Currently, the most common resolution in the TV market is 4K Full HD. However, we see more and more models 8K TVs appearing there. But how much better is 8K compared to other models? Is it worth investing in a lineup with this resolution already – which basically costs twice as much as a 4K TV of the same size – or is it better to wait a little longer?

The fact is that the demand for TVs has increased, more relevant, larger and better in the picture. And this market demand is driving brands to promote launches and top-notch technologies that are often out of date because they are too expensive for the average consumer.

In any case, large-screen TVs and monitors rely on colorful images, high brightness and good contrast, as well as 4K resolution. Then, what are the benefits of 8K TV?

Should you buy 8K TVs?

The main difference, as the name suggests, is that 8K is a higher resolution than 4K and that’s about it. In fact, 8K has 4 times the resolution of 4K.. At 4K we have 3840 x 2160 pixels (8,294,400 pixels in total). Already at 8K it’s 7680 x 4320 pixels (33,177,600 pixels in total). In comparison, 1080p screens are 1920 by 1080 pixels. In short, an 8K image is much sharper than a 4K one, as more pixels share the space on the screen.

Comparison of the number of pixels present in Smart TV resolutions. Image: PCMag/Playback

I also think it’s worth talking about HDR, a term that pops up all the time on TV specs, especially the latest ones.

ABOUT HDR (high dynamic range or high dynamic range in Portuguese) and HAPPY BIRTHDAY (Standard Dynamic Range or Standard Dynamic Range in Portuguese) are an integral part of TVs and HDR is a new generation standard because it defines what each of those pixels shows. Each pixel is assigned values ​​that determine the brightness of its red, green, and blue (and sometimes white) sub-pixels, which form the color and light of that pixel, more precisely, its hue and brightness, respectively.

Comparison of SDR and HDR technologies, focusing on shadows and highlights. Image: leak/replay

HDR takes advantage of LCD and OLED screens by using a much wider range of light and color values ​​with more steps in between than SDR TVs. In a nutshell, resolution (be it 4K or 8K) determines the number of pixels on a screen, while SDR/HDR determines what each pixel does. Almost all HDR content is 4K, but not all 4K content is HDR.

This logic extends to 8K as well. 8K content can be HDR or SDR, with more limited per-pixel values ​​in the latter. It is clear that most of the 8K content will be available in HDR, as we are talking about newer and more advanced technologies.

8K Content: Do you already have something to watch?

Speaking of quality content, we need to talk about… content. For now, still not much to consume in 8K, be it movies, series, games, or even YouTube demos to play on your TV. Some studios and production companies are already considering 8K production, but even so, it’s still scarce. It is expected that soon (or in a few years) the more varied content of this resolution will reach the general public.

There are a few 8K videos on YouTube, for example, but they’re usually demo media—the ones that keep playing on TVs in stores, you know? Streaming services like Netflix, Prime Video and HBO Max, for example, still don’t have this quality of product.

Even though YouTube channels offer 8K content, the platform can affect the “purity” of video quality. Video: 8K VIDEOS ULTRA HD/Playback

We’re making a reservation with Prime Video, which has partnered to release an 8K demo of Rings of Power for showing on Samsung TVs, but it’s not the full episode or anything, so we’re not even reviewing it. as consumption of “content”. In the same vein, Globoplay also showed a chapter of the soap opera Pantanal in 8K, but the content was shown only on some Samsung TV models, and to showcase the screen quality of the brand’s new TVs.

As for gaming, 8K quality should take even longer. This is because these are the latest games in 4K or with upscale in this resolution. Games are harder because it depends not only on the TV’s screen capacity, but also on the game’s own rendering and the TV’s graphics processing power – if the computer is already suffering from 4K gaming, imagine a regular TV.

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What do you need for 8K?

In addition to the 8K display, obviously you need high video input speed on the screen. That’s four times as many pixels, and each contains more information than the pixels on a 4K TV. This means that 8K video takes up most of the bandwidth, and we’re not just talking about the Internet. 8K requires (at least) HDMI 2.1 connection for cables and home theater devices if they are connected to the TV. This ensures that the connection can meet the requirements needed to stream 8K content.

