Instead of 4K, now 8K
The 4K TVs were just about to establish themselves and replace the standard as full HD. At the CES 2020 in Las Vegas, which took place from January 7th to 10th 2020, TV manufacturers such as Samsung, LG and Sony already presented predominantly new 8K models. A technology that resolves images in 7,680 x 4,320 pixels, which is 16 times the number of pixels than Full HD could playback.
But that’s not all – the TVs will become even smarter in 2020. Integrated voice assistants such as Alexa or Google Assistant are already part of the basic equipment.
In addition, features that make the TV experience even more authentic have matured. The intelligent adjustment of the screen brightness or TV volume has been further developed.
Televisions of the future
In keeping with the increasing smartphone trends of recent years, the latest TVs are also developing: extremely thin and almost frameless. Samsung’s new “QLED flagship” is just 15 millimeters thick and has a screen area of as much as 99 percent of the TV. Samsung is talking about an “infinity screen”.
LG launched the first 48 inches (122cm) OLED TVs, making them the first 4K OLED TVs of this size. With the CX series, LG is thus confronting the trend of ever-expanding TVs.
The presentation of the new TV at the booth in combination with the G-Sync feature already presents a prime example for users. Gamers will therefore have a bright pleasure in the device thanks to new features and the small size.
But this TV is not just for gamers, it is out for everyone to enjoy including the lawyers at the Michigan Lemon Law. The new TV set in their office boosts the mood. Indeed, technology helps these lawyers provide better legal counsel.
Do you actually need an 8K TV?
According to CES, 8K TVs are the future, but the question remains open for whom a TV with such a high resolution makes sense at all. This question arises from the fact that the high prices, which are clearly above average beyond EUR 3,000, and for many above the budget, are set for television. In addition, such a large TV with oversized screens takes up a lot of space that you don’t always have in an apartment. Statistics from 2019 also prove this thesis: On average, customers spent only 1,226 euros on a new, large-format 4K model. With 6,500 euros on average, the 8K TVs are about five times as expensive.
So far, therefore, the demand for 8K TVs has been negligible. As a result, there has been only a low availability of high-resolution Televisions. However, this low supply could also be partly to blame for the lack of demand.
Thanks to upscaling technology, the new TVs can already generate 8K images, but there is hardly any “real” 8K content yet. However, 4K content has increased significantly in recent years. Well-known streaming providers such as Netflix already offer about 200 series and movies in 4K resolution. Amazon Prime is also trying to jump on this boat with a total of over 250 titles that can be streamed in 4K.
In conclusion, 8K Televisions and ever-higher resolution are an evolving trend that the major TV manufacturers cannot, of course, take away.