8K TV: everything you need to know about television’s future

You’ve undoubtedly heard of 8K TV. It’s been around for a while, but when it first appeared to consumers it was billed as the next mind-blowing resolution that makes 4K look like child’s play. Well, it still is, but as it continues making its way to more widespread use, you still might have some questions about it.

8K TVs pack a whopping amount of pixels (more than 30 million!), much more than regular HD TVs and the best 4K TVs on the market. Major brands like Samsung, LG, Sony, and TCL continue to roll out 8K TV models that feature backlighting tech like mini-LED for insane brightness and contrast. Prices are finally becoming affordable, too, with some 65-inch 8K TVs coming in at under $2,000.

The only catch? Native 8K content is still rare, though streaming sites like YouTube and Vimeo offer some videos to enjoy that ultra high-def goodness. While many of these these cutting-edge 8K TVs can upscale lower-res content for striking clarity, there’s still a ways to go before widespread 8K content is mainstream, so don’t feel like you need to rush out and get an 8K TV, like, now.

But don’t worry, 8K is the future that’s slowly but surely arriving. Intrigued to learn more about this TV revolution? Read on.

What is 8K?

If you use basic math, it may seem like 8K would provide double the resolution of 4K, but that isn’t the case. Since we’re talking two dimensions here — horizontal lines and vertical lines — it’s actually a whopping 16 times the pixels of HD and four times the pixels of 4K: an 8K resolution screen equates to 7680 x 4320, or 33 million pixels (33,117,600, to be exact), instead of 3840 x 2160 (8,294,400 pixels). To more easily visualize it, imagine four 4K TVs placed in a four-by-four grid. That is a lot of pixels.

Other technologies such as high dynamic range (HDR) can and do sometimes make a more visible difference, especially from a distance, since TVs show a brighter and more colorful picture with HDR. However, 8K is absolutely noticeable on larger displays, and the closer you get, the better it looks.

A brief history of 8K TV (so far)

But is it real 8K TV?

As with any new technology, competing brands are going to do their best to convince buyers that their version of 8K is the best version of 8K. In an effort to bring some consistency to these claims so that we don’t have to wade through endless specs and stare at a bunch of TVs side by side at our local big-box store, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) announced its 8K TV program, complete with an official 8K Ultra HD logo.

Any TV that meets the CTA’s specifications for 8K can voluntarily display the logo on packaging and marketing material, which is intended to give buyers some peace of mind that they’re getting the latest and greatest. To qualify, a TV must have a truly native resolution of 8K (7680 x 4320) and be able to upscale non-8K material to full 8K resolution. It also has to support HDR — though there’s no requirement for which of the many HDR formats it must support. Finally, it needs to have at least one input that’s HDCP 2.2 compliant, and it must be able to handle 10-bit color on a pixel-by-pixel basis.

Additionally, in August of 2024, the CTA re-upped its commitment to 8K by distributing a range of new resources to help define and navigate 8K’s features.

So that’s it, right? All we need to do is look for that logo and we’re guaranteed that we’re getting a high-quality 8K model? Not so fast.

Independent from the CTA, the 8K Association is a collection of manufacturers and other industry players that have banded together to form their own standard for 8K picture quality along with — as you’ve probably guessed — its own logo.

Curiously, there doesn’t appear to be much of a difference between these two certifications — at least as far as we can tell from what each group has published so far. One requirement the 8K Association has that the CTA does not is HDMI 2.1.

Great! So as long as our new 8K TV has one of these two certification logos, we should be good to go … right? Er, hold that thought.

The 8K Association’s membership includes many of the top TV makers such as Samsung, Panasonic, Hisense, and TCL. However, LG is not among the member companies. That’s likely because LG has taken a stand over what it considers “real 8K.”

According to LG, if you really want to understand how well an 8K display performs, you need to look at a measurement that you’d be hard-pressed to find listed anywhere: Contrast modulation (CM). CM is a measurement of how precisely contained each pixel’s color and brightness is from its neighboring pixels. The higher the CM value, the sharper the perceived image. CM is measured as a percentage from zero to 100. LG has claimed that its 8K TVs have the highest CM values in the industry — up to 90% in the case of the 8K OLED TV and NanoCell TVs.

The reason LG has made such a big deal about the CM capabilities of their TVs is that the CTA’s 8K specification insists on a minimum of 50% CM. Not only has LG claimed that its screens handily exceed this requirement, but it also pointed out that some 8K TVs made by Samsung don’t even meet the CTA’s minimum CM value and thus cannot be considered “real” 8K TVs.

Contrast modulation is a very real thing, but just how much of a difference does it make when you’re sitting 8 feet from an 88-inch 8K television? As we publish more 8K TV reviews, we’ll attempt to answer that question, but for the moment, we believe that variables such as brightness, contrast, color gamut and accuracy, and viewing angles all play a larger role in how good an 8K screen (or even a 4K screen) looks.

When will 8K TVs become readily available?

Ready or not, 8K TVs are here, and they have been for some time.

If you want to join the 8K bandwagon, you can purchase 8K models from Samsung, LG, Sony, TCL, and Hisense. These models start at 55 inches, and prices begin around $2,000. The 8K TV market is expanding, with 2023 models introduced at last year’s CES now available and some TVs announced at CES 2024. This offers a broader selection of sizes and prices.

As of September 2024, the newest Samsung 8K TVs lineup consists of the following models; many are 2024 versions.

The Neo QLED 8K QN900D is Samsung’s top 8K TV for 2024. It features the company’s most advanced display technology and is available in 65-inch and 85-inch sizes. It represents the pinnacle of Samsung’s TV technology, offering an exceptional viewing experience with superior picture quality, immersive sound, and cutting-edge features.

