Sharp will return to the US with 25 new TVs, some with HDR
This is not the same good ol’ Sharp. Chinese Hisense now owns the rights to the name in the US and intends to launch 25 new Sharp-branded TVs in 2016, several with quantum dot and HDR technology. A full overview of specs and prices is available at the bottom.Sharp’s 2016 TV line-up
Japanese manufacturers have left the TV business in droves, with only a few players still fighting to maintain their position. However, many brands are seemingly still around as TVs are being sold under license. In Sharp’s case, Hisense started licensing the rights to the name in the US last year.
The new 2016 line-up of Sharp TVs will include 25 models between 32 and 75 inches in so-called N9000, N8000, N7000, N6000, N5000, N4000, and N3000 series.
The N9000 is obviously the flagship TVs, and it will include quantum dot technology that allows it to reproduce HDR with up to 800 nits of peak brightness as well as a wider color gamut (90% DCI-P3). The 70” version (LC-70N9100) features a full-array local dimming backlight with 192 zones. The smaller 65” version (LC-65N9000) switches to a curved screen with fewer local dimming zones. It still supports HDR and a wide colors gamut.
The slightly cheaper N8000 will also include HDR support. Depending on which size you pick, you will get either a full-array local dimming system or edge LED. All the N8000 models will features wide color gamut. See more specs in the table below.
- "The Sharp brand has long been esteemed in the TV industry for pioneering sophisticated picture technologies and creating the big screen category," said Sharp brand manager Mary O’Neill, "2016 will be no different."
Prices will range from $189 to $3299 for the largest flagship TV.
No Android TV - yet
You might remember that Sharp was one of the original launch partners for Google’s Android TV platform. However, after Hisense took over they decided to mix things up. Instead, they will offer some Sharp TVs built on the Roku OS platform in 2016. Possibly 2017, but that is of course just speculation at this point.
But here is the part where it gets confusing; at CES, Google announced that Hisense has signed on to be an “Android TV” partner. So Android TV could make a comeback in Sharp’s TVs at some point.Specifications
Sharp AQUOS N9100U Series – 4K Smart AQUOS TVSPECTROS™ - Quantum Dot High Dynamic Range Full Array Local Dimming Dynamic Gamma Wide Color Gamut Built-In Apps AquoMotion™ AquoDimming™ Revelation™ Upscaler dbx-tv® Award Winning Sound App Store & Web Browser 4K Media Player & Receiver 2x2 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 802.11ac MSRP 70” Class LC-70N9100U: $3,299.99
Sharp AQUOS N9000U Series – 4K Curved Smart AQUOS 3D TVSPECTROS™ - Quantum Dot High Dynamic Range Full Array Local Dimming Dynamic Gamma Wide Color Gamut Built-In Apps AquoMotion™ AquoDimming™ Revelation™ Upscaler dbx-tv® Award Winning Sound App Store & Web Browser 4K Media Player & Receiver 2x2 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 802.11ac MSRP 65” Class LC-65N9000U: $2,999.99
Sharp AQUOS N8100U Series – 4K Smart AQUOS TVHigh Dynamic Range Full Array Local Dimming Dynamic Gamma Wide Color Gamut Built-In Apps AquoMotion™ AquoDimming™ Revelation™ Upscaler dbx-tv® Award Winning Sound App Store & Web Browser 4K Media Player & Receiver 2x2 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 802.11ac MSRP 70” Class LC-70N8100U: $2,299.99
Sharp AQUOS N8000U Series – 4K Smart AQUOS TVHigh Dynamic Range Multi-zone Local Dimming Wide Color Gamut Dynamic Gamma Built-In Apps AquoMotion™ AquoDimming™ Revelation™ Upscaler dbx-tv® Award Winning Sound App Store & Web Browser 4K Media Player & Receiver 2x2 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 802.11ac MSRP 75” Class LC-75N8000U: $2,999.99
Sharp AQUOS N7100U Series – 4K Smart AQUOS TVHDR Enabled Full Array Local Dimming Built-In Apps AquoMotion™ AquoDimming™ Revelation™ Upscaler dbx-tv® Award Winning Sound App Store & Web Browser 4K Media Player & Receiver 2x2 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 802.11ac MSRP 70” Class LC-70N7100U: $1,999.99
Sharp AQUOS N7000U Series – 4K Smart AQUOS TVHDR Enabled Built-In Apps AquoMotion™ AquoDimming™ Revelation™ Upscaler dbx-tv® Award Winning Sound App Store & Web Browser 4K Media Player & Receiver 2x2 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 802.11ac MSRP 43” Class LC-43N7000U: $499.99 MSRP 50” Class LC-50N7000U: $699.99 MSRP 55” Class LC-55N7000U: $799.99 MSRP 60” Class LC-60N7000U: $1,199.99 MSRP 65” Class LC-65N7000U: $1,499.99
Sharp N6000U Series – 4K Smart TVHDR Enabled Built-In Apps AquoMotion™ UHD Upscaler dbx-tv® Award Winning Sound App Store & Web Browser 4K Media Player & Receiver 2x2 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 802.11ac MSRP 43” Class LC-43N6100U: $449.99 MSRP 50” Class LC-50N6000U: $599.99 MSRP 55” Class LC-55N6000U: $749.99
Sharp N5000U Series – FHD Smart TVBuilt-In Apps AquoMotion™ dbx-tv® Award Winning Sound App Store & Web Browser Media Player & Receiver 1x2 Wi-Fi / Ethernet MSRP 40” Class LC-43N5000U: $349.99 MSRP 50” Class LC-50N5000U: $499.99 MSRP 55” Class LC-55N5300U: $579.99 MSRP 60” Class LC-60N5100U: $699.99 MSRP 65” Class LC-65N5200U: $999.99
Sharp N4000U Series – FHD/HD Roku TV3,000+ Streaming Channels Over 300,000 movies & TV episodes Roku Search Voice Search via the Roku Mobile App for iOS and Android MSRP 32” Class LC-32N4000U: $249.99 MSRP 43” Class LC-43N4000U: $379.99 MSRP 50” Class LC-50N4000U: $499.99 MSRP 55” Class LC-55N4000U: $599.99
Sharp N3000U Series – FHD/HD Feature TVMobile High-Definition Link Audio Return Channel USB Media Player MSRP 32” Class LC-32N3000U: $189.99 MSRP 40” Class LC-40N3000U: $299.99 MSRP 50” Class LC-50N3100U: $449.99
