IFA 2011: LG unveils Nano Smart 3D and 'Pentouch' plasma TV ranges – updated

LG LW980T Nano Cinema 3D/Smart TV

UPDATED WITH UK PRICES 02.09.11

'Nano' is the new buzzword here on the LG stand at IFA, with the Korean electronics giant unveiling its LW980T range of passive Cinema 3D/Smart TVs with Nano Full LED backlighting technology.

LG claims its Nano tech creates "brighter, clearer and smoother pictures", and allows the TV's design to be slimmer than ever, with a depth of just 2.6cm.

The flagship TV series comes with seven pairs of passive 3D glasses, built-in wi-fi and a 'magic remote'. It will be available in the UK from late September in 47in and 55in screen sizes, priced at £1799 and £2499 respectively.

Both models get Smart TV functionality, 2D-to-3D conversion, web browser, two USB connections with DiVX PLus/HD playback, four HDMI sockets and smart energy saving mode.

LG PZ850T Pentouch 3D plasma TV

Smart TV remains a key focus for LG in 2011, with the service now boasting 175 different apps, including BBC iPlayer, ITN, Facebook and Twitter, plus more than 9000 films and TV shows via Blinkbox.

Also on show here is LG's HX906TX '3D Sound' home cinema system with a 9.1 speaker set-up and Dolby TrueHD/Dolby Digital Plus decoding, expected to go on sale in late October for around £900.

It includes a Blu-ray/DVD player, Smart TV functionality, wi-fi, DLNA, 3D sound analyzer, iPhone/iPod playback and LG Remote control via smartphones.

LG HX906TX 3D Sound home cinema system

And making its European debut is the LG PZ850T Pentouch 3D active-shutter plasma TV, which allows viewers to control content directly on the screen using special 'Touch Pens'.

The Pentouch TVs are available in 50in and 60in sizes, at £1299 and £1899 respectively, include one pair of active-shutter glasses and have THX 3D certification.

Also on the LG stand at IFA is the company's Dual Play TV system for two-player games using modified passive 3D specs, which lets two gamers each see their own 2D full screen on the same TV.

The new technology, demonstrated by Microsoft and set to go on sale in a limited number of LG televisions, displays two separate pictures on the same screen, and then uses special 3D-style glasses to ensure that each player can only see one image.

LG's take on glasses-free 3D, in the form of its D2500N monitor with eye tracking, featured at IFA too.

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Andy Clough

Andy is Global Brand Director of What Hi-Fi? and has been a technology journalist for 30 years. During that time he has covered everything from VHS and Betamax, MiniDisc and DCC to CDi, Laserdisc and 3D TV, and any number of other formats that have come and gone. He loves nothing better than a good old format war. Andy edited several hi-fi and home cinema magazines before relaunching whathifi.com in 2008 and helping turn it into the global success it is today. When not listening to music or watching TV, he spends far too much of his time reading about cars he can't afford to buy.