Published On: December 4, 2021

Best 8K TVs: 2023 Update

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  • I’m an AV enthusiast, equipment reviewer, photographer, videographer and drone pilot. I’m also a THX-trained video calibrator with extensive experience reviewing consumer displays including TVS, projectors, monitors and smartphones.  I have a keen interest in audio as well as video and founded plus run the largest home audio Facebook group, Audiophiles on a Budget—with over 60K members. For fun, I like riding a OneWheel around Philly while capturing cool images and videos to submit to Google Maps.

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Published On: December 4, 2021

Best 8K TVs: 2023 Update

The best 8K TVs aren't necessarily the most expensive, but even the cheapest can cost a few thousand dollars. So it makes sense to know what you're looking for.
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8K TVs are here - bringing us closer to the technology of tomorrow. These sets might seem excessive to some, but if you are interested in cutting-edge technology and have the right budget, buying an 8K resolution television is a reasonable investment. 

The best 8K sets offer even more detail than Ultra HD. However, it's not all about finding a higher-pixel alternative, as you'll discover in this article. 

Sure, it will be a while before 8K TVs drive 4Ks into extinction, but why wait to get your hands on the next generation of TV if you can afford one now? 

If you've been looking into 8K TVs, you've probably heard or read some not-so-encouraging things about them. Let's take a few moments to address these issues before diving into the best 8K TV to buy..

Best 8K TV to Buy in 2021

Is 8K Worth It?

Let's get something straight: When it comes to rendering a pretty picture, 8K is better than 4K! However, there is a caveat. You need native 8K content to enjoy the full benefits of an 8K TV, and that's where the problem lies.

There is currently a shortage of 8K material. The best you can readily get is upscaled 4K content. But to be honest, watching upscaled 4K material on 8K TV doesn't really have the same impact as native 8K content.

Japan was due to test 8K in a public broadcast in 2020, but the pandemic didn't help matters. So currently, there are no definite indications that the market will explode with 8K content in 2021. Fortunately, 4K content does look better on 8K screens, thanks to powerful processors that help 8K TVs upscale.

The staggering price tag on most 8K TVs is another reason many people question the rationale behind getting one. Ironically, some high-end 4K TVs cost nearly twice as much as the budget pick on this list - you don't have to break the bank to own an 8K set.

With more companies, such as Hisense and TCL, taking the initiative and joining major players like Samsung, LG, and Sony, it is only a matter of time before these TVs are everywhere.

Samsung - 65" Class QN900A Series Neo QLED 8K UHD Smart Tizen TV
Best Overall

Samsung - 65" Class QN900A Series Neo QLED 8K UHD Smart Tizen TV

Specs

  • Screen size: 65”, 75”, 85”
  • HDR support: HLG, HDR10, HDR10+
  • Panel tech: Neo QLED
  • Smart TV: Tizen

The QN900A not only sports a drool-worthy design; it's also the best 8K TV to buy in 2021 in terms of picture quality. No doubt, OLED delivers a better viewing angle and has deeper black levels than QLED, but Samsung's 2021 flagship model has OLED-like black levels.

Engineered with a Neo Quantum Processor 8K, this TV has one of the best upscaling technology. Samsung took things a bit further with the inclusion of mini-LEDs for backlighting in its 2021 TV lineup. Instead of only a few hundred traditional LEDs, this TV comes with thousands of mini-LEDs or "neo" LEDs packed into a small space. This technology results in increased brightness, higher contrast, improved details, and deeper black levels. Put simply; you get better picture quality.

The TV features Samsung's Infinity Screen that enhances image quality and displays pictures to the frame's edge. In addition, the very thin chassis lets you mount the TV to a wall.

High points

  • Excellent HDR picture quality
  • OLED TV-standard black levels with incredible backlight
  • HDMI 2.1 connectivity

Low points

  • Lacks Dolby vision

Samsung - 65" Class Q900TS Series QLED 8K UHD Smart Tizen TV
Best Premium Pick

Samsung - 65" Class Q900TS Series QLED 8K UHD Smart Tizen TV

Specs

  • Screen size: 65”, 85”
  • HDR support: HLG, HDR10, HDR10+
  • Panel tech: QLED
  • Smart TV: webOS

Samsung Q900TS is the best 8K TV to buy in 2021 if you’ve got deep pockets. Besides the state-of-the-art technology and design, this TV looks good in any home, whether on or off. It’s hard not to notice the bezel-less Infinity Screen design setting it apart from other models.

With a nearly 99% screen-to-frame ratio, the screen edges seem to blend with the surrounding spaces when viewed from a typical distance. The result? Pictures appear to float in the air!

