What are 8K TVs?
8K TV resolution is the latest innovation in high performance TV viewing. But what does 8K mean, and what’s the difference between 8K and other TV resolutions?
What is 8K resolution?
And what does 8K mean?
Advancements in TV resolution have boomed in the past few years, with a new benchmark of picture quality being raised every few years. Think of the relatively short time span it's been from the advent of Full HD to the latest 8K resolution.
But what does 8K mean, exactly? 8K TVs are the highest resolution TV that have been released recently among UHD (ultra high definition) TVs. These TVs excel when it comes to picture clarity and sharpness as the highest resolution available today.
But how much better is 8K than 4K? Well, with four times more pixels than a 4K TV, 8K TVs show a sharper and more detailed picture quality. This is because in 8K TVs pixels are so small they cannot be distinguished—even from close up, making highly detailed images a reality.
With a total of 33 million pixels, 8K TVs have a screen with 7,680 horizontal and 4,320 vertical pixels. The "K" in 8K stands for Kilo (1000). An 8K TV has approximate 8000 horizontal lines (7680 to be exact). 8K is commonly expressed as 7680 x 4320 resolution.
In fact, 8K resolution is so defined that watching a sports match can even feel like you’re right there in the stadium watching your favorite team.
Get into the game with a big screen TV
Bring the stadium experience into your home with our largest and brightest Samsung Neo QLED TVs available. Our 85" class Samsung Neo QLED 8K TVs show your sports as they were meant to be seen, with every pass and tumble as clear as day on your big screen TV.
How much better is 8K than 4K?
Yes, 8K is technically better than 4K when it comes to resolution. Essentially, the higher number of pixels means that they’re packed in more tightly, resulting in what is known as a high PPI—or Pixels Per Inch. In fact, 8K has:
• Four times as many pixels as 4K TV
• Over 16 times more pixels than a Full HD (FHD or 1080p) TV
As a result of this much higher definition than you get on other TV screens of the same size, with 8K you’ll get a much sharper and more detailed picture than lower definition TVs. For comparison, Full HD has a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, 4K has a 3840 x 2160 resolution, while 8K has a staggering 7680 × 4320 resolution.
With that said, whether an 8K TV is better for you as an individual depends on a few factors. For example, 8K TVs cost more than a 4K TVs—so the latter might be more suitable for you if you have a smaller budget.
Learn more about what 4K is and 4K resolution in our helpful article.
Can the human eye see the difference between 8K and 4K?
Yes, the human eye can tell the difference between 4K and 8K resolution. Depending on your vision, you might be able to distinguish between the two from a distance, but you’ll also likely be able to tell when you’re relatively close to the screen—for example, if the TV is in a small-ish room such as a living room.
However, that’s not to say that you don’t feel all of the benefits of the 8K resolution without noticing. The image can feel hyper-real, even if you’re not able to identify what resolution is 8K or what TVs are 8K with absolute certainty.
Read on to learn more about the difference between 4K and 8K TV.
What is the best TV resolution?
8K is currently the best TV resolution. However, as technology
evolves, even higher resolutions than 8K will likely come to market, as well as more options of what you can watch in 8K. For now, 8K is technically the highest you’ll find that you can buy for your home. To compare the differences between the resolutions:
• 8K UHD (Ultra HD) — 7680 pixels x 4320 pixels
• 4K UHD (Ultra HD) — 3840 pixels x 2160 pixels
• 1080p/FHD (Full HD) — 1920 pixels x 1080 pixels
• 720p/HD (High Definition) — 1280 pixels x 720 pixels
Are 8K TVs worth buying?
8K TVs are worth buying if you’re looking to buy a TV with the highest resolution available. Because 8K TVs are still new to the technology market, they are made to produce the best resolution that money can buy. So if you're wondering whether 8K is the best, the simple answer is yes. But there are a few considerations you might want to think about, including the question of what 8K content is available.
What can you watch in 8K?
If you're wondering what 8K content is available right now, the answer is not much—yet. Since 8K is a relatively new technology, there isn’t an overabundance of 8K content available to stream. However, 8K TVs do make use of what is known as “upscaling,” wherein the TV takes content in a lower definition and adjusts the quality to provide a full 8K cinematic viewing experience.
With that said, Vimeo and YouTube are leading the way when it comes to production of 8K content, so if you’re using either streaming platform on your TV, it won’t need to use upscaling tech to match the quality of your TV.
What is the best 8K TV?
Samsung offers an 8K TV that deliver an unrivalled viewing experience in staggering 7680 x 4320 resolution. Our top-of-line Samsung Neo QLED 8K HDR Smart TV offers a slim, minimal design and a truly exceptional picture quality.
Alongside the latest in Samsung Neo QLED technology, Samsung TVs also offer Dynamic contrast (HDR10+) to further enhance the image for better color saturation and more balanced brightness, resulting in a better contrast ratio and viewing experience.*
Available in 65" up to 85"
Samsung Neo QLED 8K—QN900B
Experience our best picture yet with the ultra-premium Samsung Neo QLED 8K Infinity Screen.
Available in 65" up to 85"
Samsung Neo QLED 8K—QN800B
Bring your favorite content to life in 8K with the Samsung Neo QLED 8K Neural Quantum Processor.
Available in 55" up to 75"
Samsung Neo QLED 8K—QN700B
Brilliant details shine even in daylight with ultra-precise Quantum Mini LEDs.
Discover Samsung's best 8K TVs
Frequently Asked Questions
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Is 8K TV good for gaming on PS5 and Xbox Series X?At present, neither console currently offer games that automatically render in 8K. Similar to streaming TV shows or movies, just because the games consoles don't render in 8K, doesn’t mean you lose the incredible definition on your gaming TV. Both use what is known as dynamic resolution scaling to adjust the quality so that you can be sure you’re having your best gaming experience.
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Should I buy a 4K or 8K TV?The decision of whether you should buy an 8K or a 4K TV really depends on your budget. With 8K TVs likely to become more and more popular over the years, the chances are the price will eventually lower. However, when you weigh this up against buying a 4K TV now and wanting to upgrade in the future when more 8K content becomes available, then buying one now might mean you’re future-proofing your purchase. Additional benefits of Samsung 8K TVs include increased picture clarity and sharpness, heightened HDR and contrast, 8K upscaling and 100% Color Volume.
Get more answers to your TV buying questions:
*HDR10+ signal required to decode and display.