8k lcd panel supplier pricelist

The tight supply of display panels and components during the pandemic has led to record increases in pricing. This has resulted in increases in TV prices and a big drop in discounting, according to analysts. So how have these trends affected the 8K TV market? We don’t have a full picture, but below is some interesting data we have gathered.

But the story is more nuanced if you look at the data by screen size. The takeaway from this data is that raised prices on mid-sized TV prices but for 75″ and larger sizes, prices dropped until just recently. That’s probably because panel prices did not rise as much in this segment and retailers did not pass on increases as they have more margin to play with on these bigger sets.

Because of the roughly 4-month lag between panel pricing and TV pricing, TV prices could well rise for the rest of 2021 so sales TV sales should flatten. Baker was not sure if this premium trend will continue once a more normal TV market returns, however.

The data below from DSCC shows that before the pandemic, display panel prices were declining with the biggest drops coming in the larger screen sizes. But prices began to rise with the pandemic and are peaking now, says DSCC. Increases were highest for smaller panels and lower for larger-sized panels.

Turing to 8K panel pricing specifically, panel maker TCL-CSOT provided the following data which they collected as an industry average for the first half of 2021. Note that panel price increases vary pretty widely.

Market research firm Omdia has tracked 8K panel pricing from introduction as shown in the chart below. The 88” is the OLED 8K panel and the 32” is a monitor panel. This data does not break out by frame rate but shows 8K panel prices flat or slowly declining, going forward.

So, what does all this mean? These data points suggest to me that the gap is closing between big-screen and mid-range TVs and panels. The trend is making 8K TVs more attractive overall as the price difference reduces. But it is not yet clear whether this trend will continue. Supply constraints are reducing so mid-sized panel and TV prices may start to decline again in 2021. Also, headwinds remain for 8K sales. As panel maker AUO pointed out, there are 3 major factors that influence 8K panel pricing:

The semiconductor supply crunch has thrown a whole host of tech categories off course this year, and it looks like TVs are no exception. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused fractured manufacturing processes and raw material shortages, and has now directly resulted in increased TV prices and a major dropoff in discounting 4K and 8K displays.

At the recently completed Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) business conference at DisplayWeek, NPD analyst Stephen Baker provided an in-depth look at TV sales trends in the United States. According to NPD’s data, the average selling price across all TV models increased 33% between April 2020 ($320) to April 2021 ($426). Despite this, TV sales have increased 20% to 40% on a monthly basis year-over-year, which follows the growing consumer interest in new display technologies like 8K.

Screen size has also been a factor in TV price changes, as 75-inch or larger TVs have been experiencing a dip in pricing until recently, while mid-sized TV prices have risen steadily throughout 2021. This increase in overall price is most significantly impacted by component shortages like display panels.

According to data from DSCC, before the pandemic began display panel prices were declining, with the largest panel sizes seeing the most significant savings. As the pandemic continued, display prices spiked, with the small panel market being hit the hardest. While display prices are currently recovering to pre-pandemic levels, there is a 4 month lag time between panel pricing changes and TV pricing changes, which may lead to flattened TV sales in 2021.

As the price differences between 4K and 8K panels lessen, 8K might begin to look more appealing to consumers. If the gap between 4K and 8K remains steady, more consumers may be willing to pony up the extra cash and “futureproof” their home set-ups, widening the potential market for integrators. That being said, experts still are not sure if supply constraints will continue to influence panel pricing into 2022, so keep an eye on the market in the coming year.

Editor’s Note: All of the images and charts in this article were provided by the 8K Association’s website and are originally created by The NPD Group, Omdia, and the Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC).

55in. diagonal edge-lit LED professional LCD. 24x7 reliability. 1920x1080. 700 nits brightness. Data, video, HD-SDI inputs. RS-232, Ethernet control. Landscape and portrait. Requires at least 1.2 in. mount depth (Compatible with WMT-MXL only).

55in Transparent display, OLED panel, black, ERO bonded glass, HDMI x4, DP x1 inputs, FHD (1920x1080), landscape or portrait - inverted or tiling mounting possible, internal power, standard mount

55in Transparent display, OLED panel, black, ERO bonded glass, HDMI x4, DP x1 inputs, FHD (1920x1080), landscape or portrait - inverted or tiling mounting possible, internal power, straight mount

Clarity Matrix LX46HD: 46" 1920x1080, 450 nit LCD video wall system. Includes 1 LCD module, required power supply, quad controller electronics and mount. Landscape Only.

