- EFY was the first one to report that Toshiba was planning to launch new affordable TVs
- Strong possibility that the same range will be introduced in India as well
Toshiba has launched smart TVs in 55-inch, 50-inch and 43-inch variants in America reported The Verge. The highlights of these TVs are features including Dolby Vision and built-in Fire-TV. These have now become one of the most affordable 4K premium TVs in America. The company has priced these $449.99, $379.99 and $329.99 respectively.
Interestingly, Amazon will be retailing these TVs exclusively in America. Electronics For You, had earlier this month, had reported that Toshiba was planning to introduce new TVs in the market. It is a strong possibility that Toshiba will also launch similar variants of these 4K TVs in India as well.
Going by the American prices, it seems as if the company will introduce these TVs in prices lower than Rs 60,000 price bands. It is to be noted here that China-based Hisense Group had acquired Toshiba Visual Solutions in 2018.
Toshiba left India in 2016
The company had made an exit from the TV market in India in 2016. However, as the Indian market has now become as one of the biggest consumers of smart TVs, the time may just be ripe for the brand to enter the country again.
Toshiba, in 2016, had issued a statement about its exit from India. The statement had read, “The Toshiba group is undertaking a fundamental restructuring of its visual products business and personal computer business globally.”
In fact, the company had stopped its TV operations in the country as early as 2015. Toshiba’s statement continued, “Toshiba already stopped their operation of television sales last year (2015) in India and is currently considering a brand licensing structure regarding its overseas television business, including India. Regarding the PC business, Toshiba will end the B2C business in markets other than Japan and US.”
We are still awaiting clarity on whether the brand will re-enter TV market in India on its own, or if Toshiba’s plans include taking the same route as it took for its ACs in 2016.
