When a new technology comes out, it takes a while for a lot of people to start using it and for your market to start moving. So it was with televisions and their programs full HD and after, 4K. And despite 8K Ultra HD being a “natural” evolution, it takes longer than expected to become popular. The main reason is the lack of what to watch in resolution since its support is still cut and there is only one channel that uses it in its show: the Japanese broadcaster NHK.

According to a study carried out Om Daymarket research company, interest in 8K TVs has fallen and is expected to continue to fall. In 2021, the category accounted for only 0.15% of device sales in 2021. Of these, Samsung accounted for 65%, which also had drop in sales compared to previous years.

These figures have resulted in a significant reduction in the projected number of 8K TVs in homes around the world by 2026. According to Omdia, the current forecast is that they will reach 2.7 million homes – the previous forecast said there would be 9 million.

In addition to being the only channel broadcasting in 8K, NHK has very little resolution content available outside of Japan. Even in an Asian country, consumers have little interest in televisions with affordable technology.

Evolution of 4K and little use in streaming is hurting 8K

The little interest can also be attributed to the evolution of native 4K capabilities. Today, customers are paying less for devices with OLED panels that deliver accurate HDR and higher brightness. In addition, the new TVs also support variable refresh rates and low latency gaming mode. That is, in 4K, new features appear that make the upgrade unnecessary for many.

And aside from “physical” technology and broadcasters that broadcast in 8K, resolution has no effect on the world of streaming, which is considered one of the main markets. Netflix, the biggest platform in the field, is still trying to anchor 4K in its products and hasn’t fully embraced it yet. This makes full 8K support a distant reality.

…..

Are you thinking about buying a product online? Discover the Save the Connected World extension for Google Chrome. It’s free and offers you price comparisons at major stores and coupons so you can always buy at the best price. Download now.

Source: ExtremeTech