Clarity Matrix LX46HD with ERO: 46" 1920x1080, 450 nit LCD video wall system. Includes 1 LCD module, required power supply, quad controller electronics and mount. Landscape Only.

Clarity Matrix LX46HD: 46" 1920 x 1080, 450 nit LCD video wall system. Includes 1 LCD module, required power supply, quad controller electronics and mount. Portrait Only. Special Order Item Longer Lead time applies.

Clarity Matrix LX46 3D: 46" WXGA 3D LCD video wall system. Includes 1 LCD module, required power supply, quad controller electronics and mount. Landscape Only.

Clarity Matrix LX55HD: 55" 1920x1080, 450 nit LCD video wall system. Includes 1 LCD module, required power supply, quad controller electronics and mount. Landscape Only.

Clarity Matrix LX55HD with ERO: 55" 1920x1080, 450 nit LCD video wall system. Includes 1 LCD module, required power supply, quad controller electronics and mount. Landscape Only.

Clarity Matrix LX55HD with ERO: 55" 1920x1080, 450 nit LCD video wall system. Includes 1 LCD module, required power supply, quad controller electronics and mount. Portrait Only. Special Order Item Longer Lead time applies.

Clarity Matrix MX46HD: 46" 1920x1080 LCD video wall system. Includes 1 LCD module, required power supply, quad controller electronics and mount. Landscape Only.

Clarity Matrix MX55: 55" 1920x1080 LCD video wall system. Includes 1 LCD module, required power supply, quad controller electronics and mount. Landscape Only.

Clarity Matrix MX55 with ERO: 55" 1920x1080 LCD video wall system. Includes 1 LCD module, required power supply, quad controller electronics and mount. Landscape Only.

Clarity Matrix MX55: 55" 1920x1080 LCD video wall system. Includes 1 LCD module, required power supply, quad controller electronics and mount. Portrait Only. Special Order Item Longer Lead time applies.

55 in. diagonal edge-lit LED professional LCD. Ultra slim, narrow bezel, low power, and lightweight. 1920x1080 resolution with 400 nits brightness . DVI, HDMI, Display Port, VGA inputs. Supports up to 10x10 Video Wall mode. IR, RS-232, and Ethernet control. Landscape and portrait.

15 inch Black HID Compliant 5-wire Resistive Touchscreen LCD, dual Serial and USB controller, VGA, external DC power supply, speakers, -3 to 25 degree tilt range, 75mm VESA compatible.

17 inch Black HID Compliant single-touch 5-wire resistive LED LCD, dual Serial and USB controller, VGA, internal power, DC power connector, speakers, -5 to 90 degree tilt range, 75 mm and 100mm VESA compatible.

17 inch Black HID Compliant 5-wire Resistive Touchscreen edge-lit LED LCD, USB controller, VGA, internal power, speakers, -5 to 90 degree tilt range, 100mm VESA compatible.

19" Black 5-Wire Resistive Touch Screen LCD with dual serial/USB Driver, Analog/DVI-D, internal power, speakers, 5 to 90 tilt - Supports MSR Kit 997-5618-00

32-inch wide black projected capacitive multi-touch FHD edge-lit LED LCD, USB controller, HDMI, DP, DVI-D and VGA inputs, Control via RS-232, internal power, speakers, 600 x 200 mm, 200 x 200 mm VESA compatible, no desk stand.

TD3200 LookThru 32 inch Transparent LCD Display Box, White, ERO(TM) Bonded Glass, HDMI Input, 1366x768 res, 29.5in x 17.5in x 15.0in (WxHxD), 200 x 200 mm VESA, External Power.

In the recently released Quarterly OLED Shipment Report , DSCC reveals that 2023 OLED panel revenues are expected to increase 2% Y/Y to $42B after declining 2% Y/Y in 2022. This recovery is the result of expected triple digit growth for monitors, AR/VR and automotive applications and double-digit growth for notebook PCs, TVs and tablets.

