Update: This story has been updated to reflect the sale price of the Samsung QN800D
While 4K Ultra HD has been the must-have resolution for TVs over the last several years, you can also find a handful of 8K TVs on the market. Made by companies like Samsung, Sony, and LG, these are some of the best TVs you can buy, and they contain double the amount of pixels of a 4K TV. As you can guess, this leads to some pretty incredible picture quality and upscaling on a level you’ve never seen before. And while there isn’t a ton of native 8K content on physical media or to stream, even the best-looking 4K Blu-ray gets a boost in picture quality on an 8K screen.
There’s a decent selection of 8K TVs this year from some of the best TV brands available, so we put together this list of the five models we’d recommend. Two of these selections are new for 2024, while the other two are holdovers from previous years because they're still excellent TVs and can also be had for a more reasonable price. We’ll also be updating this roundup as new 8K TVs start hitting shelves.
The best 8K TV overall
Samsung 65-inch QN900D
- Excellent peak brightness levels
- Wide color gamut and impressive local dimming
- Terrific 8K upscaling
- Great gaming optimizations
- Pricey
- A little trouble with light blooming
Samsung has been making 8K TVs for the last several years, and these are some of the best 8K screens you can get your hands on. New to 2024 is the amazing Samsung QN900D, a mini-LED QLED TV with some of the best backlighting controls and color reproduction you’ll find on an 8K TV. This is thanks in part to Samsung’s NQ8 AI Gen 3 chip, which analyzes and enhances every frame of content shown on the QN900D.
While mini-LED lighting can be great for overall brightness levels, this technology has a tendency to generate light blooming. This is when illumination from one or several pixels bleeds into another area of the picture, especially during darker scenes. Fortunately, the QN900D’s local dimming capabilities are so strong that you should seldom have issues with mini-LED bleed-over. The QN900D also contains a layer of quantum dots (hence, the QLED designation), which delivers increased brightness levels and color range when watching HDR or SDR movies and shows.
As for gaming optimizations, each of the QN900D’s four HDMI inputs are 2.1 ports. This high-bandwidth connection all but ensures you’ll be getting lightning-fast response times, terrific motion performance, and next to no lag when playing console or PC games on this Samsung set. Other great gaming features include VRR support and FreeSync Premium Pro support. You’ll even be able to game at up to 4K/240Hz!.
Samsung’s Tizen partnership returns for the QN900D as well, with the longstanding OS responsible for most of the TV’s menus and smart features. This includes access to popular streaming service apps like Netflix, Max, and Disney+, plus Samsung’s Gaming Hub. We understand this type of premium TV may not make sense for most folks, but if you’re looking to buy one of the best 8K sets of 2024, no questions asked, this is the TV we’d point you toward.
The runner-up
Samsung 65-inch QN800D
- Bright, colorful, and detailed picture quality
- Solid motion performance and gaming tech
- Great 8K upscaling
- Less expensive than the QN900D
- Slightly more issues with light blooming than the QN900D
- Not as bright or colorful as the QN900D
The Samsung QN800D brings a lot of the same 8K technology to the table as the flagship QN900D, though there are a couple of key differences. For starters, you won’t get as many local dimming zones on the QN800D, so you may notice a bit more light blooming during darker scenes. This may also lead to less overall brightness and color detail. This Samsung 8K TV is also equipped with the company’s NQ8 AI Gen 2 chip, as opposed to the Gen 3 version you’ll find on the QN900D. In some instances, this may translate to a slight reduction in 8K upscaling performance.
The Samsung QN800D is still a phenomenal set though, and is the perfect runner-up option for folks who want to experience 8K resolution, but may not want to pay for all the premium bells and whistles the QN900D comes with. It’s even got four HDMI 2.1 ports, as well as VRR and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro support, which means it’s a great TV to play video games on. You’ll even be able to leverage Samsung’s Gaming Hub to play Xbox games remotely, no console required.
Refresh rate numbers are pretty solid on this model too, though not quite as impressive as the QN900D’s 4K/240Hz capabilities. The QN800D tops out at 4K/165Hz and 8K/60Hz, which is still pretty good for most movies, sports, and console or PC gaming. The QN800D also has a smaller speaker system than the QN900D, but its 4.2.2 configuration still delivers an exceptional audio experience, making you feel like you’re right in the middle of your favorite content.
The one significant advantage the QN800D has over the QN900D is price. For most size options, the QN900D costs $500 or more than the same-sized QN800D equivalent. Fortunately the 65-inch QN800D has a $600 price cut right now when you buy directly through Samsung.
Our favorite 8K TV for 2023
Samsung 65-inch QN900C
- Brilliant backlighting and contrast
- Great contrast levels
- Next-level picture upscaling
- Excellent smart TV features
- Minor light blooming
The Samsung QN900C was the 8K TV that completely won us over in 2023! This is a premium QLED TV that delivers the type of breathtaking picture that we seldom get to see in the comfort of our living rooms, but we’re here to tell you that we’re not dreaming!
