The failure of 8K TVs

LG Display has stopped producing 8K panels, leading to the decline of 8K TVs as content becomes scarce, prices are high, and 4K remains the popular choice.

LG launched its first 8K TV in 2018. Photo: LG .

LG Display has officially halted production of 8K panels, both OLED and LCD, marking a significant setback for a technology once touted as the "future of the living room." This move suggests the 8K market is not yet mature enough.

With more and more brands like Sony and TCL also withdrawing from the market, 8K seems to be at a major crossroads. Will it continue to exist as an ultra-premium segment for a select few, or will it have to wait many more years to find its true place in the market?

A one-man market

According to FlatpanelsHD , LG Display has confirmed a temporary halt to the development of 8K OLED panels. The company stated that the project could be restarted if market conditions change, but for now, they will no longer produce 8K OLED models. The QNED99T model, set to launch in 2024, was the most recent 8K LCD TV the company released.

At some retailers, the LG QNED99, part of LG's 8K TV lineup, is the only model left that uses LCD technology. However, with OLED models gradually disappearing and no new 8K LCD TVs yet to be announced, this model is also expected to leave the market.

4K TVs still dominate. Photo: Omdia.

This move follows Sony's decision to discontinue 8K TV production last April with the Z9K model. Meanwhile, TCL launched its last 8K TV in 2021. In 2023, the company explained that the reason was the low demand for 8K TVs.

LG was the first and only company to sell 8K OLED TVs, starting with the 88-inch Z9 model in 2019. By 2022, the company had reduced the price of 8K OLED TVs to $7,000 , selling the 76.7-inch model for $13,000 . At one point, the 77-inch LG Z3 even reached a price of around $20,660 in the UK.

Technology companies are all trying to convince consumers about 8K. However, since the 2010s, 4K TVs have maintained the largest market share. In September 2024, research firm Omdia reported nearly one billion 4K TVs in use compared to 1.6 million 8K TVs sold.

Currently, only Samsung continues to produce its own line of 8K TVs. The Samsung QN900D model received a 5-star rating and won the What Hi-Fi? Award in 2024. However, with a launch price of $6,300 , it remains a significant investment.

Many barriers to consumers.

Aside from the exorbitant price, there's almost no compelling native 8K content. Even 4K isn't truly widespread yet, with many streaming, television, and gaming users still primarily relying on 1920x1080 resolution.

Gaming consoles like the PlayStation 5 Pro were initially advertised as supporting 8K, but Sony officially withdrew this commitment in June 2024. Due to bandwidth limitations, the PS5 Pro's output feature is not compatible with some 8K TVs.

Samsung is the only company still producing 8K TVs. Photo: Bloomberg.

Scientists also questioned whether users could distinguish between 4K and 8K. According to the University of Cambridge's screen resolution calculator, the human eye can only take advantage of 8K resolution on a 50-inch screen if sitting at a distance of 1 meter or closer. Similarly, with an 80-inch or 100-inch TV, users also have to sit quite close (about 2–3 meters) for 8K to truly make a difference.

According to Ars Technica , those who can afford next-generation TV technology also tend to be interested in other features such as OLED, HDR support, Micro LED, and quantum dots. Given these barriers, many tech experts predicted early on that 8K would struggle to meet manufacturers' expectations.

Consumers can still buy 8K TVs from Samsung or LG until their stock runs out. The technology could continue to exist for many years for enthusiasts or niche needs, such as head-mounted display glasses. Manufacturers also haven't ruled out the possibility of a product line being revived in the next few years.

The 8K options are shrinking. The 8K Association, founded in 2019 by stakeholders such as Samsung, TCL, Hisense, and panel manufacturer AU Optronics, now lists only 16 companies compared to 33 previously, with only two TV manufacturers (Samsung and Panasonic) among them.

Source: https://znews.vn/that-bai-cua-tv-8k-post1624426.html