By: Chris
Published: Fri, August 13, 2010, 2:46 PM
When it comes to electronics, as Japan goes, so goes the rest of the world.
Well, sometimes, at least.
The Nikkei, Japan’s largest business paper, took a look at the state of 3D TV in that country – and the information it gathered could be indicative of trends that are on the way to other territories.
Prices on 3D sets have fallen 20 percent and more since they were first introduced, according to the paper – which says the trend “poses a new challenge for electronics firms betting big on the much-touted technology”. Crunchgear reports the price of a 50-inch Panasonic Vierra Real 3D HD set has dropped from $5,000 to $3,600 in the country. The drops are common – but the sets still carry a significant premium over non-3D sets.
The market for 3D in the country is still a tiny one, though. Only 5.9 percent of the sets over 40 inches sold in Japan since the launch of the new technology have been 3D. That number’s expected to grow when Toshiba and Mitsubishi launch their sets later this year. (Just as the U.S. numbers will likely climb when Vizio launches its 3D sets domestically.)