Samsung Mini-LED TV – More Discounts
On May 20 we listed Samsung Electronics’ (005930.KS) new TV line-up, or at least those that were 4K or higher resolution and were designed with quantum dots and/or mini-LEDs. Only 6 days later, we noted that Samsung had already began discounting 10 of the new models and we note today that Samsung has continued to reduce prices on sets in those lines. Again we find this surprising as it is early in the product cycle and most of these would be considered premium products, but China’s TCL (000100.CH) has been producing Mini-LED TVs for a number of years and is on their 3rd generation. While they are not yet available in the US (older models are), they will certainly challenge Samsung as to price, and LG Electronics (066570.KS) will also be releasing a series of mini-LED/quantum dot TVs through the summer and the remainder of the year, all of which have been announced.
We note that in the previous set of discounts the focus was on 65” and 55” sets, while the most recent discounts were focused on 75” and 85” sets, although not exclusively. LGE’s top-of-the-line 8K 86” Mini-LED/QD TV is priced at $8,000, $1,000 lower than Samsung’s, with the 75” model $2,000 lower (now $1,500) and the 65” model $1,500 (now $1,300) so Samsung’ pricing is certainly higher. The discounts averaged 7.2% in the previous tranche and in the current, 8.6%, with those that have been discounted twice averaging 11.1% from the initial price.
TCL, who has been producing Mini-LED TVs longer than either South Korean producer, does not yet sell this year’s mini-LED/QD TV in the US, but last year’s models, which list for $1,600 (75”), $1,100 (65”), and $800 (55”) are priced far lower than either competitor, and have attracted considerable attention with consumers. A number of those sets are being offered at a premium on Amazon (AMZN) as they have been in short supply since their release last September.
The updated table with Samsung 2021 models and discounts is below and shows all of Samsung’s models for this year, with those that have just become discounted highlighted in red and those that were previously discounted but remain the same in blue, and those that have been discounted twice in yellow.
We note that in the previous set of discounts the focus was on 65” and 55” sets, while the most recent discounts were focused on 75” and 85” sets, although not exclusively. LGE’s top-of-the-line 8K 86” Mini-LED/QD TV is priced at $8,000, $1,000 lower than Samsung’s, with the 75” model $2,000 lower (now $1,500) and the 65” model $1,500 (now $1,300) so Samsung’ pricing is certainly higher. The discounts averaged 7.2% in the previous tranche and in the current, 8.6%, with those that have been discounted twice averaging 11.1% from the initial price.
TCL, who has been producing Mini-LED TVs longer than either South Korean producer, does not yet sell this year’s mini-LED/QD TV in the US, but last year’s models, which list for $1,600 (75”), $1,100 (65”), and $800 (55”) are priced far lower than either competitor, and have attracted considerable attention with consumers. A number of those sets are being offered at a premium on Amazon (AMZN) as they have been in short supply since their release last September.
The updated table with Samsung 2021 models and discounts is below and shows all of Samsung’s models for this year, with those that have just become discounted highlighted in red and those that were previously discounted but remain the same in blue, and those that have been discounted twice in yellow.
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