Does it make sense to buy a TV with a curved screen?

The first TVs with a curved (or rather, concave) screen were introduced by LCD panel manufacturers a couple of years ago. Thus, they decided to attract customers not only with an unusual design, but also with new sensations from watching videos and TV programs. Today, models with a curved screen have become a fashion trend, as has 4K (Ultra HD) resolution. Samsung and LG are especially active in their popularization. Just look at the 2015 line of LCD TVs from Samsung g. Of the 14 models, 5 are made exclusively in the curved format, 3 are offered in both curved and flat versions, and only 6 are flat. Unlike the aforementioned companies, other manufacturers, like Panasonic, are more conservative. However, in their lines, models with a curved screen are not found in a single instance.

What attracts them?

Increasing the visible size of the screen, as the manufacturer submits it

Why does the buyer need a curved TV? The manufacturers have an explanation. The traditional flat screen, ideally, when the viewer is positioned in the centre, does not provide a uniform colour perception of the picture. After all, the right and left sides of the screen are located further from the viewer's eyes and, as a result, the zones on the edges of the display shine "past" the axis of vision. It was proposed to compensate for this problem in the following way – to bend the screen so that its section becomes part of a circle with a large radius (about 4-5 m). At the same time, the viewer in front of the screen perceives the TV as a model with a larger diagonal – so a 55-inch screen is perceived as a 65-inch, etc. In addition to increasing the visual width of the screen, the positive sides of the curved TV panel also include increased viewing angles, better contrast characteristics and reduced reflections and glare.

What are they selling?

Advertising the increase in the perception of the width of the display, the manufacturer, usually, "forgets" to mention that it directly depends on the distance at which the viewer is located. So, at a distance of 5 m from a TV with a diagonal of 55", this increase will be about 3%, that is, it will be almost invisible.

An essential detail that is not emphasized by manufacturers and marketers is the comfortable viewing area. It is located within the sector bounded by the TV field. In the case of a flat panel, any viewer who is in front of the TV gets approximately the same picture. For curved TV sets, the value of sweet spot — the best viewing position - increases greatly. Any exit beyond the boundaries of the comfortable viewing area negates the benefits of a concave screen.

The owner of a curved TV gets advantages when watching, but only within a certain comfort zone

What happens to those who are not in the sweet spot? The viewer sitting on the sofa to the left or right of the central seat gets the best view for the far side of the screen from him, due to the bend and, at the same time, the worst – for the near side. Since it is at a sharper angle to it than in conventional flat screens. It can be argued that visibility is deteriorating compared to a flat panel, and some note the presence of geometric distortions in the image.

It is worth noting that all the artifacts of concavity will affect the viewer the less, the larger the diagonal of the screen. For an illustrative example, it is enough to recall the screen size in the IMAX cinema. Therefore, such a display design will be appropriate on TV models with a diagonal of 55" and above. At the same time, curved-screen TVs presented on our market have a diagonal of 40". According to the calculations of specialists from various technical publications, to ensure the effect of presence, the screen should cover more than 40% of the field of view. For example: a screen with a radius of curvature of 5 m should have either more than 100" diagonally, or the viewer should be located very close to it.

Pros and cons of the concept

So, on the positive side — the concave screen really allows you to deal with the deterioration of contrast at the edges of the display. However, this effect is most evident on TN matrices, which are typical for low-cost devices with small diagonals. There will be few such models, if they are released at all. In expensive TVs with an IPS or VA matrix (as well as OLED), this advantage is somewhat leveled.

Concave TV looks spectacular

The obvious disadvantages of a concave screen are optical distortions, deterioration of viewing angles and contrast for those who are outside the comfortable viewing area. Also, the disadvantage is that the material reproduced on such a TV does not take into account its design features. After all, everything in the modern production process for cinema and television is focused on flat TV screens, and we will hardly wait for special editions of films (and even more so — TV channels) for concave screens.

Given the higher cost of production compared to traditional models, the buyer of a surved TV gets a significant increase in price, which, according to experts, does not quite justify its advantages. Moreover, "blind" tests conducted by specialized online publications indicate that most viewers are unable to immediately distinguish a flat panel from a concave one (in particular, due to the large radius). Indirectly, this shows that there are no significant differences and novelty of sensations during the transition from a flat to a curved TV panel.

To be or not to be?

The situation around concave TV screens can be compared with the hype with which models of CRT flat-screen TVs were promoted at the time. The very fact of having a flat screen was presented by marketers as something new, which gives a better feeling when viewing. As a result, the buyer tied together a flat screen and improved characteristics of the cathode ray tube and electronics. And then, when buying, I was looking for a "flat" TV.

Oddly enough, but flaunting the curvature and novelty can play a cruel joke with TV producers. After all, for many years they have been fighting to improve the quality of the review so that as many viewers as possible enjoy a high-quality picture. Now, with the advent of the "concavity factor", the audience is limited to one or two people, and the TV from the family screen turns into a home theater for the egoist.

However, as an alternative, TVs with a concave screen can be a good choice for those who, first of all, are looking for an unusual design in a device with a large diagonal, who want to make their purchase an image element, a symbol of following the latest technical innovations. After all, models with the curved prefix really look spectacular in a modern interior. Although they cannot always demonstrate the "magical" properties attributed to them.