4K technology has been around for many years and offers some of the best TV quality on the market. We have seen a significant increase in 4K amongst the streaming platforms and within live TV production, which has made our favourite TV shows and movies more gripping than ever before. However, just as we are settling into our new 4K content, a new, even higher definition is being advertised, promising the best definition of TV yet – The 8K TV!
As an expert in cheap TVs, we are always excited about new technology, and today we will be exploring what exactly makes 8K something to be looking for when buying your new device.
What Is 8K?
Ok, so we know that 8K isn’t exactly new. In fact, it has been around for at least ten years, with the first 8K use of technology being used in 2012 at electronic shows with Sharp’s first 8K TV and screenings of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. However, these TVs didn’t immensely gain the traction they deserved. And why, you ask? Well, mainly due to the lack of available content, which we will go into later.
8K is the current highest ultra high definition television (or UHDTV), with a staggering horizontal resolution of 8000 pixels, or 7680 x 4320 in dimension, providing excellent detail in TV displays. 8K is the latest development in ultra-high-definition television with a resolution four times higher than standard HD.
What Does 8K Mean?
For someone who doesn’t need glasses to improve their vision, an 8K TV will be close to perfect for their visual system offering life-like experiences almost 3D in nature within film and TV. In terms of hardware, for producing 8K content, a graphic driver or card will need to be six times more powerful than one able to deliver 4K.
A stunning 8K TV offers 48 million pixels to fill the human eye. Anything higher than this, our eyes wouldn’t be able to perceive any more details, which could mean that 16k or 32k resolutions may not be feasible. However, that hasn’t stopped Samsung from attempting to develop an 11K screen for mobiles.
Disadvantages of 8K
Although you can buy many 8K TVs, you may question whether they are worth it. After all, they come with a few flaws, which may put you off.
As mentioned, these TVs’ popularity is not yet great due to their lack of mass-produced content, with 4K still being the current standard for most new films. Currently, only two streaming services offer 8K, Youtube and Vimeo. The likes of Netflix, Disney+ and Prime Video are still developing their content with 4K capabilities and, therefore, could still be some time off providing 8K content. Even the 4K content on these sites is limited to high subscription prices or only a select number of films and shows.
This lack of content is due to the pricey technology required to shoot 8K resolution content. In addition, the two streaming platforms that can offer it have no way to filter search, so the chances of coming across a channel with 8K are very slim. Most 8K videos on these platforms are short films, often showcasing natural landscapes or travel experiences. So, whilst they are out there, it still feels like 8K is in the demo stages of TV production and perhaps not worth investing hundreds of pounds to buy a TV to accommodate.
Finally, the price range of 8K TVs is significantly more than that of high definition and 4Ks. For example, if you buy a Samsung Neo QLED smart TV in 4K direct from the manufacturer, you would be paying around £1099 for a 55-inch. For the exact same TV, but in 8K, you would expect to pay closer to £1999. This significant difference is another reason why 8K TVs yet are possible not the most favourable option.
The Advantages of 8K
Despite the current flaws of the 8K TV, there are some benefits to buying an 8K TV if you can find the content to go with it. Although it is a very niche production format, several big films have been shot in 8K, and many companies, such as BT Sport, have been testing 8K Premier League broadcasts but are yet to perfect it. However, this indicates that although it appears to be quiet on the 8K front, little things are progressing. So, 8K is coming, but it’s all about when.
In addition, as more homeowners look to buy a bigger display for their homes, 8K can offer the best picture compared to other devices. A resolution of 8K is most beneficial to large screens since it’s capable of producing IMAX-like content. Televisions with 8K specifications will also present several benefits. For example, 8K UHDTV will support three-dimensional 22.2 surround sound, compared to the current 5.1 and 7.1 (five and seven speakers, respectively).
The viewing experience will also be much more life-like than with 4K. An 8K TV will have the added benefit of a 100 degrees horizontal viewing angle, considered the best display setting so far. Whereas a 4K only has a 55-degree angle at most.
Also, if it’s the price you see as the biggest obstacle in purchasing an 8K TV, why not look through our cheap smart TV range? We often update our stock and could have a cheap 8K TV ready to purchase today!
Should You Buy an 8K TV?
As we have mentioned, although the technology to watch 8K is very much here, the film and broadcasting industry is still yet to catch up. How long this will take is unclear, but if you only buy a TV every few decades, an 8K tv can be a reasonable purchase as many content creators begin the testing phase.
If you buy a new TV every few years, you may be considering picking up a cheap 4K TV. However, the main benefit of many of the 8K TVs you can purchase is their 8K upscaling. Using AI technology, your TTV can provide additional data, which offers 4K as near to 8K quality as possible. So, if you are looking for a great TV for movies, then the clever technology within the likes of our cheap Samsung TVs can provide this.
So, whether we have convinced you to buy an 8K TV or you would prefer to explore the great technologies offered by a cheap 4k TV, buy it from us online today. We offer some of the best prices, and most of our TVs have been manufactured within the last few years to provide some of the latest technologies.
