Samsung on Tuesday officially launched a range of large Smart TVs, as part of a strategy to continue its lead in slowing global markets by focusing on premium models. "Samsung has a strategy to bolster its leadership in the global TV market by strengthening premium TV lineups with SmartTV 'F8000' series and UHD TV," Samsung said.

The aims to rank first in the global TV industry for the eighth consecutive year in 2013, and more than double its gap with other players in the premium segment.

At a launch event held on Tuesday in its Seoul headquarters, Samsung unveiled new Smart TV models such as "F8000" series, saying that it plans to roll out around 70 new models in a serial order this year.



The 16 new models come in sizes ranging from 46 to 75 inches (46/55/60/65/75). Through their "smart hub" panel, all of them allow users to navigate the Internet, offer apps such as video games and recognise various spoken queries and hand motions.

The TVs understand users' questions such as "What's today's TV schedule for action films?" and return a list of requested TV programmes. They also zoom in and out, or rotate images on screen as well as change channels by recognising certain hand motions.

The new models will also remember TV programs and channels that respective user favors, and they will recommend the user's favorites right after turning on the TV. Their "smart touch remote control" will be also embedded with touch pad.

The new models would hit South Korean stores on Saturday.

Prices for the 55-inch model is 6.0 million won ($5,550).

Samsung's rival LG Electronics said last week it would increase television sales by 15 percent this year by focusing more on premium models such as Internet-enabled TVs, or those using new display technologies such as organic light-emitting diodes (OLED).

LG Display will invest more than US$600 million to build a new production line to make OLED panels in South Korea.