Toshiba promised Europeans will be able to buy a 55in, 3840 x 2160 LCD 3D TV by the end of the year, though Japanese consumers may be able to get it first.

Toshiba today debuted the Regza 55X3, 55in LCD display that not only packs a resolution four times greater than our current 'full HD', but also throws in glasses-free 3D, Japanese-language site AVWatch reports.

The 55X3, which comes with a whopping 3840 x 2160 resolution, although only displays 3D in 720p, is a ringer for the 55LX2 Toshiba unveiled at the IFA consumer electronics show last month.

The Japanese version of the screen packs LED backlighting with a 5000:1 contrast ratio, five digital tuners, four HDMI ports and two USB.

It's not quite up to the standards set by Sharp, which had an 85in 8K4K display on show at IFA.

The Regza 55X3 will be on show from tomorrow at the CEATEC Japan 2011 exhibition near Tokyo. Toshiba plans to offer the set commercially in December, punted first to Japan for around £7500. The 55ZL2 will be available from December in Germany with release dates to be confirmed in other European countries. ®