What the Tech: Displace TV helps put an end to your cord problems
BY JAMEY TUCKER, Consumer Technology Reporter
If you’ve ever mounted a TV, you know the hardest part isn’t hanging the screen. It’s hiding the wires and getting power where you need it.
That’s the problem Displace TV set out to solve.
“They’re kind of a pain,” says Displace co-founder AJ Kirsch. “There’s been a ton of cases
where people just have a hard time running power if they want to run a display.”
At CES, Displace showed off what it calls the world’s first totally wireless television. No power cord. No wall outlet. No tools.
Instead of plugging into the wall, the TV runs on rechargeable lithium batteries.
“I know we don’t think about battery power,” Kirsch says, “but battery power is everything else.
Our phones are, our tablets are, our computers are. Why not your TV?”
How long does the battery last? The TV itself delivers eight to ten hours of viewing at peak brightness. But when paired with Displace’s optional soundbar, the system shares power and dramatically extends viewing time.
“When you add the soundbar, which has a built-in beefier battery that shares power with the
TV,” Kirsch explains, “you’re looking at 50 hours of watch time at peak brightness.”
Charging the TV alone takes about two hours using a standard wall charger. With the soundbar
attached, a full recharge takes about eight hours. No mount. No tools. No holes.
What really separates Displace from every other TV on the market is how it mounts.
There are no screws, brackets, or studs involved. Instead, the TV uses four active suction cups
that air seal it directly to the wall.
“It quite literally air seals the TV to any smooth flat surface,” Kirsch says. “That includes painted
drywall and even textured walls.”
During the CES demo, the TV was mounted in seconds. And removing it is just as controlled.
Handles on the back release the suction gradually, with on-screen prompts guiding the process.
“It’s a gradual disengagement,” Kirsch says. “It’s not like they’re suctioned and then you’re
forcing it off the wall. The technology makes it a very gentle process, and the prompts on the
screen make you very aware of what’s happening.”
In demos, it can look like the TV is being lowered by a wire, but Displace says it’s actually a
controlled release of the suction system, with the TV supported by the person removing it.
Once detached, the TV weighs about 25 pounds, making it manageable for one person to
move.
Because it’s battery-powered, playback doesn’t stop when you remove it. “Your programming is completely uninterrupted,” Kirsch says.
Who is this for? Displace makes particular sense for renters and apartment dwellers who don’t want to drill holes or risk losing a security deposit.
“If you have an apartment and you want to install a TV like this on your wall and you’re moving
out,” Kirsch says, “you will absolutely get your deposit back.”
Price and availability:
The Displace TV is firmly positioned as a premium product.
The 55-inch model is priced at $4,500 and is available now. The 65-inch version costs $6,500
and is expected to ship later this year.
Displace also plans to release a battery-powered mount designed to work with traditional TVs,
turning existing displays into wireless ones. That accessory is expected to launch in time for
Father’s Day.
No wires. No tools. No damage.
