The battle for consumer’s 3D TV dollars entered a new phase last week when LG began running TV ads claiming its passive “Cinema 3D” film patterned retarder (FPR) technology is superior to competitor’s active frame sequential 3D sets. Today Samsung returned fire with a drastic price drop and free package deals on its 3D glasses.
Click through for all the details.
Beginning May 1st, Samsung will reduce the price of its standard, battery-operated, 2011 3D glasses from $129.99 retail to $49.99 each, a 61% price drop. In addition, beginning April 24th, Samsung will offer 2 free pairs of its 3D glasses (model SSG-3100) with the purchase of any Samsung 3D HDTV including the entry level D490 720p and D590 1080p plasma series, which are currently priced from $699 on Amazon with free shipping.
Samsung is also expanding its free 3D “Starter Kit” offer to include LED series D7000 and D8000 models and plasma series D6500 , D7000 and D8000. The package includes: 3D Blu-ray discs Shrek, Shrek 2, Shrek the Third, 2 pairs of Samsung 3D Active Glasses (model SSG-3100), and mail-in coupons for Shrek Forever After and Megamind 3D Blu-ray discs.
The free 3D Starter Kit offer begins on April 23rd. It’s an “either/or” deal, meaning consumers that get the free “Starter Kit” are ineligible for the other “free two pair of glasses” offer.
With either deal and the price drop, a family of four can now get four pairs of active glasses for under $100 retail, down from $599.96.
Samsung also announced it will reduce the price of its wrap-around rechargeable 3D glasses, which are currently $199.99. The new price will be announced soon.
LG’s passive 3D glasses start at $10, however its FPR technology reduces vertical resolution by 50% compared to active 3D TVs . Here’s a link to our article explaining the competing formats.
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Do these deals apply to 3D glasses that work with the 2010 series of Samsung 3D plasma sets?
For example, I bought the PN63C8000 set last year without the 3D glasses.
What deals are available for folks who already own Samsung sets?
Called Samsung to ask about this and the customer support rep told me that Samsungusanews.com is not their website and that they don’t know anything about this.
So will Amazon include the 3D kit after April 23 because they currently charge for it?
I’m glad LG has made the Passive a cheaper option with the FPR or at least in comparison to the glass based passive tech. And as Pete said some have problems with the eye strain and headaches. And them some have problems with 3D all together, like my wife. So 3D would never be an option in my home, I’ll just go see it at theatre.
I am curious to know how 3D gaming is on the FPR? Reviews I have read for the active after about 45 minutes to 1 hour people have had massive headaches and nausea. And they claimed they were not your small time gamer, but very immersed.
In Canada with the plasma you get the bluray movies of shrek in 3d and the two pairs of glasses. That’s the package you get everything. I’m sure it’s cheaper in the USA but a great price up here
Just picked up the 50 inch d8000 in Canada with the shrek package deal for $1399 cdn. Deal started last Thursday
I just hope that in the spirirt of competition that Panasonic follows suit. I’m an active fan all the way, and it’s all about the resolution math. Add to that I’m buying an HDTV, why would I want that TV to cost me the very quality I’m paying for.
The LG Passive 3D looks very good, the picture is a little bit softer but not really noticeable. The main difference is no eye strain, my eyes don’t like liquid Crystal shutter glasses.
Make sure you at least look at a passive 3D TV before you buy. For me, it was no contest. If fact, I didn’t want a 3D TV until I demoed a passive.
Also note, most of the new 3D TVs (of both types) have 2D->3D converson. On the 2011 models I’ve seen, it actually worked really well.