Samsung ramps up curved TV production, despite Sony and LG killing off theirs

LG and Sony may have decided to end production of curved TVs, but Samsung remains committed to them. The South Korean firm will launch no fewer than 22 curved TVs worldwide in 2017, ET News reports (via The Verge) - up from the ten it announced last year.

According to ET News, Samsung's curved sets will all be 65in or bigger, so the firm is positioning them as premium products.

Samsung is also planning to include at least one curved set in its new QLED range.

MORE: Samsung Q9 QLED TV hands-on review

In contrast, Sony and LG both announced last month that they would no longer produce curved TVs. Sony remained quiet as to its reasons, but LG cited lack of consumer interest. Curved TVs had been criticised for their narrower viewing angles, and also for being more expensive to manufacture than their flat counterparts.

Neveretheless, some curved sets have fared well in our tests. Samsung's UE65KS9500, for example, scored a perfect five out of five.

They're popular in China, too. And because a curved TV is such a premium product, Samsung makes a healthier profit from each unit sold. With sales rising, it's no wonder Samsung is keen to keep making them.

MORE: Why curved phones make more sense than curved TVs

Joe Svetlik

Joe has been writing about tech for 17 years, first on staff at T3 magazine, then in a freelance capacity for Stuff, The Sunday Times Travel Magazine, Men's Health, GQ, The Mirror, Trusted Reviews, TechRadar and many more (including What Hi-Fi?). His specialities include all things mobile, headphones and speakers that he can't justifying spending money on.