The TV industry finally concedes that the future may not be in 8K

Technology companies spent part of the 2010s convincing us that we would one day want 8K displays.

In 2012, Sharp brought the first 8K TV prototype to the CES trade show in Las Vegas. In 2015, the first 8K TVs began selling in Japan for 16 million yen (about $133,034 at the time), and in 2018, Samsung released the first 8K TVs in the US, starting at a more reasonable $3,500. By 2016, the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) had a specification to support 8K (Display Port 1.4), and the HDMI Forum also followed suit (with HDMI 2.1). As of 2017, Dell has an 8K computer monitor. In 2019, LG released the first 8K OLED TV, furthering the industry’s claim that 8K TV is “the future”.

However, 8K never proved its necessity or practicality.

TV companies are abandoning 8K

FlatpanelHD reports today that LG Display is no longer making 8K LCD or OLED panels. Earlier this month, an LG Display representative told FlatpanelsHD that the panel supplier is “taking a comprehensive view of current display market trends and trends in the 8K content ecosystem.”

An LG Display representative said, “Since our technical preparation is already complete, LG Display is fully prepared to respond immediately whenever the market and customers decide the time is right.”

LG Electronics was the first and only company to sell 8K OLED TVs, starting with the 88-inch Z9 in 2019. In 2022, it lowered the entry price of 8K OLED TVs by $7,000 by charging $13,000 for a 76.7-inch TV.

FlatpanelsHD, citing anonymous sources, said that LG Electronics will no longer restock the 2024 QNED99T, which is the last LCD 8K TV it released.

LG’s 8K abandonment follows other brands moving away from 8K. TCL, which released its last 8K TV in 2021, said in 2023 that it won’t be making more 8K TVs due to low demand. Sony discontinued its last 8K TV in April and is unlikely to return to the market as it plans to sell majority ownership of its Bravia TVs to TCL.