HDMI 2.1 is a relatively new standard for high quality 4K and 8K content. With a maximum bandwidth of 48Gbps (three times that of the HDMI 2.0 standard at 18Gbps), it supports uncompressed video in 4K 120fps and 8K 60fps. The lower the bandwidth of the connection, the lower the resolution and frame rate of the video that you can transfer over it, and the more compressed the video must be, which reduces the image detail.

Why do you need an 8K TV? We tested one

Although 8K TVs outperform them in terms of the number of pixels on the screen, this difference is not as important to the human eye depending on the conditions in which you watch the TV, such as distance from the screen and the type of content consumed. The fact is that these new TVs use not only resolution, but also other types of technologies, so we took the opportunity to test Samsung’s 8K model and share our opinion in this article.

The highlight of the Samsung TV line-up, introduced at the end of 2022, are TVs Neo QLED 8K QN800B This QN900Bthe latter being the top model.
But here in the editorial we got 65″ QN800B for testing – and you can watch our video review below:

The model has a miniled screen, which is an evolution of LED as we know it, but it still lags a bit behind the quality of OLED screens. Mini LEDs, as the name suggests, are ultra-small LEDs that have better control over lighting areas on the screen. The smaller it is, the more accurate it is and the more contrast and true black level the TV can show.

In addition to ultra-high resolution, this TV’s new intelligent processor can reproduce approximately 16,384 shades from the most intense blacks to the brightest whites – all due to over 33 million pixels on a 65″ screen. The depth function (available on the QN900B and QN800B) differentiates the background from visible objects.

This model is capable of scaling with artificial intelligence (AI) from Neural quantum processor 8K. According to Samsung, the new processing intelligence and 14-bit display make the Neo QLED 8K capable of producing four times as many shades between the deepest blacks and brightest whites.

QN800B 120Hz 8K Panel Certified by 8K Association. Image: Samsung/Disclosure

In addition to image quality, above average sound system, with 8 speakers (4 on each side of the rear). powerful sound in 4.2.2 channels have 70W RMS power. and it can combine all its power with the soundbar to create even more immersive experiences – this sound mixing option is also available on other Samsung TVs.

Other interesting features of this TV include the Neo Slim design for an ultra-slim chassis and One connection for cable management. We must also not forget that it has a standard Dolby Atmos along with Sound and Motion and Sound Sync. Finally, Brazilian consumers also have access to NFTs through a partnership with Nifty Gateway. almost 6 thousand digital works from 400 artists around the world to buy and display on the Neo QLED 8K as if they were paintings or works of art.

So what do we think of the 65″ QN800B:

Strengths:

• 8K resolution with beautiful images;
• Fast and optimized Tizen 2022 system;
• Game center and cloud games;
• The microphone can be muted on the TV for privacy;
• Design;
• The sound is above average 4.2.2 channels.

Negative points:

• Lack of 8K content and games;
• Expensive price.

Conclusion

You may be the type of consumer who buys 4K TVs as soon as models hit stores. So, if you’re an enthusiast, you don’t have a budget and you’re always looking for be at the forefront of technology, switching to 8K TV in 2023 makes sense for you.

But maybe you’ve recently upgraded to a 4K TV. Or, who knows, you still have a 1080p TV. In this case, UHD or 4K resolution still provides an impressive image with a wide range of content to consume.

In addition to far exceeding the purchasing power of the average Brazilian (and we’re talking about paying an average of BRL 12,000 for a TV.), it doesn’t make much sense to have a TV with almost no content at that resolution, does it? Wait a little!

8K is sure to come in the future, and until then, smart TV technologies will continue to evolve – who knows, in a few years, today’s 8K TVs will become obsolete in terms of hardware (processor) and software (resources and technology). In addition, even if today’s top models bring powerful sound, this is not justified – after all, it is better to buy a 4K TV and invest in a good soundbar add to the sound.

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Source: PCMag