Indeed, 8K content is not very common, at least for now. But equipped with Samsung’s Quantum Processor 8K, this TV set offers outstanding upscaling capabilities, so you don’t have to go looking for native 8K content to enjoy amazing picture quality.

As you probably already guessed, Samsung’s Q900TS costs a pretty penny, but it is worth the investment for those who can afford it.

High points

  • Excellent contrast and shadow detail
  • Impressive HDMI 2.1 connectivity
  • Built-in Alexa and Bixby intelligent voice assistants

Low points

  • An expensive option

Sony - 75" Class Z8H Series LED 8K UHD Smart Android TV
Affordable Sony Option

Sony - 75" Class Z8H Series LED 8K UHD Smart Android TV

Specs

  • Screen size: 75”, 85”
  • HDR support: HLG, HDR10+, Dolby Vision
  • Panel tech: LED – LCD
  • Smart TV: Android TV

Sony’s Smart LED Z8H is, no doubt, one of the best TVs out there. It doesn’t need 8K to be great, but the fact that it is 8K is a plus. This is the TV to get if you want to enjoy the legendary picture processing that Sony is known for.

The elegant and ultra-sleek design and impressive sound output are hard to beat. Surprisingly, Sony’s punchiest 8K TV comes at a very reasonable price, going for close to the cost of many 4K models. However, it lacks support for AV1 format, which many services like YouTube use for 8K streams.

You can get more from this LED TV set with Android TV functionality. Simply ask Google for recommendations about what to watch or tell it to dim the screen.

High points

  • Reasonably priced
  • Immersive sound
  • Superb colors and motion

Low points

  • Limited 8K connectivity
  • Android TV tends to be fuzzy

LG - 77" Class ZX Series OLED 8K UHD Smart webOS TV
Best OLED 8K TV

LG - 77" Class ZX Series OLED 8K UHD Smart webOS TV

Specs

  • Screen size: 77", 88"
  • HDR support: HLG, HDR10, Dolby Vision
  • Panel tech: OLED
  • Smart TV: webOS

LG's Z Series is nothing short of marvelous. These sets are arguably the best 8K TVs on the planet! That's because they merge two powerful technologies – OLED and 8K – into one superb machine. The audio output on this outstanding 8K panel, together with the OLED picture, is simply extraordinary.

There are many connectivity options with plenty of internet support services, including Netflix, YouTube, Google TV, Vudu, Prime Video, and more.

Of course, it's a no-brainer that OLED with 8K equals deep pockets. These TVs are not for the faint-hearted; even the cheapest options will cost you close to 20 grand.

The LG Z Series could have easily fit the best premium or even the best overall spot on this list. After all, nothing beats OLED combined with 8K. Unfortunately, they come with a few flaws that shouldn't be found on sets with such jaw-dropping price tags. First, they lack support for HDR10+, and you can't mount these gorgeous devices on the wall.

However, if you can get past these downsides, you will enjoy the benefit of unrivaled picture quality, crisp contrast, sharp colors, and exceptional sound output.

High points

  • Superb soundstage
  • OLED-level colors and brilliant pictures
  • Supports Atmos and Dolby Vision

Low points

  • Doesn't support HDR10+
  • Cannot be mounted on the wall

Common Questions

Is 8K needed when most sources are not 8k?

8K TVs can usually display existing content at higher quality than the original source with built-in advanced up-scaling algorithms.

What is an 8K TV?

8K is all about the resolution on a screen, which is roughly four times more than what you'll get with a 4K TV. What does this mean? Here is a simple breakdown.
Full HD TVs and most satellites and cable TV services use a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels on their screens. This is commonly called 1080p. On the other hand, 4K TVs step up with Ultra HD resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels. In other words, it offers four times the number of pixels on HD displays.
With 8K TVs, you get 16 times the number of pixels on Full HD or four times what's available on 4K televisions. 8K displays have 7,680 x 4,320 pixels, totaling about 33 million pixels. By comparison, 4K TVs have a total of about 8 million pixels, and Full HD offers approximately 2 million pixels.
While 8K TVs are generally more expensive, they offer spectacular lifelike image and picture quality together with immersive sound output that makes them worth the investment for those who can afford it.

Is 8K better than 4K?

8K offers a more premium construction than 4K with ultra-narrow bezels, thin metal chassis, and sleeker remote controls. However, there is no major difference between 8K and 4K in basic functionality, at least for now.

What is Upscaling?

Upscaling is turning lower-resolution content into better-looking content on higher-resolution screens. For example, a 1920 x 1080 image is converted into a larger 3840 x 2160 pixel image to display correctly on a better screen.

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