We have been hearing about OLED TVs for a number of years and Sony launched a small TV some time ago, so it is understandable if a few tech enthusiasts feel more optimistic about OLED and 4K TV at CES 2013. There is certainly more televisions on offer this year that include 4K or OLED technology, although we do wonder what is realistic in terms of being affordable in 2013?

You would have found OLED screens on smaller gadgets for years, including the new Toshiba OLED smart watches. Over the last few days we featured some of the latest innovations in televisions at CES 2013 and these have included the new Westinghouse 4K LED TV, Toshiba Ultra HD 4K TV, and even a 4K 20-inch tablet from Panasonic. One thing a number of these 4K and OLED gadgets have missing is a price, some are brave enough to display a figure, and this becomes obvious when we consider the reality about how affordable certain technology is like OLED.

Tim Moynihan has wrote an article taking a look at what is reality compared to fantasy at CES 2013, which is focused on the topic of OLED and 4K TV. He looks at the visible difference between the two technologies separately, and gets up close with some of the first OLED TV sets arriving in 2013. These include the likes of LG’s 55-inch OLED TV with a model number 55EM960V, although the $12,000 price will be unrealistic to the majority of consumers. Moynihan also takes a look at the new 4K TV sets arriving and that were showcased at CES 2013.

The price of the large screen 4K OLED TVs is still ridiculously high at this time, so if you were hoping to purchase one of these big screens in 2013 you might want to reconsider. It is worth noting that Vizio are planning to offer a more budget friendly 4K TV at the end of 2013, in the form of their 70-inch XVT Ultra HD TV that currently has no exact price. You can also take a look at a video via the above link that had been shot at CES and explains the 4K and OLED offering in under a minute.

In case you missed it: We have included a video below that features Samsung’s CES 2013 press conference about OLED TVs and a new UI.

After recently watching the 2012 Dredd movie it reminded us about gadgets that recognize the user, and this is something we have seen in many Sci-Fi movies over the years but has become a reality at CES 2013 for Toshiba. It might not blow your arm off like we saw in Dredd when the wrong person picked up a gun, although Toshiba’s OLED smart watches will disable the device if the wrong user attempted to wear it.

Toshiba showcased a prototype of their OLED smart watch at CES, which understands different users by their pulse. This is achieved by technology that has been around for a while and uses an embedded ECG sensor, which understands your unique pulse pattern. If someone else tries to use your watch and you don’t want them to, then the Toshiba smart watch will shut down all smart functions if the pulse pattern is incorrect.

This Toshiba prototype can be seen in the video below this article and you can also listen to the other smart features the watch will include at release. These include the ability to connect to iPhone and Android smartphones, and then see calendar events, emails, GPS directions, and even incoming calls right on your watch display.

Would you like an OLED watch that connects to smartphones and disables if the incorrect user tried to wear it? The reason you can see thick black bands scrolling the display in the video below, as seen in the above image as well, is thanks to the lower refresh rate found with OLED displays.

The company has now revealed the first smartphone it will be using to make its comeback to the European market. According to SlashGear the unnamed device will have a 4.3-inch qHD 960 x 540 OLED screen. It will also feature NFC compatibility housed in a nice slim line “D-shaped” form factor.

It is expected to be arriving in March 2012 and will also bring with it some of the features Japanese consumers have been able to enjoy for some time. Potential customers will be able to have a smartphone that is both dustproof and water proof. Many Japanese devices offer these features but normally lack in specifications and functionality, so if Panasonic wants to do well any models will need to meet both of these requirements.

The image you can see above will be the reference design that the company will be basing a variety of new models. Panasonic are aiming for 1.5 million unit sales in Europe during 2012, and will see a global rollout of the handsets that will include the US and Asia.

Currently the Android market is extremely crowded with a lot of competition so Panasonic will have to offer something pretty special to make an impact. Will you consider a handset from Panasonic?