Samsung’s ultra high-definition (UHD) TV is $40,000

Samsung has officially confirmed pricing for its luxury 85-inch ultra high-definition (UHD) TV. The price tag? $40,000.

So, what do you get for $40K, which just so happens to be the priciest UHD panel to date?

Well, unlike the the LG 84LM9600 ($19,000) and Sony KD-84X9000 ($25,000), the 85S9 boasts a backlit panel that is supposedly capable of producing superior image quality.

Additional key specs includes a quad-core processor, active shutter 3D technology and a floor stand that resembles an artist’s easel.

All told, the new Samsung UHD sounds pretty sweet indeed, but at that price point, the industry heavyweight is doing little more than delaying mainstream adoption of ultra-high definition televisions until a much later date.

A pity too, because the price needs to start trending downward, perhaps towards the $10K mark before most people will even consider UHD to be a realistic option. So here’s to hoping Samsung and other like corporations will be lowering the UHD price in the not-too-distant future.