Curved TVs started shipping about a year ago. The promise of more immersive video entertainment and a combination of incredibly rich color and extremely high-resolution imagery running at 4,000 pixels have been the main draw. But they were a showroom curiosity in the display landscape, with a cost of $15,000 or more. Most were available only in limited quantities in specialty stores.

But now curved TVs are going for $3,000 to $5000, and they’re rolling out everywhere. You’ll be seeing more advertisements for curved TVs this fall. Two of the latest models include Samsung’s Curved Smart TV 65-inch (HU9000) for $4,500 and LG’s Curved OLED TV 55-inch (55EC9300) for $3,500.

To figure out if they are worth the cost an understanding of the science can help. The human eye has a “field of view” that can take in a scene from far away. Move closer and the eye tends to block out the field of view and focuses more. A slight curve in your TV screen helps create a wider field of view.

Another advantage has to do with screen glare. Place a light behind you while you’re watching a flat-screen TV, and you’ll see a soft glare. The effect is minimized on a curved television. Watching a curved TV feels more like going to the movies, especially since the latest “ultra” Cineplex screens also use a slight curve to create a higher sense of immersion.

So watch your local sales circulars for the very latest in this new tread for the upcoming holiday season. Time will tell if the curve will last.