Resolution is all about pixels and picture quality. After HD and 4k resolution, the era of 8K resolution is finally here. From 8K, clearer and sharper picture quality is expected but what else it has to offer the consumers. Several questions regarding 8k resolution exist in the minds of consumers such as what is 8K resolution, why it is so significant? Is it worth buying? One can clear off all their concerns while going through this article.
What is 8K Resolution?
8K Resolution offers higher pixels and great picture quality. How? It has about 33 million pixels and not 8000 pixels which are ironic considering its name. 8K resolution displays a better picture quality than HD and 4K resolution. How much better? Well, it has 16 times the pixels of HD and 4 times the pixels of 4K resolution, so we can say far better.
8K resolution TV Sets
Currently, 8K resolution is all about TV sets. The demand for large screen TV has been sky-rocketing for a decade now and 8K resolution is a perfect companion to this trend. There are a variety of 8K resolution TV sets available in the market by several well-known brands. Choosing the best for you can be a little difficult considering the excellent marketing strategies of competing brands. So, how do you pick the right one?
Certifications
8K resolution is a new thing in the market and consumers are unaware of what it is and which one is the best option. Moreover, some TV sets have the 8K Ultra HD Logo and others 8K Association Certified Logo. What does each mean?
Consumer Technology Association, CTA formed a program and stated the minimum requirements for a TV to be considered 8K. TV sets by any brand which fulfills the requirements can display an official 8K Ultra HD Logo. Some of the requirements are:
- 8K resolution, which is, 7680*4320.
- Capable of upscaling non-8K resolution content to 8K resolution.
- Supports HDR, although not specifically listed how many HDR.
- One HDCP 2.2 compliant input
- Supports 10-bit color, pixel by pixel.
The other logo is 8K Association Certified. This association has members from many top brands such as Hisense, Panasonic, Samsung, and TLC. The requirements are almost the same as the 8K Ultra HD logo, although HDMI 2.1 is also included in this certification’s requirement list. Which one is more reliable? What else to consider before buying?
What is CM?
CM refers to Contrast Modulation. Contrast Modulation is measured in percentage and the higher the value of CM, the sharper the image perceived. CTA has fixed the minimum requirement of CM value as 50%. Amongst all the brands, very few meet this requirement. LG on the other hand is the only brand that offers 90% CM value with products namely, NanoCell TVs and 8K OLED. Moreover, LG is not even a member of 8K Association Certified and guarantees the real 8K experience.
The 8K Content
As 8K TVs are available in the market, it is valid to ask if the 8K content is available too? Currently, most of the content is shot in 4K but that’s not an issue as 8K TVs can upscale the picture quality of the content. Moreover, 8K content is being shot currently and will be ready to be aired very soon this year.
What platforms are currently providing 8K content? YouTube and Vimeo are the video streaming platforms that provide 8K content apart from the TV channel launched by NHK to broadcast only the 8K content. Netflix has updated that they have shot some content in 8K which will soon be released and the latest PlayStation will also support 8K. Tokyo Olympics is also going to be shot in 8K and the viewers from America apart from Japan too will be able to enjoy this experience. The market of 8K resolution is all set to grow this year. Many 8K supporting devices are available in the market, and many are preparing to take over this growing market.
Conclusion
The introduction of 8K resolution right after 4K resolution is significant in itself. It’s a great time to buy the 8K devices. With the right knowledge to pick the best for you, it’s worth purchasing it. As more 8K resolution devices hit the market we will bring you a detailed buying guide and reviews.
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