FAQs
Yes, 8K TVs and projectors with a high-speed HDMI 2.1 interface can allow 8K at 60 frames per second delivery.
To pass 8K signals at 60 frames per second or 4K signals at 120 frames per second from an external device you will need an Ultra-High-Speed HDMI cable. Look for Certified versions of this cable as this means they will have been tested to be sure they will work properly. HDMI 2.0 cables will support 8K at up to 30 frames per second.
Playback of 8K content from a hard drive or USB memory stick may be possible, but it depends on the type of USB port. USB-A ports are not fast enough for 8K content. USB-C ports can support may support playback of 8K content at up to 30 frames per second (if the memory stick or hard drive support DisplayPort 1.2a in the Alt. mode). Since is it unlikely the 8K TV or projector has a USB-C connector, a dongle to convert the output of the USB-C connector to HDMI 2.0 is needed.
Yes. Hard drives with HDMI 2.0 interfaces can support 8K at up to 30 frames per second (fps). Hard drives with an HDMI 2.1 interface can support 8K at 60 fps. Hard drives with USB-C should use a dongle to convert to HDMI. Hard drives with a USB-A connector are not fast enough for 8K signals.
Newer Wi-Fi protocols such as Wi-fi 6 and Wi-fi 7 offer maximum data throughput rates in the ‘hundreds of Mbps’ range, but actual performance will tend to vary according to the environment and the distance from the Wi-fi access point. Stream capacity of around four times the video rate is usually required for smooth viewing, so a 100 Mbps bit rate 8K HEVC file would need around 400 Mbps for smooth viewing. Newer codecs such as VVC are moving the needed bitrate down to around 40-60 Mbps, meaning a desired connectivity rate of around 250Mbps.
PCs may offer outputs over an HDMI, DisplayPort, ThunderBolt or USB-C connector. 8K TVs and projectors typically only have HDMI input ports. HDMI 2.0 is supported today in PCs, allowing 8K at up to 30 fps. To receive 8K at 60 frames per second, PCs will need to offer an HDMI port with HDMI 2.1 capability.
Sony’s Playstation Pro games console supports 8K TVs in some games. However, other 8K TVs will use upscaling to deliver a better visual experience even when being driven at 4K by games consoles.
The Blu-ray Disc Association has an 8K Recordable specification specifically for the Japan market, but there are no known further plans for 8K at this time.
Yes. These have been the vehicles for the adoption of 4K and we expect this to also be the case for 8K adoption. YouTube and Vimeo already have a number of 8K videos that can be streamed to your 8K display (using the YouTube App, for example).
It is true that there is limited native 8K content except in Japan where NHK is now broadcasting 12 hours per day via satellite. New sources of 8K content are emerging from professionals and even consumers as many smartphones now offer 8K video capture and many digital cameras can capture at 8K resolution and higher.
New AI-assisted upscaling in 8K TVs is doing an impressive job of making lower resolution content look very good to outstanding on 8K TVs. So, even without native 8K content, consumers can enjoy a wide range of high-quality images on their 8K TVs.
Although a lot of content is being captured in 8K to take advantage of the format, at the moment it is not being widely distributed in that resolution – the same ‘chicken and egg’ challenge that FullHD and 4K came up against many years ago. However, the best 8K TVs now have powerful AI-based upscaling technology that can deliver a compelling 8K experience, even from 2K or 4K content. The best 4K content quality at the moment comes from UltraHD (4K) BluRay. It can look fantastic when upscaled to 8K.
8K TVs offer a higher pixel density than comparably-sized 4K TVs, so there is more detail in the picture. This extra detail reduces artifacts, increases the sharpness and dimensionality of the image while also creating more emotional impact. Our perception of images is created by a combination of what is displayed on the screen and how those images are interpreted by the brain.Experienced reviewers have simply said that when they look at 8K TVs, the images are better. Of course, when you get to the image sizes used by projectors, the differences become more obvious.
Yes, new 8K TVs do have HDR support, but which types of HDR (HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision or HLG) will be included in any TV will be a brand and model decision, just as it is with 4K TVs today. Some new 8K TVs will also seek to increase the peak luminance for better reproduction of bright highlights. 8K TV sets with peak luminance up to 4000 nits are already available.
As for color gamut, most 8K TVs will offer the same color coverage as is popular with top-of-the-line 4K TVs.
The reality is that upscaled 2K and 4K content will be the best option for viewing on 8K TVs. The best upscaling algorithms are already very good and they are getting better all the time. For example, some TV brands are already using artificial intelligence (AI) to restore high-fidelity images from lower resolution sources. The fidelity of this upscaling will be one differentiating factor among 8K TVs and is mostly found only in the best products that TV brands offer – typically 8K TVs.
Consumers considering the purchase of an 8K TV or projector are encouraged to do research on the features and performance of these products to aid in their buying decision as performance levels will vary. The 8K Association has developed an 8K TV and an 8K Projector Certification program that set certain picture quality and interface levels that will insure a high quality experience. Consumers can look for this Certified logo at retail or on TV brands’ web sites as one way to narrow down their purchasing choices.
TV pricing is a complex topic that revolves around the balance between supply and demand. 8K TVs are more expensive than lower resolutions partly because they are harder to make and need more engineering, but also because TV brands often designate the 8K sets as the ’top of the range’ so they will often have better audio, processing and other features.
The 8K Association (8KA) is an organization of display panel, TV manufacturers, projector makers, technology providers, content creators and service providers who have banded together to help move the 8K market forward. This includes education of consumers as well as professionals on the benefits of 8K and ways to overcome challenges in adoption of 8K. More information is available at www.8kassociation.com.
The 8K Association has developed TV and Projector certification programs to aid in the consumer buying process. Consumers can now have confidence that 8K TVs or Projectors Certified by 8KA will offer a great consumer experience. To be certified, the TV or projector manufacturer must pass a number of picture quality and interface specifications. This testing is backed by market audit process to ensure compliance.