As reported by Italian newspaper DDay, the EU Commission has confirmed that its much stricter Energy Efficiency Index (EEI) will be implemented as planned in March 2023 without revision. The new EEI will make it much more challenging to sell 8K TVs in Europe in 2023; all 8K TVs on the market there currently fail to meet the requirements.

Display equipment revenues for 19 of the largest suppliers rose 9% Q/Q while falling 18% Y/Y to $1.6B. Revenues have fallen at a negative double-digit rate for the past five quarters straight and bookings and backlog signaled more bad news for next year. Despite the decline, these companies are seeing strong financial performance on the strength of their semiconductor businesses.

After upgrading display capacity for six straight issues on improved market conditions in LCDs, DSCC has now lowered its display capacity forecast for four consecutive quarters on delays and cancellations as conditions worsen and remain weak. Prices were recently at marginal costs for LCD TV panels and it is projected that it will take until 2H’23 for prices to rise above cash costs.

Panel suppliers are mostly delaying new capacity decisions given the weak market conditions in the display market. The situation is particularly dire in LCDs where LCD TV panel prices approached marginal cost levels and BOE’s Chairman indicated they won’t build any more LCD TV fabs, resulting in the cancellation of B17+ and its removal from our forecast. The weakness in LCDs also spread to OLED spending since there is an oversupply there also and most OLED manufacturers also produce LCDs and are currently losing money. Samsung Display is the exception as it earned record OLED operating profits and operating margins in Q4’22 helped by strong iPhone 14 Pro/Pro Max demand and LG Display’s challenges getting qualified for the 14 Pro Max.

The central promotional event of the holiday season happens this week, and retailers will be offering all-time low prices for TVs during Black Friday. The unprecedented decline in LCD TV panel prices continues to flow through to retail prices in the US, and the competition from LCD is also pulling down OLED TV prices, which are also hitting all-time lows.

Now that all of the industry’s flat panel display makers have reported their Q3’22 financial results, we update our industry profile. The third quarter showed a gaping chasm between OLED-focused display makers, especially Samsung Display, and the companies focused on LCD technology. For LCD makers, it was the worst quarter in years and perhaps the worst ever. Meanwhile, Samsung Display recorded its highest profits ever in the first quarter after it discontinued LCD production.

As revealed in DSCC’s latest release of the OLED Shipment Report – Flash Edition, OLED panel revenues decreased 11% Y/Y on a 17% Y/Y decline in panel shipments. Smartphones, tablets and TVs, which have a combined 70% unit share and 85% panel revenue share, decline while other categories had Y/Y unit growth.

LCD panel prices are expected to decline in 2Q20, rise in 3Q20, and fall in 4Q20, likely exhibiting volatility in the process. Having continued to deploy a strategy aimed at strengthening their technological competitiveness, China’s LCD panel makers should enjoy steady M/S growth.

In 2Q20, influenced by Covid-19, set makers (TV-basis)’ panel purchase activity is likely to weaken, leading to a drop in panel prices. In 3Q20, however, peak seasonality (Korean Black Friday, etc) should serve as a catalyst for set makers to expand their panel purchases, with panel purchases by major TV set makers likely jumping 20% q-q to over 40mn units. In addition, the utilization rate of global LCD facilities (TV-panel basis) should improve from 82% in 2Q20 to 89% in 3Q20 on normalization at new 8th-gen and above LCD facilities in China. However, as demand growth is forecast to outpace supply expansion, panel prices are projected to rise. In 4Q20, panel prices will likely drop on a weakening in supply-demand dynamics.

Aiming to increase their market shares, Chinese LCD panel makers are predicted to continue expanding production capacity, concentrating on 8th-gen and above LCD facilities. We expect the global number of 8th-gen and above LCD production facilities to come to 25 in 2019 → 27 in 2020 → 26 in 2021 → 27 in 2022, out of which the portion of Chinese manufacturers is projected to widen from 56% in 2019 → 63% in 2020 → 69% in 2021 → 74% in 2022, with China eventually claiming a leading role in the market.

We expect the technological competitiveness of Chinese LCD panel makers to continue strengthening, noting that Chinese manufacturers kicked off 8K LCD panel production in 2019. China’s share of the 8K LCD panel segment is anticipated to expand from 0.4% in 2019 to 33.1% in 2020.

