Samsung's Active 3D Glasses Gets Priced

Will 2010 be the year of 3D in our living rooms? That may depend on our wallets. 3D HDTVs won't come cheap, and many brands won't include the required active shutter glasses, forcing consumers to shell out even more money for the emerging technology.

Samsung will be one of many who won't include the specs with the HDTV, making it hard for the second class consumer to drop loads of money into the new trend.

According to ITProPortal, Samsung's 55-inch 3D LED HDTV is already on sale at Amazon, tagged with an impressive $3300 pricetag. However Samsung is also selling separate active shutter glasses for a whopping $150 a piece (the SSG-2100AB).

With that said, a family of four will be forced to shell out $600 for the glasses after dumping over $3,000 load into a new 3D HDTV.

ITProPortal also points out the drawbacks to active shutter glasses: they require a CR2025 battery, they may have an effect on brightness and contrast calibration, they they do not fit children. In addition, viewers must have at least own one pair of the active shutter glasses in order to benefit from the 3D technology-- those without the glasses can't watch the content simultaneously because of the way it's formatted.

So the question still stands: is this the year of 3D? For consumers with deep pockets, 3D technology may be tomorrow's investment. Consumers pinching pennies may not jump onto the 3D HDTV bandwagon for a while. Besides, the first version of 3DTV is probably going to not be so great and have kinks that need to be worked on.

We suggest waiting for at least 2nd generations of 3D TVs.

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Top Comments

beayn 8 years ago

If they stuck an Apple tag on it, it would be revolutionary and brilliant, making the high price well worth it.
cscott_it 8 years ago

I completely agree with Kevin (begin voting me down now), this technology isn't ready for mass adaptation. Maybe in it's 2nd or 3rd generation.

Maybe it's because I'm not rich. Maybe it's because I wear perscription glasses and don't want to wear contacts.

Or maybe it's because other gimmicks exist I'd rather blow my money on.
grieve 8 years ago

I am a little surprised at your guys comments..

Frankly if i had the cash to burn and was in the market to get a new TV, i would be reading up on this in great detail.

If you have 3k to spend on a TV, you can throw another 500 in for glasses. For some people 3-4k is not a lot money... Unfortunately it is for me

Other Comments

traesta 8 years ago

way ugly glasses samsung!
cscott_it 8 years ago

I completely agree with Kevin (begin voting me down now), this technology isn't ready for mass adaptation. Maybe in it's 2nd or 3rd generation.

Maybe it's because I'm not rich. Maybe it's because I wear perscription glasses and don't want to wear contacts.

Or maybe it's because other gimmicks exist I'd rather blow my money on.
dman3k 8 years ago

And the price from Vizio? $2000 with 4 pairs of glasses...

Looks like I'm going with Vizio.
sciencectn 8 years ago

I think you have a typo: "they they do not fit children"
pochacco007 8 years ago

what amazes me is that there are companies who are investing in this stupid idea! did hd do anything for tv?! absolutely not. what will making tv 3d going to do anything?
bcube 8 years ago

greedy
gekko668 8 years ago

Is it just me or 3D tv is just a fad?

I personally like my tv non-3d and prefer not to wear the dorky 3d glass.
Parrdacc 8 years ago

3d t.v. is just too expensive right now, that and the history of 3D shows it as a fad the comes and goes every few decades. So until it shows it is going to stay and the price comes down I'll pass.
beayn 8 years ago

If they stuck an Apple tag on it, it would be revolutionary and brilliant, making the high price well worth it.
Honis 8 years ago

What amazes me, is that after decades of this economic tech cycle people get all up in arms about new tech being "ZOMG to high of cost!!!!" It's new tech, it's going to be expensive for a little while, then it's going to lower in price, then we'll see if it catches for a long term trend (blu-ray, VHS, DVD, x86, etc.), gets a quick dump off (HD-DVD, Beta Max, etc.), or a niche market (Beta tapes, tape backups, Apple computers , Laser Disc, etc.)

If the shutter glasses catch on, then companies with some style will see an open market and drop a few good looking pairs. I for one was hoping the polarized 3D would win since the glasses require only your face, but it seems that's a no go.
grieve 8 years ago

I am a little surprised at your guys comments..

Frankly if i had the cash to burn and was in the market to get a new TV, i would be reading up on this in great detail.

If you have 3k to spend on a TV, you can throw another 500 in for glasses. For some people 3-4k is not a lot money... Unfortunately it is for me
grieve 8 years ago

This past year i went to an Imax show in 3D, wore the cheesy classes and all... I was blown away at how "3D" it was. It hurt my eyes for the first 15mins but after that it was amazing!

If i could have that @ home, hell yah, bring it. I really, really, really want to see boobs in 3D!
Anonymous 8 years ago

It's hillarious reading today's version of the folks that laughed at color television as a "fad" or a "gimmick" and are amazed that any company would invest money here.

"I personally like my tv non-3d..."

Priceless.
invlem 8 years ago

I swear the only reason they went with active 3D was to scam people out of $150 per set of glasses...

$3300 for a TV they should include 4 sets.
tenor77 8 years ago

Is Kevin constipated?
He seems to be wanting to drop a load or something.
bunz_of_steel 8 years ago

They are stupid if they think I'm gonna pay over 2K for HD much less 3d kuhrap and not get them stupid glasses. suky execs runnin the show will kill any good techy idea.
mactruck 8 years ago

I am definitely waiting until 2nd or 3rd gen 3DTV, both for lower prices and more content, but I think it will be more than just a fad for video games. I'm delaying my planned receiver upgrade until I can get HDMI 1.4 later this year, but the overpriced TV and goggles will have to wait longer than that.
victomofreality 8 years ago

It's new tech so the first run of it is going to be way overpriced. The companies are trying to make back some of their initial investments and get money together to push the tech further. At this point it's only people like the ones mentioned above where 4k isn't really all that much or people who feel the need to be at the leading edge of the tech curve. Give it a few generations (or like me wait for the passive that will one day hit the market) and things will start to be more reasonable.
thegreathuntingdolphin 8 years ago

I think the real question here is if any of the active shutter glasses will be compatible with each other? Will these glasses work with nvidia 3d vision and vice versa?
Chris_TC 8 years ago

gekko668Is it just me or 3D tv is just a fad?I personally like my tv non-3d and prefer not to wear the dorky 3d glass.

3d glasses won't be dorky forever. Once there's a mass market, you can certainly order your pair of polarized 3d glasses in an Oakley frame.

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