Removing as many wires as possible is the goal of many consumers who want to cut the cord, literally. One startup is taking that goal to the extreme with a truly wireless television – complete with its own landing gear if it falls.
Displace, an in-home entertainment startup, revealed a truly wireless unit at the CES Event in January. It’s now opening up pre-orders for the unique 55-inch television, which start at $4,499 and are expected to ship out later next year.
This television nixes every single cable and port, which means you won’t see any dongles or TV boxes plugged into it. Even the power cord is gone, replaced by four “hot-swappable” batteries that power the 55-inch 4K OLED TV. It comes with four batteries, which can be recharged one at a time while the unit is running. The batteries average a month if the TV is used for up to 6 hours a day.
It uses suction cups that are also battery powered to secure to the wall instead of a traditional mount. The TV comes in at less than 20 lbs, and can be secure to nearly any flat surface.
But what happens if the suction cups fail or lose power? Displace designed an unusual backup plan for its vacuum suction system by adding a built-in safety system that uses “self-lowering landing gear technology.”
Displace TVs have internal sensors that measure battery levels and pressure in the vacuum suction system. These sensors analyze the surface the TV is attached to, such as a wall or window, and check for leaks along the vacuum pumps.
If a problem occurs, the TV automatically uses four adhesive frames to maintain stability and initiate a “self-lowering landing gear system.” Your TV will slowly zipline down to the floor while deploying a reusable foam to lower onto, gently protecting the screen from cracks. The unit will attract a lot of attention, sounding off an alarm and flashing lights as it descends. Reattach the frame to the TV, then place it back on the wall.
After teasing it in January, the company finally showed off this system to the media earlier this week.
Going wireless isn’t the only change Displace made. The units are remoteless, meaning users work their TVs with hand gestures, voice commands, and touch screens. Facial recognition allows viewers with multiple units to “seamlessly switch between rooms” as they move around their homes.
You can also combine several devices to create a custom-sized screen for your home theater. Pair four together to create a 110-inch screen with 8K resolution or 16 to make a massive 220-inch TV with 16K resolution.
So yes, you can reserve a four-pack of TVs if you’re willing to invest in this new, totally wireless concept.