Eventually 8K will be far more mainstream. It"s possible 4K will go the way ofThis shows the relative number of pixels in each of the major resolution formats. Not actual size of course; this is a chart not a visual representation (though it is to scale if you click on it). From largest to smallest: 8K (tangerine), 4K Cinema in 1.78:1 aspect ratio (black); Ultra HD (white); 2K Cinema in 1.78:1 aspect ratio (green); Full HD 1080p (red); 720p (blue). For more detail, pun intended, check out 4K vs. 8K vs. 1080p: TV resolutions explained.Geoffrey Morrison/CNET

To reiterate, one of the biggest reasons 8K TVs are not as amazing as you might expect, besides their price, is that there simply aren"t any 8K TV shows or movies to watch on them. And while the

Which brings us to 8K. You guessed it: twice the horizontal and vertical resolution of 4K, for a whopping 7,680x4,320 and 33,177,600 total pixels. Not only is that four times the resolution of 4K, that"s an incredible 16 times more pixels than 1080p. Or to put that differently, you could put 16 full-resolution 1080p videos on an 8K screen at the same time with no loss of quality. I"m not sure why you"d want to do this, but hey, why not?TV and projector resolutions

One thing to look for in new 8K TVs: It will feature the official logo and "spec" on new 8K TVs. This goes beyond raw pixel count to help you find TVs that perform to at least a certain standard. This is partly to avoid the mess from the early days of HD and 4K, where some of the first TVs couldn"t accept a full HD or later, a 4K signal. The Consumer Technology Association lays out the following minimums a TV is required to have to wear the 8K Ultra HD logo:At least 7,680 pixels horizontally and 4,320 vertically.

It"s rare that anyone gets a large enough TV -- or sits close enough to one -- to justify the need for even 4K resolutions. 8K is excessive overkill... at least for a TV. If you"re talking about massive theater-size screens like

An 8K TV represents the last part of the system: playback. That"s the easy part. Any TV manufacturer can design and produce a TV with any resolution it wants. It"s just up to the company and its resources.

Ultra HD 4K transmission takes a lot of data. You need a really fast internet connection to stream it. Streaming 8K is a whole other level, well beyond what many have in their homes. With only a tiny percentage of their audience able to see it, mainstream streaming services are slow to adopt higher resolutions, with the increase in cost of storage, processing and more.

Which is all to say, don"t expect 8K versions of your favorite streaming shows anytime soon. And without 8K content, the main benefit of an 8K TV is at least partially wasted.

Both not need an 8K TV to play games on these consoles. They will work just fine on most 1080p and nearly all 4K TVs. If you can connect a PS4 or Xbox One to your current TV, it will work with a PS5 or Xbox Series X.

A Sony spokesperson confirmed that this FAQ, published on the PlayStation blog in November 2020, was still the case: "PS5 is compatible with 8K displays at launch, and after a future system software update will be able to output resolutions up to 8K when content is available, with supported software." We"re still waiting for that update.

"Xbox Series X is fully capable of 8K output. However, as there is no media content or games that currently support 8K resolution, we have not enabled the option within the system settings at this time. Xbox Series X was designed with the next 8 to 10 years of advancements in mind, and as we see signals from creators and 8K becomes a more widely adopted format, we will update console software to support it," a Microsoft spokesperson said.

Long story short, few games will look much different on an 8K TV than they will on a 4K TV. There is limited time and money when you develop a game (well, most games), and few developers will want to invest those limited resources on something only a handful of people will be able to enjoy. Far more likely are games rendered in 4K

Getting the 8K onto your new 8K TV is also a bit of a challenge. Ideally, the TV"s internal apps for Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and the rest will be 8K compatible. You"d think that"d be a given, but it wasn"t in the early days of 4K. Further, there"s no 8K content from any major streaming service available yet. The exceptions are YouTube, as you see in the video below, Vimeo and a new service called The Explorers exclusive to 8K Roku TVs. Eventually, long way from that.

8K also presents another issue for the early adopter: The bandwidth required is immense. Most 4K content streaming companies recommend you have an internet connection in the 20Mbps range. 8K, even with everything else the same, has four times as many pixels.

One thing we"ve already got is the physical connection thing sorted in case any 8K media streamers hit the market or they"re needed for the PS5 and Xbox Series X.

