The TV industry finally concedes that the future may not be in 8K
Tech companies spent part of the 2010s trying to convince us that we would one day want an 8K display.
In 2012, Sharp demonstrated the first 8K TV prototype at the CES show in Las Vegas. In 2015, the first 8K TVs began selling in Japan for 16 million yen (about $133,034 at the time), and in 2018, Samsung launched the first 8K TVs in the United States, starting at a more reasonable $3,500. In 2016, the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) had a specification for 8K support (Display Port1.4), and the HDMI Forum followed suit (with HDMI 2.1). In 2017, Dell had an 8K computer monitor. In 2019, LG launched the first 8K OLED TV, reinforcing the industry’s claim that 8K TVs were “the future.”
A marketing image for 8K televisions which can be found (again) on LG’s American site.
A marketing image for 8K televisions which can be found (again) on LG’s American site.
Credit: LG
However, 8K has never proven its necessity or practicality.
TV channels abandon 8K
LG Display no longer makes 8K LCD or OLED panels, FlatpanelsHD reported today. Earlier this month, a representative for LG Display told FlatpanelsHD that the panel vendor “takes a holistic view of current display market trends and trends within the 8K content ecosystem.”
“As our technical preparation is already complete, LG Display is fully prepared to respond immediately whenever the market and customers determine that the time is right,” said the LG Display representative.
LG Electronics was the first and only company to sell 8K OLED TVs, starting with the 88-inch Z9 in 2019. In 2022, it reduced the entry price of an 8K OLED TV by $7,000 by charging $13,000 for a 76.7-inch TV.
FlatpanelsHD cited anonymous sources who said that LG Electronics will no longer restock the QNED99T 2024, which is the latest 8K LCD TV released.
LG’s move away from 8K follows other brands moving away from 8K. TCL, which launched its latest 8K TV in 2021, said in 2023 it would not make more 8K TVs due to low demand. Sony discontinued its latest 8K TVs in April and is unlikely to return to the market as it plans to sell the majority stake in its Bravia TVs to TCL.
