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Is 8K Really Worth It?
4K is the current definition of a high-end TV in terms of popularity. But we’re starting to see 8K brought into the conversation. What does this upgrade bring, and is 8K worth it?
While some people are still wondering what a 4K TV experience looks like, 8K has already arrived as the next big leap in the TV industry. 8K features double the resolution and not twice, but four times the pixels of a high-end 4K TV. If you are wondering whether you should get your hands on this new technology or wait it out, then this article is for you.
Is 8K worth it? Is 8K far better than 4K? Should I get an 8K TV now? All of these questions will be answered to help you make the right choice. If you want to know more about 8K and what it brings to the table, you’ll find this read very helpful.
What is an 8K TV?
An 8K TV is a high-end television that offers a resolution of 7680 x 4320. This cutting-edge technology offers a whopping 33,177,600 pixels. With the resolution and pixel density that 8K televisions have, they can offer you way better detail and clarity than your conventional HD TV.
To put this into perspective, this has four times more pixels than a 4K TV and 16 times more than an FHD 1080p TV. A 1080p screen has a resolution of 1920×1080. A 4K screen has twice that with 3840 x 2160 resolution. With its 76804320 resolution, 8K has more than doubled that number, and it also has four times the number of pixels as your 4K screen.
Imagine playing 16 full-resolution 1080p videos simultaneously on one 8K screen without losing any quality. No one would actually do that, but that’s how powerful an 8K screen is.
As expected, this innovation comes with extremely stunning details and sharpness. It currently stands as the highest resolution for TVs that you can bring into your living room. And of course, you can also expect prices to be “clearly” higher than 4K TVs.
How much is an 8K TV?
Of course, this big jump will cost more than 4K TVs, which are already considered expensive by most people. With the level of detail, clarity, resolution, pixel density, and cost of production, we can expect 8K screens to be a few thousand dollars in price.
The cheapest 8K TV we can find is the 65-inch model from TCL, the TCL 6-Series 8K Roku TV, which comes in at $2,199. This is as low as you can get for 8K screens as of now. The average price for 65-inch 8K TVs is around $3000. So yes, this technology is currently very expensive and might stay that way for a while.
Is 8K worth it?
Here comes the big question. Is 8K worth it? If you have a ton of extra cash to burn, then definitely yes. But if you’re like most people who consider their budget when it comes to purchases like this, then the short answer to this question is no, not currently.
It’s undeniable that 8K offers awesome specs and stunning quality. This is definitely a huge upgrade for a TV. But given its current pricing and a number of other factors, here are the reasons why we think 8K is not worth it as of now and why you shouldn’t rush into buying one.
Lack of 8K content
Without 8K content to consume, an 8K TV is pretty much just as good as a 4K TV with a thousand dollars more under its name. TV companies are proudly introducing different gimmicks and sauces to up their 8K game. However, in order to fully enjoy 8K to its full capabilities, your content should be in 8K as well.
Because 8K TVs are pretty expensive, it’s also a given that gear for recording and producing 8K content has towering prices as well. 8K-capable cameras and PCs used for editing are still expensive to buy or rent. 4K is the high-end standard in video consumption and production, so 8K would be just overkill right now.
Even 4K video is very limited in broadcast, cable, and satellite services. Except for BBC/NHK test broadcasts, we won’t be seeing any 8K content on air soon.
The high bandwidth speed requirement
If you have tried streaming 4K content, then you already know that these ultra-high-definition videos take up a lot of bandwidth. It’s also natural that streaming 8K content will be more demanding on your internet connection.
4K streaming companies suggest you have at least 20 Mbps when watching their videos. Now, this doesn’t mean that since 8K has four times more pixels than 4K, you would also need four times the speed. But you can be certain that you’ll need an internet speed of at least 40 to 50 Mbps.
If you’re blessed enough to have that internet speed, then 8K streaming shouldn’t be much of a hassle. But most people don’t, as of now.
Gaming consoles don’t support 8K Yet
If you’re looking for a more immersive gaming experience and you think that 8K is the answer, well, you are yet to be right. The PS5 and Xbox One X are both 8K-capable consoles. They were made while considering advancements 10 years from now. However, both Sony and Microsoft consoles are yet to be 8K-enabled. 4K is still the go-to choice when it comes to gaming.
If not now, when?
Currently, 8K is a powerful piece of technology that cannot be fully utilized in the typical household. As a result, it’s not worth it to jump on the bandwagon of upgrading to new technology as soon as it becomes available. For now, at least.
Just like 4K, we expect 8K to be more mainstream in the future. But as long as there isn’t sufficient content for it to be relevant, 8K is not worth it. We’ll see in about two years when prices have dropped and there is more media and content that can really put 8K to good use.
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