All of the major 8K TV makers say that their sets have HDMI 2.1 inputs capable of handling the 48Mbps bandwidth required for the highest resolution and frame-rate combinations (8K and 60 frames per second and 4K at 120 fps). We also

To put on my cynic hat, increasing resolution is one of the easiest ways to offer the appearance of higher performance. This is likely what TV makers are smoking, coming out with 8K TVs when there"s essentially no content and no 8K infrastructure.

Given how easy it was to market 4K as "better looking than 1080p," TV makers are claiming the same thing with 8K. But resolution is just one aspect of overall picture quality, and not one of the most important ones. Improving other aspects, such as

It"s relatively easy to create a higher-resolution LCD panel, but improving the other aspects of performance for that tech is a greater challenge. Not "more" pixels but "better" pixels. This is why OLED is a thing, and why many companies are researching new technologies like true

The other aspect is a warning that will be seconded by countless 4K early adopters: There"s no guarantee these early 8K TVs will end up being compatible with any future 8K standard. There are tens of thousands of 4K TVs that can"t play any current 4K media content.

Last year, it was reported that prices of the LCD panels used in TVs would start a steady decline that was set to last until well into 2022. And we"re now well into 2022, but the great news that the price drops aren"t set to stop yet – DigiTimes reports that LCD screens will get even cheaper during April(opens in new tab).

During 2022 and the start of 2021, LCD prices had risen sharply, and the steady falls over the few months have been welcome because, as we noted last year, it"s not just the price of the LCD panels that affects the cost of a TV. The chips involved are more expensive, shipping has become harder, and other costs are rising left right and centre.

DigiTimes says that the price drops will probably be larger for big-screen panels, which could apply to the best 8K TVs as well as 4K TVs – 8K TVs tend to be larger, and are almost all 65 inches or bigger. There will be price drops on the smaller panels too, but not by as much, so the best 32-inch TVs and best 43-inch TVs may see less of an impact… but the price of more middling sizes has been falling fast over the last few years anyway, so we"ll probably still see some huge discounts there.

We"ve already approached several monitor vendors, such as Dell, Viotek, Monoprice, NecSharp, Samsung, and IIyama, about their 5K and 8K monitor releases. Some have confirmed they don"t have plans to launch monitors with 5K and 8K resolutions this year, while at least two have confirmed they will launch 4K+ monitors in 2022. So for now, Dell"s UltraSharp UP3218K joins Sharp"s 8M-B32C1 as the only 8K displays on the market.

5K and 8K monitors have finally hit the shelves, which means it’s time for some of us to upgrade and future-proof our setup. That isn’t to say, of course, 4K is on its way out. Just the opposite, 4K panels are now only starting to become the standard, and 1080p and 1440p displays are still quite common. However, many creative professionals will greatly benefit from a 5K or 8K monitor investment.

If you’re a content creator, videographer, or graphic designer, one of the best 5K and 8K monitors should appeal to you despite their exceedingly high price tag right now. These displays will not only deliver incredibly sharp and highly detailed images, but they’ll also offer a lot more screen real estate – enough, in fact, to run a video project in 4K and still have all your apps and tools on display and readily accessible simultaneously.

While there are only a few available options out there at the moment, we’ve still gathered the best 5K and 8K monitors for you. They"re the perfect next step for creative professionals. From ultrawide panels to curved monitors that offer deeper immersion, here are our top picks.

When it comes to 8K monitors (that"s 7680 × 4320 pixels), your choice is far more limited, as currently there"s only one "affordable" 8K screen out there: the Dell UltraSharp UP3218K(opens in new tab).

The good news is that this is an excellent monitor in its own right (as long as you have the budget, and the equipment to power it) - and we"re sure we"ll see more 8K screens in the future.

Professionals can be gamers too, which is why the CRG9 may prove an enticing option for you. Its 5K display, flaunting Quantom Dot (QLED) tech and 1.07 billion colours, is simply gorgeous - and the monitor also sports VESA DisplayHDR 1000 tech backed up by 1,000 nits of pure room-illuminating brightness. For gamers, the addition of adaptive-sync tech will smoothen out frame rates all the way up to the panel"s 144Hz refresh rate. It goes without saying that you"ll need a beefy GPU to make the most out of this enticing ultrawide. Oh, and deep pockets will be required - as this is one expensive monitor.

