Samsung unveils bendable Ultra HD 4K TV in South Korea

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After it made its budget-busting, space-filling 105in curved Ultra HD TV available to pre-order in the US, Samsung has followed that up with the launch of a 78in 4K set in Korea that's thought to be the first with a bendable screen to hit the market.

MORE: Samsung confirms $120,000 price tag for 105in curved Ultra HD TV

Flexible screens were among some of the headline-grabbing TVs from this year's CES in Las Vegas; an 85in version of the UN78S9B was shown off to visitors. If you're not sure if a curved or flat screen is right for you, a bendable one might help.

The 78in set was due to go on sale in Korea on August 1st, no doubt with a fairly eye-watering price tag. One report has suggested at least $30,000 (£18,000), though there's no sign of it on sale online as yet. There's no word on a UK release date either.

How does it work? Well, the screen features a small motor at the back and its job is to push the edges of the screen from flat to curved and vice versa – the curvature offering a more immersive experience, with flat a more traditional option perhaps.

And when it comes to these more ostentatious sets, it seems that if Samsung is doing it then so is LG. If its demonstration of a bendable TV at CES is anything to go by, then we probably can expect a rival set to Samsung's in due course.

But will the bendable screen become a genuine mainstream TV option? Only time will tell...

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Pete Hayman

Pete was content editor on What Hi-Fi?, overseeing production and publication of digital content. In creating and curating feature articles for web and print consumption, he provided digital and editorial expertise and support to help reposition What Hi-Fi? as a ‘digital-first’ title; reflecting the contemporary media trends. He is now a senior content strategist.