Panasonic has just announced its first curved TVs with the new CR850 series leading the way, but it’s clear that Panasonic is less convinced by the benefits of curved TVs than the likes of Samsung.
Speaking to TrustedReviews, Viera Product Manager at Panasonic UK, Craig Cunningham, told us that Panasonic’s view was that curved TVs were mainly a design option rather than an upgrade over their flat cousins.
“What we’re giving people here is a choice of our range which is curved [but] the spec of our curved models is identical to our flat models, so it’s purely a design option.”
He added, though, that while the specs of flat TVs and their curved versions are identical, there will be a price premium because “it generally costs a bit more to curve a panel like that.”
Related: Curved TVs: The Pros and Cons
It’s an understandable position to take because, as Cunningham went on to explain, the key benefits of a curved TV are so closely connected to the precise conditions in which you’re viewing it.
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He also added, as diplomatically as possible, that Panasonic wouldn’t push picture quality advantages over flat TVs because no one could “truly justify that statement.”
“There are benefits to both,” he added. “It’s very similar to IMAX technology, but I think saying curved is better picture quality than flat is maybe a little bit misleading.”
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
