8K TVs have basically tripled in number this year
8K TVs are proliferating like never before
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
8K TVsare having a moment, it seems. The8K Association– a body dedicated to the promotion and standardisation of8K resolutionscreens – has now certified over seventy8KTVs, with the vast majority of them having been launched only this year.
With 50 of those screens having released “in the first half of 2021”, it’s clear that production has ramped up on different 8K models, with TV makers keen to stoke and capitalize on any emerging interest in theUltra HDresolution.
The 8K Association puts most of that growth down toHisense,SamsungandTCL– three of the largest TV manufacturers working today – though with bothSonyandLGalso putting out the odd 8K screen, it’s clear that none of the major players are keen to be left out of the action.
From Samsung’sQN900Aflagship to theHisense U80GULED, there are more 8K screens available than ever – and a common certification between them should only inspire confidence among consumers, even if it’s not the only thing you need to keep in mind when buying an 8K TV.
Analysis: Early days in the age of 8K
The 8K Association’s certification isn’t the be-all and end-all, of course – you could certainly have an 8K TV without it. But the purpose of the certification is to ensure a minimum level of quality and hardware specification for every 8K TV purchase, so that consumers are never caught unawares with an underperforming model.
This standardization is important, if just for setting expectations. Some 8K TVs will be better than others, but there should be firm benchmarks in place to make sure 8K looks like 8K, and anyone paying through the nose for a high-end 8K screen isn’t disappointed.
As a relatively nascent technology, 8K screens are still pretty pricey, and manufacturers are betting big on people’s willingness to be early adopters and pay big for the next big thing before it becomes commonplace.
Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.
Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.
Prices are dropping, but slowly, and we’re nowhere near the level of market saturation needed to see truly affordable prices. We had hoped that the newTCL 6-Series 8Kmodel would make for the USA’s first budget 8K screen, but its starting price of $2,199 (around £1,600 / AU$3,000) shows that even an affordable manufacturer isn’t able to drastically undercut the competition just yet.
Henry is a freelance technology journalist, and former News & Features Editor for TechRadar, where he specialized in home entertainment gadgets such as TVs, projectors, soundbars, and smart speakers. Other bylines include Edge, T3, iMore, GamesRadar, NBC News, Healthline, and The Times.
Black Friday has arrived: LG’s 65-inch C4 OLED TV gets a staggering $1,300 discount
The Apple TV 4K just got even more interesting for projectors in tvOS 18.2
Best Usenet client of 2024