One of the biggest wins for the QN900C is Samsung’s Quantum Matrix Pro. The QN900C is powered by a mini-LED lighting system that the Samsung QMP is responsible for calibrating. Doing so every few milliseconds, we’re left with a bright and powerful picture that seldom presents even the smallest on-screen maladies.
Considering this is an LED model we’re talking about, minor light blooming can show up occasionally, which is something we’ve noticed with most flagship Samsung sets over the last few years. But don’t let this deter you!
On top of the Quantum Matrix Pro, Samsung’s Neural Quantum Processor 8K is able to execute some of the finest picture upscaling we’ve seen on any TV. With other important checkboxes being filled, including stellar HDR and Dolby Atmos support, as well as Samsung’s wireless Q-Symphony 3.0 integrations for compatible Samsung soundbars, it’s hard to beat the insane level of detail the QN900C brings to the table.
You’ll also be able to enjoy Samsung’s tried and true Tizen OS for all things smart and streaming. As zippy as ever, navigating the Samsung Smart Hub is as easy as can be, and there’s support for just about every major entertainment.
Premium 8K performance
Sony 75-inch XR Z9K
- Unbelievable brightness
- Amazing colors and contrast
- Terrific 8K upscaling
- Google TV is smooth and intuitive
- Very expensive
When it comes to flagship performance, Sony TVs tend to make their way to the top of the charts. And when it comes to 8K TVs, we’d be crazy not to draw your attention to the amazing Sony Bravia XR Z9K. Available in 75 and 85-inch sizes, the Z9K carries forth the torch that the Sony Z9J series once proudly carried. What we’re looking at is a phenomenal combination of both 8K resolution and mini-LED lighting that one just has to see to believe.
Sony’s Cognitive Processor XR and XR Triluminos Pro have been picture-processing staples for the company over the last several years, and both under-the-hood enhancements are back and better than ever. In terms of the former, Cognitive Processor XR does an exceptional job at making each and every frame as lifelike as possible, while XR Triluminos Pro layers in some of the richest colors we’ve ever seen on an LED set.
We’re not surprised that Sony decided to endow this elite TV with mini-LED backlighting. Working in unison with the Z9K’s XR Backlight Master Drive, the end result is a vibrant and precise picture from one source to the next, with next to no light blooming to speak of. And don’t get us started on the kind of 8K upscaling this beast of a TV is capable of.
Let’s just say that no matter the signal you’re feeding the Z9K, the TV goes above and beyond to make each movie or show as close to 8K quality as possible.
The XR Z9K is also home to the Google TV OS, which lets you stream hundreds of movies and shows from some of the best entertainment apps in the biz. You’ll also be able to use Google Assistant to search for media and interact with a number of the smart home devices in your household.
Best 8K TV for the price
LG 65-inch QNED 99 Series
- Not as pricey as other 8K models
- Great picture quality
- Solid HDR support
- Awesome upscaling
- A bit outdated
While LG may best be known for its extensive lineup of jaw-dropping OLED TVs, the company is also responsible for a number of impressive LED-driven models. And if you’re looking for a great 8K TV that’s priced lower than many of today’s 4K options, we urge you to take a look at the LG 8K QNED 99 Series.
One of the driving forces behind the bright and detailed picture you’ll get on this set is LG’s 8K Quantum Dot Nanocell Display, a combination of mini-LED lighting that’s wrangled in by LG’s Full Array Dimming Pro. We’re also here to sing the praises of the QNED 99’s gorgeous layer of quantum dots, which makes for some deep and punchy colors.
The QNED 99 is also incredible when it comes to picture upscaling, with even traditional HD content getting a solid boost from all that pixel power. Other important features like next-level HDR support, Dolby Atmos compatibility, built-in Alexa and Google Assistant, along with some top-notch gaming optimizations like HGiG and ALLM are all here too.
Sure, the TV is a few years old now, but when you consider the fact that 8K TVs don’t receive as much limelight and output as today’s best 4K models, the LG 65-inch QNED 99 Series looks and sounds even better.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you're a hardcore TV or movie lover, the impressive resolution, advanced tech, and larger sizes of 8K TVs might make it worth your while, especially if you're considering one with advanced upscaling features that can bump up 4K resolution content to 8K. However, if you're mostly into gaming or broadcast TV, you may not reap all the benefits of an 8K TV and may be better off spending your money elsewhere.
The short answer is not really. The TV and movie industry isn't widely producing content in 8K, so you're still mostly relying on the TV doing all the upscaling heavy lifting for you. Streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and others, aren't offering 8K content, neither is broadcast media, and it's still rare to see any DVDs or Blu-ray media delivering it.
