Mass Production of Toshiba 55-Inch 4K2K 3D TVs Kicks Off, No Glasses Needed

2012 is bound to see the appearance of at least several display product lines with resolutions that go beyond the Full HD image quality, and Toshiba is proving to be quite fast on its feet, so to speak.

Toshiba has begun mass producing its series of 3D TVs that feature glasses-free technology and a native resolution of 3850 x 2160 pixels, or 4K2K (Quad Full High Definition).

Then again, it would be more accurate to say that AUO (AU Optronics) has begun making the panels and shipping them to Toshiba.

That is what a recent report made by Digitimes says at any rate (it is found here).

Some may remember that the Toshiba REGZA 4K2K 3D TV was actually launched some time ago, and we have even covered it here.

It boasts the REGZA CEVO Duo engine, as well as a lenticular sheet placed across the panel.

The result is that up to nine viewers can gaze upon it at the same time, something that used to be (and still is) quite difficult to pull off.

After all, glasses-free panels usually rely on a camera to track the position of someone's eyes and project the images towards them.

In other words, 3D screens with no glasses requirements weren't usually good for more than one person at a time, which is actually the reason they never gained broad adoption.

Toshiba's REGZA CEVO engine, having overcome this limitation, is supplemented by the 3850 x 2160 resolution, giving the video shown by the 55-inch panel a very high quality indeed.

As an extra asset, Toshiba implemented 2D to 3D conversion, but the drawback is that the resolution is limited to 1,280 x 720 pixels, when this feature is in effect.

Other specs include 240-zone intelligent backlighting and the necessary face tracking system.

It is unclear when the 55X3, as the TV is called, will start traveling around the world. The price is also unknown, except in Japan, where the tag is around $10,000, or 7.670 Euro.