The flat-out truth on curved TVs
More than one high-profile vendor showed off a curved-screen TV during their press conferences at the Consumer Electronics Show. But as soon as the show floor opened, it became clear that curved screens weren’t just the provenance of big names like Samsung and LG. Nearly every TV vendor from high to low had a curved screen to parade in its booth.
The reason for a curved screen has somewhat mystified us since last year when we first saw Samsung’s curved 4K TV. Now that these screens are everywhere, it bears sussing out what, exactly, is their purpose.
The first clue that curved screens are a questionable improvement over flat ones is that every manufacturer has a slightly different reason for the style. Theaters, field of view, 3D, and depth enhancement all get name-checked in service of the curve. Some of these are easier to address than others, and some actually make a case for a curved TV screen. Still, it’s not exactly the next revolution.
