Industry insiders are finally admitting defeat, acknowledging that 8K TVs may not be the future of television after all. The technology was heavily marketed and sold in the 2010s, but with limited content and little practicality, it failed to gain significant traction.
The reality is that most people still use 4K resolution for their viewing needs, with a staggering 1 billion units currently in use worldwide. In contrast, only around 16 companies are members of the 8K Association, which was established to promote the technology and encourage the creation of native 8K content.
The lack of native 8K content has been a major obstacle for the adoption of 8K TVs. Streaming services still primarily offer 4K or lower resolutions, and many users rely on standard definition (SD) resolution for their viewing needs. Even gaming, which was once touted as a driver for 8K adoption, is no longer supported by all consoles.
The University of Cambridge's display resolution calculator suggests that the human eye can only benefit from 8K resolution in very specific situations, typically with extremely close viewing distances or on large screens.
Despite this, some manufacturers are still producing 8K TVs, albeit at a lower rate than before. Samsung offers models starting at $2,500, while LG has also continued to sell its 8K OLED TVs until stock runs out.
However, it's unlikely that these TVs will become mainstream anytime soon. Industry insiders now acknowledge that the technology is not as revolutionary as initially claimed and may only be relevant for niche use cases or enthusiasts.
For now, consumers can expect to see more features like OLED, HDR support, Micro LED, quantum dots, or newer technologies like Micro RGB panels taking center stage in TVs. These innovations are likely to have a greater impact on home theaters than moving from 4K to 8K.
The reality is that most people still use 4K resolution for their viewing needs, with a staggering 1 billion units currently in use worldwide. In contrast, only around 16 companies are members of the 8K Association, which was established to promote the technology and encourage the creation of native 8K content.
The lack of native 8K content has been a major obstacle for the adoption of 8K TVs. Streaming services still primarily offer 4K or lower resolutions, and many users rely on standard definition (SD) resolution for their viewing needs. Even gaming, which was once touted as a driver for 8K adoption, is no longer supported by all consoles.
The University of Cambridge's display resolution calculator suggests that the human eye can only benefit from 8K resolution in very specific situations, typically with extremely close viewing distances or on large screens.
Despite this, some manufacturers are still producing 8K TVs, albeit at a lower rate than before. Samsung offers models starting at $2,500, while LG has also continued to sell its 8K OLED TVs until stock runs out.
However, it's unlikely that these TVs will become mainstream anytime soon. Industry insiders now acknowledge that the technology is not as revolutionary as initially claimed and may only be relevant for niche use cases or enthusiasts.
For now, consumers can expect to see more features like OLED, HDR support, Micro LED, quantum dots, or newer technologies like Micro RGB panels taking center stage in TVs. These innovations are likely to have a greater impact on home theaters than moving from 4K to 8K.