you consider yourself an old-school smartphone user, you may yearn for the physical keyboards that used to accompany phones of yesteryear. The iPhone’s on-screen keyboard ushered out the full physical keyboards that were popular on BlackBerry devices.

    The Clicks keyboard, from Clicks Technology, will transform your iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, adding a keyboard that’s actually integrated into a wraparound case. This $139 wraparound slides onto your device and runs off the phone’s battery, so no charging required.


    img-0122

    Must see-through TV

    TVs are getting bigger every year, which means there’s a bigger slab of black plastic taking up a significant port of the living room wall when not in use. But what if we could make it disappear, without actually pulling it off the wall?

    Samsung has apparently done just that. The company is showing off first transparent version of its Micro-LED display tech atCES 2024, and while transparent OLED and even LCD-based screens have been around for a while,look the best, especially in terms of brightness and color, according to CNET’s David Katzmaier.

    Samsung says its Micro-LED display technology produces brighter, clearer images and is more transparent than the going tech.But Samsung says its transparent Micro-LED tech isn’t available in the market, so what Katzmaier saw (or didn’t see?) essentially a concept.


    cnet-ces-2024-doublepoint-watch-nick-wolny

    It’s all in the wristwatch remote

    Imagine using your wrist to control everything around you. A flick this way, and you can turn off the lights or scroll through the offerings on Netflix Finnish startup called Doublepoint has developed software that can turn an Android watch into a general purpose controller for any device via a Bluetooth connection.

    The software will come to developers in the first half of this year,but it’s up to developers and app-makers to decide what a small gesture like tapping fingers or rotating your wrist will actually do.

  • Wildly Impressive LG Transparent OLED Transforms From TV into Fish Tank

    Wildly Impressive LG Transparent OLED Transforms From TV into Fish Tank

    A TV you can see through isn’t the most practical of innovations, but there’s no denying its cool factor. Transparent OLED screen technology has been around for years in commercial applications, but for the first time in 2024, LG is selling it to consumers for use in the home. The company’s 77-inch transparent TV is called the OLED T, and I saw it for the first time at CES 2024.

    When I walked into LG’s private demo suite at the Mandalay Bay hotel I saw what looked like a chic stand and shelf surrounding what looked like a big window. I could see right through it to the wall beyond. Images moved across the surface of the “glass,” including a school of fish, a field of stars, animated figures and other images. Then the LG rep pressed a button on a remote control and a sheet of black film rose slowly from below, obscuring the wall and turning the window into a TV screen, which could show sports or a movie.

    The transparency isn’t as perfect as glass, but I could clearly discern the wall and even a little bud vase through the screen. When the mechanized film unrolled up behind the screen the image quality wasn’t quite as vibrant as some of the other OLED TVs LG had on display in its suite, but I won’t fuss about those details. A TV that can effectively disappear and transform into furniture, art or a fish tank, the OLED TV succeeds brilliantly.

    To add to the cool factor, the OLED T uses the company’s wireless transmission technology, similar to the company’s M4 series. The only cord running to the television is power. Devices that use HDMI wires (like game consoles) and other connections plug into a separate box that can be placed up to 30 feet away from the TV.

    In addition to the fish tank, LG built a host of screensavers, clocks and widgets that can show up on the TV and grouped them under the Always On section of the menu; the idea being that they’ll persist after you turn the TV “Off.” The company designed a simpler version of its smart TV system as well to work better with the see-through screen.

    Representatives told me the shelves around the TV itself are optional, and could be slightly different or offer more options by the time the TV hits the market in mid-2024. it’s only available in one size (77 inches), but LG said future versions could go bigger or smaller depending on customer feedback. Pricing has not been set, but I expect it to be extremely expensive.