High Temperature Constant Test Chamber High Temperature Constant Test Chamber,Pv Module Testing Test Box,Automotive Parts Testing Test Machine,Thermal Insulation Test Chamber Wuxi Juxingyao Trading Co., Ltd , https://www.juxingyao.com
8K is coming! Do we really need her?
In early September, BOE and Sharp unveiled their latest innovations: 8K LCD technology. This marked the beginning of a new era in the battle for future color TV dominance. However, the 8K standard has sparked a lot of debate. The core concern is that even 4K content is still limited, so how can 8K possibly survive? Many believe that the industry should move step by step, rather than jumping directly to 8K. This view has become mainstream, with people questioning whether 8K can truly take off without sufficient content.
So, what are the panel manufacturers thinking about the 8K era?
On August 31, Sharp launched the world's first consumer-grade 8K TV in Shanghai, Taiwan, Tokyo, and Berlin. The AQUOS LCD-70SX970A model was priced at 68,888 yuan, making it one of the most expensive TVs on the market.
Then, on September 7, 2017, during the International Winter Sports (Beijing) Expo at the National Convention Center, BOE shocked the industry by unveiling an entire range of 8K display products, including 27-inch, 65-inch, 75-inch, 98-inch, and 110-inch models.
One is Sharp, the pioneer of LCD technology, and the other is the largest display panel manufacturer in China. Both companies are aggressively pushing 8K, showing strong confidence in the technology.
The technical challenges of 8K, especially for LCDs, are not as daunting as they seem. For example, a 5.5-inch phone screen can achieve 2K resolution, while a large TV screen with the same resolution doesn't necessarily mean higher costs. In fact, high-resolution panels don’t always equate to higher production costs.
Industry insiders say that large-size 8K display panels are already technically mature. However, current production volumes are very low, and these are considered experimental. This low-volume manufacturing leads to high temporary costs. Historically, the cost difference between 8K and 4K is similar to the gap between 4K and 2K. For large-size LCD panels, the cost of 2K and 1366*768 resolutions is nearly the same.
This means that high resolution alone does not significantly increase costs. A 65-inch 4K TV is essentially the same size as a 32-inch 2K TV. When cutting smaller modules from a larger substrate, the technical difficulty remains similar. Similarly, an 80-inch 8K TV is comparable in specifications to a 40-inch 4K TV, with no significant differences in cost or technology.
Therefore, when combined with the trend toward large-size TVs, 8K should not be seen as a problem of technical difficulty or cost. The real challenge lies in downstream applications.
Content limitations and the need for a revised broadcasting system remain key issues. In China, for instance, 4K TVs already make up a large portion of the market, but true 4K content is still scarce. Why is this happening? Because content involves many links in the supply chain, including camera technology, storage, and transmission. Compared to the 2K standard that's currently widespread, 4K requires four times more data, and 8K requires 16 times more. Upstream systems capable of handling such massive data flows are a major bottleneck.
From the perspective of broadcasters and TV stations, the transition to high-definition and full-HD hasn't been long. Their existing systems are still in a stable and profitable phase. Introducing 4K or 8K would require a costly overhaul, which many are reluctant to do.
Currently, manufacturers are excited about 4K and 8K, but the content industry lacks clear incentives to upgrade equipment and technology. Many prefer to stick with the existing 2K systems.
This situation isn't new. At the turn of the century, the broadcasting industry went through a period where high-definition was skipped, moving directly from digitalization to full-HD. This caused confusion and inefficiency.
For 8K, the same pattern may repeat. Instead of progressing sequentially from 2K to 4K to 8K, the industry might skip 4K altogether. This could lead to another awkward phase.
Looking ahead, there are two steps to defining ultra-high-definition standards for broadcasting: first, adopt 4K with lower difficulty, then implement 8K. Japan’s NHK started researching 8K as early as 1995, and the technology has been used in events like the 2005 Aichi Expo, the 2012 London Olympics, and the 2016 Rio Olympics. 8K became an official international standard in 2012, and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will feature full 8K live broadcasts. The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics will also use 8K as a new standard.
However, from the broadcasting industry’s point of view, 4K hasn't received much attention. Part of the reason is that they want to maintain technological leadership and ensure a longer interval between major upgrades to recover previous investments.
As a result, the TV industry may not see a 4K boom, but when the time is right, it could jump straight to 8K.
For the 8K standard, the content is not just about resolution — it includes 12-bit color depth, wide color gamut (Rec.2020), 120Hz progressive scan, and 22.2 audio channels. These features are designed to give TV an edge over mobile devices.
Additionally, 8K opens the door for future advancements, such as 3D and holographic displays. While glasses-based 3D has failed, the demand for immersive experiences remains. With higher resolution, naked-eye 3D becomes more feasible, and 8K may serve as a stepping stone.
From a broader perspective, the broadcasting and TV industry needs 8K and beyond to stay relevant. It’s not just about clearer pictures, but about expanding the future of television.
For consumers, price remains a big barrier. Sharp’s 70-inch 8K TV costs 68,888 yuan — almost eight times the price of a regular 70-inch TV. This makes it unaffordable for most.
Despite the content challenges, history shows that consumer electronics often follow a pattern: hardware leads, and content follows. As prices drop and production scales up, 8K will eventually become more accessible.
The key to reducing costs is increasing production capacity. Currently, most 8.5-generation lines can only cut three 65-inch panels, leaving a lot of waste. This inefficiency hinders mass production. Companies like Foxconn are investing in 10.5-generation lines to support large-size 8K TVs.
With the Hefei BOE plant expected to start production in 2018, 65-inch and 75-inch 8K TVs will become more affordable. This will kickstart a cycle of scale manufacturing, falling costs, and increased sales.
By 2022, multiple 10.5-generation lines will be operational, laying the foundation for large-size 8K TVs. This progress will support the adoption of 8K TVs before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
In conclusion, 8K is no longer just a dream. It's being built step by step. We just need to wait for the arrival of the new 8K era.