8K TVs: The Future That Fizzled Out?

The ambitious push for 8K televisions, which began in the early 2010s, appears to be winding down as major manufacturers step away from the technology. LG Display has ceased producing 8K LCD and OLED panels, citing market trends and the slow development of the 8K content ecosystem. LG Electronics, previously the sole seller of 8K OLED TVs, is reportedly phasing out its last 8K LCD model. This follows similar decisions by TCL, which cited low demand, and Sony, which discontinued its 8K TVs and is selling its Bravia TV division to TCL. The industry's earlier optimism for 8K has been overshadowed by the widespread adoption of 4K, with nearly one billion 4K TVs currently in use as of September 2024. In contrast, only 1.6 million 8K TVs had been sold globally since 2015, with sales peaking in 2022. The 8K Association, founded in 2019 to promote the technology, has seen its membership significantly decrease. A primary reason for 8K's failure to gain traction is the persistent lack of native 8K content, making the expensive displays impractical for consumers. Even gaming, which was expected to drive adoption, has faced hurdles, with the PS5 Pro rescinding its 8K marketing claims due to technical limitations. Scientific research also suggests that the human eye can only discern 8K resolution under very specific viewing conditions, such as proximity to the screen, questioning the necessity of the upgrade for most users.