TCL Corporation, consumer electronics manufacturer and internet application services provider, exhibited its 8K UHD Curved TV and a full range of other latest TVs and technologies at the recently concluded 56th Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA) in Berlin, Germany.
TCL brought a lineup of its latest LCD TVs, including the new flagship QUHD TV Xclusive X1 and the TCL Cityline series, to cater to the different demands of customers. Among them, the 65-inch 8K UHD Curved TV is definitely an eye-catcher, featuring a panel produced by China Star Optoelectronics Technology (CSOT). It offers eight times the pixel count of Full HD resolution and has active 3D function. This 8K prototype displays an extra level of razor sharp detail that is way better than a 4K screen.
TCL demonstrated its efforts to gain a foothold in the high-end TV segment. Commenting on TCL’s overseas strategy, Tomson Li, chairman and CEO of TCL Corporation, said, “We have been investing heavily in innovation to create better TV products. We believe innovation will be rewarding. It will bring us to a new horizon and our users a better experience.”
As LCD TV manufacturing pursues larger sizes and higher resolutions, high-end displays play an essential role for TCL to obtain a competitive edge in the industry. By actively making strategical vertical integration with upstream display supplier CSOT, TCL has been able to gain a technological advantage and expand its global presence in the high-end LCD display market.
CSOT currently owns two Gen 8.5 and one Gen 6 LCD production lines, which can produce panels as large as 55 inches. On August 29, just days before IFA 2016, TCL announced that the company, its subsidiary CSOT, and the local government will jointly invest RMB 46.5 billion (US$6.9 billion) to build a production line for Gen 11 TFT-LCD and AMOLED displays, which will start mass production in July 2019. The production line, when completed, will be able to produce 43-, 65-, 70- (21:9), and 75-inch LCD displays, as well as ultra-large public displays and OLED displays. It’ll enable TCL to enhance its portfolio in terms of large-sized LCD displays and help boost the company’s comprehensive competitiveness in LCD display business.
A star player in terms of innovation
In recent years, TCL Group has won several awards for innovation at the IFA. In the selection of “2016 IFA Product Technical Innovation Award,” the group stood head and shoulders above its global peers when it was revealed that the manufacturer was alone in winning two innovation awards, with the TCL QUHD quantum dot TV Q65X1S-CUD garnering the “Quantum Dot Technology Gold Award” and the groundbreaking dirt-free washing machine XQM85-9005BS stepping off the podium with the “Cleaning Technology Gold Award.” The wide range of products using the most cutting-edge technology on display—including QUHD quantum dot TVs as well as smartphones, tablets, and mobile VR devices—led to the 1,854-square-meter TCL exhibition area remaining crowded with visitors throughout the event.
IFA 2016 comes at a special time for TCL as this year marks the 35th anniversary of the corporation—growing from a local joint venture to a global giant in home appliances. The company came in third in the world ranking of the LCD TV market and fifth in the world’s mobile phone market. Also, it is now one of the 10 largest tablet manufacturers.
