Sony has revealed plans to launch a 27in OLED screen within 12 months, but the bad news is that it’ll be expensive.

Speaking at a US conference, Howard Stringer, the electronics giant’s CEO, said that by May 2009 Sony “will come out with a 27in version”. Stringer didn’t reveal where the set would appear first or how much it would cost, but, unsurprisingly, he admitted that such a large size OLED would be “expensive”.

Related stories

• OLED video light switches?
• Toshiba, Panasonic partner to make mini OLEDs
• Japan to fund creation of 40W, 40in OLED TV
• Sony spin-off planning 2009 FED TV launch
• Sony talks up blue OLED breakthrough
• Samsung to demo next-gen, 240Hz LCD TV tech
• Boffins develop OLED screen life extender
• LG to mass-produce 32in OLED TVs by 2011
• Sony shaves OLED panel to 0.3mm

By contrast, Sony’s 11in XEL-1 OLED currently costs around $2500 (£1250/€1600). That’s despite a leading analyst firm’s recent tests on the screen confirming that its lifespan is only around half that of what Sony claims it to be.

Sony demonstrated a prototype 27in OLED back in January, which boasted a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio and 1080p resolution.

The larger screen size production is undoubtedly the beginning of Sony's ¥22bn (£105m/€140m/$205m) ongoing investment into OLED, which it announced earlier this year.

More comments…