It seems that, more and more, many people value the quality of the audiovisual content they reproduce. Now everyone wants to watch our series and movies with the highest possible resolution, good color reproduction and, of course, great sound. We will leave the audio issue for another time but, emphasizing the resolution, the current standard is set at the popular 4K. Of course, probably in a few years this will be replaced by the 8K. Today we tell you everything you need to know about 8K and we review the Smart TV with this resolution that you can already buy .
8K resolution is it worth it now?
First and foremost, what does that 8K mean? Or rather, what does that resolution amount to?
This question may be the most typical that any user may think of. This resolution equates to dimensions (in terms of pixels) of 7680 x 4320 . I mean, 8K resolution would be like having 4 4K TVs together .
All that increase in pixels per inch makes the sharpness that can be displayed on one of these screens is something, at least compared to the current standard, completely spectacular. But of course, as you can imagine, this will happen as long as the content that we reproduce in that panel has that resolution.
Today it is not common to find channels, movies or streaming platforms that reach 8K. But, to solve this, manufacturers that are already commissioning and fattening their catalogs with 8K screens have designed image post-processing algorithms that scale the content, with more or less success .
Is it early to buy an 8K TV?
Then, after having read these words, we have no doubt that you are asking yourself this question.
It is true that there are already many cameras that record content in this resolution such as the Canon EOS R5 and the Sony A1. Or, even, many high-end mobiles already manage to reach 8K with spectacular quality, as is the case in one of our latest analyzes: the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra.
But of course, the problem today is not so much to get a camera that can record in 8K. Not even the financial and graphic resource cost of using such a high resolution. The real downside is the cost of streaming 8K through platforms like Netflix, HBO, Prime Video, or even YouTube.
Therefore, until this resolution is popularized globally, buying an 8K screen should not be one of your priorities. Unless you do it preventively and because, luckily, you have more money.
8K Smart TV you can buy
Now that you know a little more about what will be, in a few years, the standard resolution on the TVs in our homes, it is time for you to know what models you can buy right now.
As we have already mentioned, being a resolution for which mass content is not being produced at the moment, the interest of the public is not a trend right now. This means that the production system does not increase and, therefore, that most models have, at the moment, a fairly high cost. But, still, let’s look at the most popular models from the major 8K TV manufacturers .
Samsung QLED 65Q700T
The first model that may be interesting to you, and one of the most “economical” in this compilation, is the Samsung QLED 65Q700T . It is a model presented in 2020 by the Japanese manufacturer and one of its first TVs to reach 8K resolution.
In addition to this image quality, this QLED panel has Samsung’s Quantum dot technology, Direct Full Array Elite HDR, a brightness of 1,000 nits. And for sound, it incorporates OTS + for a more immersive experience. You can buy this model through Amazon for a price of around 2,000 euros .
Samsung QN900A Neo QLED
On the other hand, if we go to the highest range of 8K screens that this manufacturer has, we find the QN900A Neo QLED , presented this same 2021. We are talking about a QLED panel with new Mini LEDs that create more light and more accurately represent the colors in the image.
This is accompanied by the Neo QLED 8K processor that, through Artificial Intelligence, improves image quality thanks to 16 neural networks with dedicated tasks. In terms of brightness, this panel has 4,000 nits in total. And, of course, to improve the sound, it has OTS Pro. On this occasion, we can find this television in sizes of 65 ”, 75” and 85 ”, which come at a maximum cost of 9,999 euros .
Sony BRAVIA XR MASTER Series Z9J
Turning now to the Smart TVs manufactured by Sony , one of the lowest priced 8K models in their catalog is the BRAVIA XR MASTER Series Z9J . This is available in sizes 75 “and 85”, starting at 6,999 euros .
At the Image level, this television is powered by the XR processor with cognitive intelligence together with the precision of the Full Array LED. All this leaves us images with super deep blacks, a very bright panel and, in short, a beastly image quality. All this accompanied by what Sony calls XR sound, which will leave a precise and immersive sound experience.
Sony MASTER Series ZG9
In the case of the highest range of the Sony catalog , the podium goes to the MASTER Series ZG9 . It is an 8K Full Array LED screen with a contrast up to twenty times higher than that of conventional LED televisions. It also incorporates X-Reality PRO, so that the images that we reproduce in it are converted to a quality closer to 8K.
In short, as you can imagine in the case of one of Sony’s highest ranges, this is a television that looks spectacularly good, with good viewing angles and cinema sound … Of course, all that technology has to be paid for. The best 8K TV from the manufacturer so far is available in 85 “and 98” models, reaching a maximum price of 79,999 euros .
LG 8K NanoCell
The manufacturer LG also has a lot to say when it comes to televisions. One of its lower-priced 8K displays is from the well-known NanoCell range , which is available in 55 ”, 65” and 75 ”, starting at 1,369 euros .
A Full Array display, compatible with HDR formats (HDR Dolby Vision IQ, HDR 10 Pro, HLG Pro, HDR Effect, HDR GiG), AI Sound Pro & DOLBY ATMOS sound processor and 4th generation α9 image processor.
LG SIGNATURE 8K
But, if what you want to know is the top 8K product range of this manufacturer, your model is the LG SIGNATURE 8K . An OLED display with the same 4th generation α9 Intelligent processor, supporting Dolby Vision HDR and DOLBY ATMOS.
We can find it in 77 “and 88” models, reaching a maximum price of 23,000 euros .