If you’re looking to save some money, you can consider the Neo QLED 8K QN800D. It’s offered in 65-inch, 75-inch, and 85-inch models.

Overall, the QN800D delivers an impressive 8K viewing experience with advanced features and a sleek design, making it a compelling choice for those seeking a high-end television without opting for the absolute top-of-the-line model.

You can still find 2023 8K models from Samsung, including the Neo QLED 8K QN900C and Neo QLED 8K QN800C. These models, honestly, aren’t all that different from the 2024 models, and you can expect to find significant discounts on them.

LG offers only two 8K models. The LG Z3 Signature OLED 8K TV features a stunning OLED panel for perfect blacks and infinite contrast. It also boasts a sleek, minimalist design and LG’s A9 Gen6 AI Processor 8K for upscaling and picture optimization. It’s available in 77- and 88-inch models.

The LG QNED mini-LED 8K TV (QNED99 Series) model offers a more affordable 8K option with mini-LED backlighting for improved contrast and brightness than traditional LCD TVs. The current model is powered by the α9 Gen6 AI Processor 8K and features a slim design.

Two 8K Sony TVs are worth considering, and both are offered in 75- and 85-inch sizes: the Bravia XR Z9K and the Bravia Z9J Series 8K UHD. The first combines Sony’s Cognitive Processor XR with high-density Mini LEDs for immersive 8K visuals. The second model also uses Cognitive Processor XR to upscale content to near-8K quality. It employs a Full Array LED and XR Contrast Booster.

Finally, TCL and Hisense have made significant strides with their offerings. TCL’s 6-Series 8K mini-LED QLED TV, currently available in a 65-inch size, showcases a blend of cutting-edge technologies. The mini-LED backlight system ensures deep blacks and vibrant colors, while the QLED panel delivers exceptional brightness and color accuracy.

On the other hand, Hisense introduced the U800GR 8K ULED ROKU TV, available in a 75-inch screen size. This model leverages ULED technology for enhanced picture quality, including broader color gamut, improved contrast, and smoother motion. Additionally, integrating Roku’s smart TV platform provides a seamless user experience with access to a vast library of streaming content.

What about 8K content?

The last piece of the 8K puzzle to get its act together to make the 8K unicorn actually worthwhile is to have the incoming sources to these hi-tech 8K TVs delivered in 8K as well. It takes a ton of data and speed to transmit 8K. Whether that’s getting our streaming services producing and offering 8K content or broadcasters doing the same, we’re still a long way off from that. But it is slowly changing.

But there are some sources you can go to for 4K content. In November 2017, video-streaming site Vimeo added support for 8K, and it now has over 11,000 videos tagged as 8K. YouTube got on the 8K bandwagon even earlier, and it too boasts thousands of 8K videos.

On the broadcasting front, Japanese satellite broadcaster NHK is the first TV channel to broadcast in 8K. It launched a test channel dedicated to showing 8K content in December 2017. In 2019, the channel became permanent, broadcasting 12 hours a day of entertainment, art, documentary, and sports programming. That included the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, with NHK broadcasting roughly 200 hours of 8K UHD coverage, including the opening and closing ceremonies and seven events, including swimming, athletics, and judo.

More recently, in March of this year, U.K. pay-television provider BT Sport broadcast an English Premiership rugby match between Saracens and Bristol Bears in 8K UHD for the first time to select homes. The event was produced using 8K broadcast trucks parked out the venue and filming with specialized Sony UHC-8300 cameras.

Currently, streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video do not offer 8K content. Similarly, 8K over-the-air or cable broadcasts are unavailable in most regions, including the U.S.

The availability of 8K content is still evolving. As technology advances and 8K TVs become more common, we can anticipate a gradual increase in available channels and content options.

But native 8K content isn’t the only reason to have an 8K TV if you’re looking at a large screen size. 8K TVs can upscale 4K content to 8K, and the difference in clarity is stark. To prove this point, Samsung put two 85-inch TVs side by side, one playing 4K content in 4K, the other upscaling 4K content to 8K. The difference was apparent, with the upscaled 4K video playing on the 8K TV looking visibly superior.

There are also consumer 8K cameras available, and you can be sure that companies are preparing to offer 8K content at some point, but for a clue as to how long you’ll need to wait, simply take a look at where 4K content is right now. Streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video, Fandango, Hulu, iTunes, Netflix, UltraFlix, VUDU, and YouTube offer 4K streaming, and there’s a large and growing collection of 4K UHD Blu-ray discs, but 4K has a long way to go before it reaches anywhere near the ubiquity of HD.

The ATSC 3.0 digital broadcast standard (also known as NextGen TV) will eventually lead to 4K broadcasting over the air and through cable and satellite providers, but the standard was only finally approved by the FCC in November 2017. Technically, 8K is compatible with ATSC 3.0, but right now, it’s an easy bet that most cable, satellite, and other content providers are focused on rolling out programming for viewers eager to make the most out of their 4K TVs.

Thanks to the popularity of HDR, content providers are also focused on increasing their HDR offerings, yet another thing that may stand in the way of a widespread focus on 8K video, at least for the time being.

As with so many advances, it could be gaming that ushers us into an 8K world faster than movies or TV shows. Sony’s PlayStation 5 game console now supports 8K graphics, as does the Microsoft Xbox Series X console, although some game experts are saying it’s not worth their time.

Ready to get a new TV? While you can already get your hands on an 8K TV, like the early days of both HD and 4K, it will be a lot longer before they’re practical for most people. For most of us, 4K TVs have plenty of life left in them.