What is the definition of 8K resolution?

 

And are 8K resolution displays truly worth the investment?

What is the definition of 8K resolution? This cutting-edge image technology, which boasts four times the pixels (and thus the detail) of a standard 4K display, is gaining traction. You'll find premium 8K TV ranges from manufacturers such as TCL, Samsung, and LG pushing the technology – but is it really worth all the hype?

Thus far in 2021, we've seen more screens with an 8K resolution than ever before. Over the last year, the number of 8K models has tripled, and 8K projectors have begun to enter the fray.

8K resolution is frequently used in conjunction with other premium formats and technologies. It's frequently found in new Samsung TVs with QLED panels, and in a few cases with OLED panels. However, the day is rapidly approaching when 8K will be more of a mid-tier proposition than it is right now – as evidenced by the constant decline in prices.

What does 8K really mean for those interested in the high-resolution technology of the future? And does it provide a noticeable upgrade over existing television screens? Continue reading to learn everything you need to know.

What is the definition of 8K resolution?

8K is the most detailed image you're ever likely to see. It boasts four times the resolution of 4K images, measuring 7680x4320 pixels for a total of 33,177,600 pixels.

They are so small in a 65-inch screen that you cannot even see the pixel structure – despite the fact that many 8K TVs are much, much larger. Anyone interested in 85-inch televisions?

Why is it referred to as 8K?

The specification is referred to as 8K because the images are approximately 8,000 pixels wide, give or take a few hundred, but the specification also falls under the umbrella term Ultra HD, which is why some people refer to it as Ultra HD 8K. Others continue to refer to it as 8K Super Hi-Vision, including NHK – Japan's largest public broadcaster – which invented it in 2000 and trademarked it in 2012.

 

Do we really require 8K televisions at this point?

Is there more than one type of 8K?

LG has released a range of 8K televisions a year after they were first announced (we'll cover those later), but what's interesting is LG claims competitors' 8K offerings do not deliver the same experience as LG's true 8K.

So what is this "real 8K" thing all about? LG, on the other hand, is citing the Information Display Measurements Standard (IDMS) for pixel differentiation, arguing that 8K TVs should be defined not just by their pixel count (7,680 x 4,320), but also by the TV panel's ability to differentiate / contrast between those pixels. If the brightness or colors of those tiny self-emissive dots begin to blend, there is little point in having so many.

LG claims that its new 8K televisions achieve this Contrast Modulation (CM) "in the 90% range," resulting in what it refers to as "true 8K." (The IDMS standard requires only 25% for images and 50% for text.)

These claims come just one day after the 8K Association, an organization dedicated to promoting the adoption and development of 8K, announced its own standard for 8K televisions. Members include Samsung, Panasonic, Hisense, and TCL – but not LG. It's mostly common sense, such as HDMI 2.1 ports, sufficient frame rates, 8K resolution, and a minimum peak brightness of 600 nits, but there's no mention of LG's Contrast Modulation measurement.