A few weeks ago I reported that German luxury brand AV Loewe had created Europe’s first ‘Open Cell’ OLED TV production line, enabling it to potentially create truly unique TV designs that simply aren’t possible when you’re working with the most common. finished OLED modules. Loewe has now revealed the first results of this exclusive manufacturing capability in the extraordinary form of its new ‘Stellar’ TV range.
The Loewe Stellar range combines a truly unique design with the latest high-end OLED picture … [+]
The killer app of Stellar TVs from a design perspective is that their extremely thin screens feature a backing sheet made of real concrete. Of course, not just any thick slab of heavy concrete of the kind you might see on a construction site, but rather an ultra-thin (2mm) layer of concrete that gives each Stellar display a wonderfully industrial, ultra-modern feel . In fact, the way concrete is applied to open-cell OLED panels, creating subtle patterns in the finish, effectively makes each set look unique; like a concrete fingerprint.
Meanwhile, the screen bezels of the Stellar TVs feature a distinctive high-quality brushed aluminum finish, onto which a metallic version of the Loewe trademark ‘flag’ is mounted on one side. The extravaganza continues with an LED light strip below the screen that displays a subtle light show to complement the illuminated Loewe logo that appears when you turn on the TV. You can use this light arrangement, too, to add a customizable ambient lighting to your room via remote control.
No two Stellar TV concrete backs 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 form of a motorized floor stand option, adjustable via remote control, and a very slim wall mount that it also offers cable management to minimize distractions from both the picture and the TV’s unique design. Personally, I’d be more keen on the rotating floor stand option, since if you hang your Stellar on the wall, you’ll no longer be able to see that distinctive concrete back. But I think some living room layouts may call for a wall-hung solution – especially once you get to the larger screen sizes of the Stellar range.
Other classic Loewe touches are the integration into each Stellar screen of 1 TB of built-in SSD storage, onto which you can record shows from the TV’s triple built-in tuners, and an integrated speaker ‘bar’ that runs across the width the entire bottom of the screen. edge Loewe claims that some models in the Stellar range will be able to deliver up to 200W of audio power.
Each Stellar TV will be manufactured at Loewe’s manufacturing facility in Kronach, Germany, enabling the brand to maintain the strict quality controls that have come to be expected by the brand’s fan base over the years.
Loewe Stellar TVs have powerful built-in speaker systems.
While the unique and intricate design of the Stellar TV range is the most obvious sign of its flagship status, it also features plenty of high-end picture technology. Particularly promising is the use in the stellar 55-, 65- and 77-inch screen sizes of the OLED TV world’s new ‘Meta’ panel models, complete with Micro Lens Array (MLA) technology. This uses an array of small light-focusing lenses just behind the screen to increase brightness without requiring the screen’s delicate organic elements to be driven harder. Loewe claims MLA-equipped Stellar TVs can reach brightness peaks of up to 2,000 nits in a 5% HDR test window, which is a big number by OLED TV standards.
All Stellar TVs will have four HDMI 2.1 ports powered by new Novatek silicon and capable of handling the latest 4K gaming features at 120Hz refresh rates (actually 144Hz is possible), as well as variable refresh and automatic low-latency mode switching.
The Stellar range’s surprisingly wide collection of screen sizes is slated to hit the market starting this month with the 42-inch and 55-inch models expected to retail for £3,299 / €3,299 and £4,299 / €4,299 respectively. In July, Loewe will launch the 48-inch and 65-inch versions priced at £3,799/£3,799 and £5,299/€5,299 respectively.
Then in October there’s a size increase to the 77in and 83in screen sizes currently expected to retail for £9,499/£9,999 and £18,999/€19,999 respectively, while anyone wanting to see Stellar’s unique design on a truly cinematic scale it will have to wait until January 2025, when a 97-inch version will be launched. Loewe is understood to have yet to set a price for this relatively distant top of the range – but I can confirm that Loewe has no plans to release its new flagship TV range in the US.
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