In my 20 years as CNET’s TV reviewer, I’ve seen numerous TVs — however nothing like this. C Seed makes extremely costly custom-built televisions for the ultra-wealthy, and the N1 is its newest providing. The 137-inch model I noticed at CES 2024 is certainly one of two N1 fashions in existence.
Probably the most unbelievable factor concerning the N1 is the best way it folds right into a compact rectangular chunk when not in use. Press a button and the display screen divides into components that slowly butterfly collectively, then descend into the rectangle, hiding the display screen solely — a course of that takes about 2 and a half minutes. The folded N1 appears to be like extra like a strong metallic bench than a TV.
The N1, that silver rectangle in entrance of the window, appears to be like nothing like a TV when it is folded up.
Unfolded, the N1 has a surprising, vivid, seamless image, and the display screen can rotate 180 levels. The divisions between the completely different sections of the display screen had been invisible to my eye. That is as a result of the corporate makes use of a proprietary system it calls Adaptive Hole Calibration. It mechanically measures the gap between the sides, makes use of sensors to detect offsets and calibrates the brightness of adjoining LEDs. I could not detect any seams within the picture.
The TV makes use of micro-LED expertise, the identical show tech discovered on Samsung’s The Wall — one other large, super-expensive TV that occurs to be C Seed’s main competitor. C Seed says the large 4K decision display screen can obtain 4,000 nits peak brightness, with HDR and vast colour gamut. In my temporary viewing time with C Seed’s demo materials, the image high quality regarded nice. As with The Wall, I might discern particular person pixels after I was very near the display screen, however from any regular seating distance, the picture regarded easy and sharp.
Watch this: I Noticed C-SEED’s $200,000 Folding TV
C Seed makes different enormous folding TVs. The corporate rep instructed me C Seed has offered round 200 models within the 10 years it has been in enterprise, every one custom-built. Purchasers usually wait six months between ordering and supply. The 137-inch indoor N1 prices $200,000, a worth that features set up and setup, and the outside model is $240,000. Should you’re so inclined, you possibly can order a 165-inch ($300,000) or a 103-inch ($110,000) model as a substitute.
Usually, that is the half after I say I stay up for reviewing a TV in CNET’s lab — however on this case, that is not gonna occur.
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