To date, however, no curved monitors have a resolution higher than 4K. The size of the market and higher cost of materials means that it is not commercially viable to push for curved 5K or curved 8K monitors.

The unavoidable advancement of technology undoubtedly means that one day, 8K TVs will drive 4K TVs into extinction. Sound a bit dramatic? Ok, so it won"t be for a while yet. Still, with the likes of Sony, Samsung, LG and Phillips already selling 8K TV sets, there"s no need to wait for 4K annihilation to get your hands on a next-generation TV with a whole heap more pixels.

They"re expensive (at least right now), but 8K TVs offer four times the pixel density of their 4K TV siblings. That makes for a stunningly lifelike picture that represents a massive step up from 4K.

Sadly, there"s more or less no 8K content available at the moment. In the meantime, 8K TVs make themselves useful by upscaling 4K, HD and even standard-def content. That means you can expect a gloriously cinematic experience right now, even though 8K content is far from mainstream.

So what should you look for when buying an 8K TV? Good upscaling is absolutely critical - you want all of the content you watch now to look great, which involves the TV doing lots of clever processing. It"s also worth looking for HDMI 2.1 ports, too, as they have baked-in support for higher resolutions and frame rates.

This Neo QLED 8K TV is a 75-inch version of Samsung’s third generation of 8K TVs but is the company"s first to combine a Mini LED lighting system with the increased resolution of 8K. The results are outstanding, and this fabulous TV achieves an awesome sense of scale but with a crispness of detail that we’d normally associate with a smaller 4K set.

The QE75QN900A also proves that you don’t need 8K footage to enjoy an 8K TV. When watching 8K content, it serves up stunning depth, shading and textures with a skill we"ve not seen matched, and when viewing in 4K, the results are jaw-dropping.

While 8K content is thin on the ground if you"re happy to spend the money, the Samsung QE75Q950TS not only manages to deliver an incredibly detailed and punchy 8K picture, but it also manages to improve on 4K content substantially.

That"s thanks to Samsung"s Quantum Processor 8K and its 8K AI Upscaling feature, which succeed in making non-8K content look better than ever: watching a 4K Blu-ray, we can’t recall a sharper 4K picture, with nothing looking artificially enhanced or exaggerated – it simply pops from the screen more than we’ve previously seen.

With the dearth of real 8K content likely to continue for a good while yet, manufacturers have an uphill battle to convince consumers that an 8K TV is a sensible purchase in the here and now.

With the ZH8, Sony gets a huge amount right. This is one of the punchiest TVs we’ve tested and one of the best-sounding too. It’s also aggressively priced for an 8K model, significantly undercutting the Award-winning Samsung above.

That said, the ZH8 also lags a little behind its main rival in a couple of key areas, not least of which is its lack of support for the tiny amount of 8K footage that is actually already available.

In short, it doesn"t support the AV1 format that YouTube uses for its 8K streams and that other services are expected to use for their own 8K content in the future. That"s a big concern.

With a minimalist design, the LG OLED77Z2 looks similar to the brand"s flagship 4K TV, the G2, with plastic casework spread fairly thinly and evenly over the panel’s rear rather than concentrated in one thicker area. Unlike the G2, which comes with no stand at all, the Z2 comes with feet for tabletop placement but be warned, they are ugly and flimsy and frankly have no right to be tasked with supporting such an expensive TV.

The Z2 boasts four HDMI 2.1 sockets capable of supporting 8K/60Hz signals, should 8K sources materialise at some point in the future. In the meantime, those connections can handle 4K/120Hz signals from the Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and high-end gaming PCs, and gamers will also enjoy support for VRR and ALLM. Moreover, the Z2 has an excellent HGiG mode that gives you more accurate HDR performance from many games and a Dolby Vision game mode – something LG is currently alone in providing. Input lag measures a very low 14ms with 1080p signals, which should lower significantly when gaming in 4K.

This is an 8K TV with a 7680 x 4320 resolution. That’s over 33 million pixels, and because this is an OLED TV, every one of those pixels can be lit and coloured independently of the rest. Colours are well judged, with an overall balance of naturalism and vibrancy. There’s a consistent subtlety of shading that ensures skin tones, in particular, are very convincing. The Z2 takes the same balanced approach to detail and sharpness, with images crisply defined without looking exaggerated. Meanwhile, its 4.2 sound system is clear and direct, especially by TV standards.

