You’ve probably heard of 8K. A clearer picture than ever before. A deeper colour palette. Sports, films and games all getting a big glow up. But what’s the fuss?
Jargon buster…
8K - with a sky-high resolution of 7680 x 4320 pixels, or around 33 million in total
4K - with a relatively tiny resolution of 3840 x 2160 and just 8.3 million pixels - 8K is a clear step up
K - stands for kilo (1000). The full 4K/8K name comes from the approximate number of horizontal pixels
PPI - pixels per square inch. With more pixels packed tightly together on 8K TVs, you'll notice a far higher definition image
UHD - ultra-high definition. A display format covering 8K and 4K TVs, which share a 16:9 aspect ratio and minimum pixel resolution
FPS - frames per second. The speed which frames - or pictures that make up a game or film - appear on your screen. A higher frame rate (60 FPS) is better than a lower one (30 FPS)
Is 8K better than 4K?
8K is the highest resolution kind of ultra-high definition (UHD) TV available to buy right now. With miniscule pixels that can’t be seen individually by the naked eye, the picture is seriously sharp and bold - with incredible detail on show, no matter what you’re watching.
But can you really see a visible difference between 4K and 8K I hear you scream? Put simply - yes. Side-by-side, especially close up, you’ll see brighter, more defined colours, with far more clarity to boot.
The majority of 8K TVs don’t come smaller than 50 inches though, as it’s much harder to pick out the crisp new details on a small screen - so make sure you’ve got enough space for one!
What kind of 8K content is available?
Here’s some of the 8K content you can get your eyes on right now:
Sport
Serious about your sport? Want to feel the buzz of the stadium and the roar of the crowd without leaving the comfort of your front room? Watching your team in 8K is the best seat in the house.
For you footy fanatics, BT Sport and Samsung recently joined forces to broadcast matches from the Champions League and Premier League. The latest Olympics also covered 8 major events (plus the opening and closing ceremonies) in eye-popping 8K. Now the bar’s been set, this’ll probably continue at Paris 2024. Sporting glory never looked this great until now.
Streaming
While YouTube and Vimeo are the frontrunners in the world of 8K streaming, heavyweights like Netflix and Amazon Prime haven’t announced any plans yet for 8K content.
Fret not though. Your fave films and shows will still sizzle onscreen. Through intuitive ‘upscaling’ – where your TV takes lower definition content and bumps up the quality for immersive 8K viewing – you’ll be able to binge the latest boxsets in style.
Gaming
The Xbox Series X and PS5 don’t currently have many games you can play in true 8K. Both brands have said they’re committed to making it possible for their stack of blockbuster titles going forward though. So if you’re a serious gamer and you want to future-proof your tech, an 8K TV is going to be a good investment.
That doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of 8K TVs for gaming right now. Even if the consoles don’t offer 8K performance, ‘dynamic resolution scaling’ – which adjusts the picture quality automatically – means you’ll still experience amazing definition while you vanquish your enemies.
And what’s more, the best 8K TVs support smooth 4K 120 FPS (frames per second) playback. Some models from Samsung and LG also have user interfaces and built-in optimisation designed especially for gaming. If you ask us, it’s a real no brainer to level-up your living room.
Who makes 8K TVs?
Sony, Samsung and LG all make 8K TVs. If you’re thinking about an upgrade, you’re in good hands.
Unleash your inner Neo and enter the Quantum Matrix – cutting-edge TV tech delivering Samsung’s finest picture – with their Smart 8K HDR Neo QLED TV. Or, if you’re more of an LG fan, the Smart 8K Ultra HD HDR QNED TV combines smart NanoCell colour tech and a MiniLED panel for precise, clear imagery no matter the medium. Life really is good.
Is a 4K TV still worth buying?
Yes, definitely.
4K Ultra HD is now the dominant type of TV. With widespread 4K support for streaming, gaming and sports, you won’t be at a loose end when looking for some excellent entertainment to get stuck into.
It’s worth mentioning the price too. As technology becomes more widely available, the cost usually drops to match demand. Because of this, 4K TVs are cheaper than their 8K counterparts. But like anything tech-related, 8K will likely become more and more accessible as time goes on.
If you’re still not sure whether an 8K TV is right for you, head over to ShopLive. Our in-store experts will be able to answer all of your questions and offer some great advice on all things 8K.
