A few weeks ago I reported that luxury German AV brand Loewe had established Europe’s first ‘Open Cell’ OLED TV production line, enabling it to potentially create truly unique TV designs that just aren’t possible when you’re working with the usual more ‘finished’ OLED modules. Loewe has now unveiled the first results of this exclusive production capability in the remarkable shape of its new flagship ‘Stellar’ range of TVs.
The Loewe Stellar range combines a truly unique design with the latest high-end OLED picture … [+]
The killer app of the Stellar TVs from a design perspective is that their exceptionally slim screens feature a backing sheet made of real concrete. Not some thick slab of heavy concrete of the sort you might see on a construction site, of course, but rather an ultra-thin (2mm) concrete skim that gives each Stellar screen a gorgeously industrial, ultra-modern feel. In fact, the way the concrete is applied to the open cell OLED panels, creating subtle patterns in the finish, effectively makes each set look unique; like a concrete fingerprint.
The Stellar TVs’ screen frames meanwhile, feature a distinctive high quality brushed aluminium finish, onto which a metal version of Loewe’s trademark brand ‘flag’ has been mounted on one side. The extravagance continues with an LED light strip beneath the screen that puts on a subtle light show to complement the illuminated Loewe logo that appears when you turn the TV on. You can use this light arrangement, too, to add some customisable ambient lighting to your room via the remote control.
No two Stellar TV concrete back sheets will look the same, making each TV a unique design.
Loewe can usually be depended on to offer multiple mounting solutions for its TVs, and this holds true with the Stellar range in the shape of a motorized floor stand option adjustable via the remote control, and an ultra-sllim wall mount that also offers cable management to minimise distractions from both the picture and the TV’s unique design. Personally I’d be keener on the rotating floorstand option, since if you hang your Stellar on the wall you’ll no longer be able to see that distinctive concrete rear. But I guess some living room layouts might require a wall-hanging solution – especially once you get to the Stellar range’s biggest screen sizes.
Other classic Loewe touches are the integration into each Stellar screen of 1TB of integrated SSD storage, to which you can record shows from the TVs’ built-in triple tuners, and an integrated speaker ‘bar’ running along the full width of the screen’s bottom edge. Loewe claims that some models in the Stellar range will be capable of delivering up to 200W of audio power.
Every Stellar TV will be manufactured at Loewe’s own manufacturing facility in Kronach, Germany, enabling the brand to maintain the strict quality controls the brand’s fanbase has come to expect over the years.
The Loewe Stellar TVs feature powerful built-in speaker systems.
While the Stellar TV range’s unique and intricate design is the most instantly obvious sign of its flagship status, it features plenty of high-end picture technology too. Particularly promising is the use in the 55, 65 and 77-inch Stellar screen sizes of the OLED TV world’s new ‘Meta’ panel designs, complete with micro lens array (MLA) technology. This uses an array of tiny light-focusing lenses just behind the screen to enhance brightness without requiring the screen’s delicate organic elements be driven harder. Loewe claims the MLA-equipped Stellar TVs can hit brightness peaks as high as 2000 nits on a 5% HDR test window, which is a huge number by OLED TV standards.
All Stellar TVs will carry four HDMI 2.1 ports powered by new Novatek silicon and capable of handling the latest cutting edge gaming features of 4K at 120Hz refresh rates (actually 144Hz is possible), as well as variable refresh rates and auto low latency mode switching.
The Stellar range’s surprisingly wide collection of screen sizes is scheduled to get a phased roll out, starting this month with 42 and 55-inch models expected to sell for £3,299/€3,299 and £4,299/€4,299 respectively. In July Loewe will roll out 48 and 65-inch versions priced at £3,799/€3,799 and £5,299/€5,299 respectively.
Then in October there’s a jump in size to 77-inch and 83-inch screen sizes currently expected to retail for £9,499/€9,999 and £18,999/€19,999 respectively, while anyone wanting to see the Stellar’s unique design at a truly cinematic scale will have to wait until January 2025, when a 97-inch version is set to launch. Loewe understandably hasn’t yet put a price on this relatively distant range topper – but I can confirm that Loewe has no plans to release its new flagship TV range in the US.
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