In the case of 8K, this means a horizontal resolution of 7680 pixels and a vertical resolution of 4320 pixels (7680 x 4320), resulting in a display that consists of just under 33 million pixels.

So, yes, 8K has four times as many pixels as 4K (and 16 times the number of Full HD, for what it"s worth).Who is making 8K content?8K video developments to date have largely been driven by filmmakers and TV broadcasters. From a video-editing point of view, the higher resolution can be useful. While filmmakers may not ultimately deliver an 8K film, shooting in the higher resolution gives editors room to manoeuvre, allowing for cropping and zooming while still retaining a high-resolution image. That said, 6K cameras are currently far more prevalent in Hollywood.

Meanwhile, in Japan, broadcasters have been experimenting with 8K TV for some time. Back in 2015 the Japanese Broadcasting Corporation, NHK, ran a series of 8K trials, and in 2016 the company announced it was successfully demoing 8K broadcasts. So successful were the trials, NHK has now launched the world"s first 8K television channel. Since 1st December 2018, it has broadcast 8K TV shows on a daily basis, 12 hours a day, and even broadcast the 2019 Rugby World Cup in 8K. Next up is the Tokyo Olympics, which is now scheduled to take place in the summer of 2021.

The Korean Broadcasting Corporation (KBS) is also researching 8K broadcasts, working with LG on content, possible broadcasts and displays – there was 8K experimentation at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. And if you were in Brazil at the time, you could have watched the 2018 World Cup in 8K.

The likes of Netflix and YouTube were, of course, quick out of the blocks when it came to 4K content, and now streaming site Vimeo(opens in new tab) has jumped aboard with 8K. A recent update adds support for HDR and 8K resolution videos. Naturally, you will need an 8K screen to take advantage, and you might be hard-pushed to find anything truly worth watching.

Rakuten TV wants to become a true global alternative to Amazon Video and Netflix and has ambitious plans to help that become a reality. Along with a rapid expansion into new countries, it seems 8K content is also part of the strategy - the company announced plans to have 8K films on its service by the end of 2019, although all has since gone rather quiet on that front.

So ultimately, despite many companies expressing optimism about 8K, it"s important to be aware that almost no native 8K content is available. If you buy an 8K TV and want to show off it"s ridiculously high resolution. At this stage, no streaming services have even hinted at launching 8K content, and it seems increasingly unlikely that an 8K disc format will ever materialise.

For those reasons, it"s hard to recommend that most people pay the extra for an 8K TV at this stage. But if you"ve got deep pockets and want to be as ready as possible for the potential 8K content of the future, then there"s no harm in going for an 8K TV now, particularly as many models make current 4K content look better than ever.How do I choose an 8K TV?You can now buy 8K TVs from a number of brands, including Samsung, LG and Sony, though due to their niche appeal, there are comparatively far fewer models to choose from. But as an 8K TV is a huge investment in money and space what factors should you be considering when trying to choose?

If you"ve got 8K on your mind then picture quality is obviously a high priority so it"s important to carefully consider the type of display technology being used. Without a doubt, OLED has become the premium TV technology of choice, thanks to its perfect blacks, extraordinary contrast and exceptional viewing angles. QLED, which combines LED (or Mini LED) backlighting with ultra-vibrant Quantum Dots, is a strong alternative, though, largely thanks to being capable of greater brightness and punchier colours. Standard LCD TVs (often, confusingly, sold as "LED" TVs on account of their LED backlights) are more variable in overall quality but, if you shop carefully, can offer excellent bang for your buck.

For the time being, most of the content you watch on an 8K screen is going to be 4K, so how well the TV upscales should be one of the biggest factors in choosing which model is right for you. A great 8K TV should show make lower resolutions look their very best, with processing that enhances and sharpens the picture without making it appear processed.

Testing a TV is a long and complex process because a modern TV simply does so much. Not only does it need to handle a variety of content resolutions and upscaling – standard-def, 1080p, 4K and, in this case, 8K – and both standard dynamic range and high dynamic range (the latter in a number of formats), all of which need to be specifically tested, is also has a sound system with various advanced settings and a full smart platform. A TV is all-in-one devices in the best sense, but that also makes it a challenging review proposition.