By the end of 2026, 8K TVs remained a niche product. Only Samsung continues to release new models, while LG, Sony, and TCL have exited this segment. Hisense has also not released any new 8K TVs since 2021. This technology, which just a few years ago was considered the next big step in TV development, never gained widespread adoption, and 8K TVs are essentially headed for the same fate as 3D TVs.
What Is 8K
8K is a resolution of 7680 × 4320 pixels, or approximately 33 million pixels on the screen. This is four times the resolution of 4K (3840 × 2160) and sixteen times that of Full HD (1920 × 1080).
8K TVs were primarily available in large screen sizes—ranging from 55 to 98 inches and even larger. They were significantly more expensive than comparable 4K models. For example, starting prices for Samsung’s flagship 8K TVs reached several thousand dollars depending on screen size, and the 98-inch QN990F model cost about $40,000 in 2025. Meanwhile, high-quality 4K TVs with OLED and Mini-LED screens are available at much lower prices.
How It All Began
Sharp was one of the first manufacturers to demonstrate 8K technology. The company showed prototypes at CES trade shows in the early 2010s and, in 2015, released the 85-inch LV-85001, priced at around $133,000. However, this was a professional display intended primarily for commercial use, not a conventional home television.
Sharp’s first consumer 8K TV was the LC-70X500, released in 2017. In 2018, the company introduced new AQUOS 8K series, including the AX1 and AW1.
The market began to develop more widely in 2018, when Samsung released the Q900R (known as the Q900FN in some markets). LG, Sony, and TCL joined in 2019. Hisense, Changhong, and Skyworth also showed interest in the technology and demonstrated their own developments. That same year, the 8K Association was established, with Samsung, Panasonic, TCL, Hisense, and other companies among its founding members.
The peak of 8K development came in 2021–2022. Manufacturers expanded their product ranges, offered TVs with different display technologies, and tried to convince buyers of the advantages of the new resolution. LG promoted OLED as “true 8K,” contrasting it with Samsung’s Neo QLED LCD TVs. However, consumer interest was significantly lower than expected. Global shipments peaked in 2022, at approximately 386,800 TVs.
8K TV Models by Year
The table lists mass-produced consumer TVs and the years they were first released. Professional monitors and exhibition prototypes are not included.
| Year | Sharp | Samsung | LG | Sony | TCL | Hisense |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | LC-70X500 | |||||
| 2018 | AX1, AW1 | Q900R (Q900FN) | ||||
| 2019 | BW1 | Q950R | Z9 OLED, SM99 | Z9G (ZG9) | X10 | |
| 2020 | CX1 | Q950TS, Q900TS, Q800T | ZX OLED, Nano99 | Z8H | X915 | |
| 2021 | DW1, DX1 | QN900A, QN800A, QN700A | Z1 OLED, Nano99, Nano95, QNED99, QNED95 | Z9J | 6-Series R648, X925, X925 Pro | U800GR |
| 2022 | QN900B, QN800B, QN700B | Z2 OLED, QNED99 | Z9K | |||
| 2023 | QN900C, QN800C, QN700C | Z3 OLED | ||||
| 2024 | QN900D, QN800D | QNED99T | ||||
| 2025 | QN990F, QN900F | |||||
| 2026 | QN990H |
Why 8K Failed to Catch On
There are two main reasons: high prices and a lack of content. Producing large 8K panels is expensive, so these TVs cost significantly more than most 4K models. At the same time, there is very little to watch in native 8K. Broadcast and cable television are usually transmitted at resolutions below 4K, while most streaming video is available in Full HD or 4K.
As a result, 8K TVs have to upscale lower-resolution images. Modern processing algorithms, including those based on artificial intelligence, can improve perceived detail and smooth out the picture. However, they cannot fully restore details that are missing from the original video. Upscaling low-quality content can also introduce visual artifacts.
Human vision has its limitations, too. The additional detail offered by 8K is mainly noticeable on large screens and when viewed from a short distance. If you sit far away from the TV, the difference between 4K and 8K becomes almost imperceptible. That is why a high-quality 4K TV is often a more sensible purchase for a typical living room.
Market data confirms this trend. After peaking at 386,800 units in 2022, global shipments declined to 214,400 units in 2023. In 2025, approximately 130,000 8K TVs were sold.
The number of members in the 8K Association also declined. At the end of 2022, the organization had 33 members; later, that number fell to around 16. Among TV brands, Samsung and Panasonic remained members of the association. However, Panasonic does not offer any current consumer 8K models.
Which Manufacturers Have Abandoned 8K
Over time, most major manufacturers stopped investing in the development of 8K TVs.
- TCL stopped releasing new 8K models after the X925 series in 2021. In 2023, the company confirmed that it had no plans to continue developing these TVs.
- LG released its last 8K OLED TV, the Z3, in 2023 and introduced its last new LCD model, the QNED99T, in 2024. The Z3 was discontinued in 2025. In January 2026, it became known that LG Display had suspended development of 8K OLED panels, although the company may resume it if market conditions change.
- Sony released its last 8K TV series, the Z9K, in 2022. In 2025, the company discontinued sales of the series and effectively exited the segment.
- Hisense has not introduced any new 8K TVs since releasing the U800GR in 2021. The company has not officially announced a complete withdrawal from the technology, but its current product lineups contain no 8K TVs.
Who’s Left in the Market
Samsung is currently the only major manufacturer still producing 8K TVs. Its 2025 lineup included the flagship QN990F with Wireless One Connect and the more affordable QN900F. In 2026, Samsung introduced just one new model, the QN990H, unveiled at CES 2026 and launched in Europe at around €10,000 for the 85-inch version.
However, 2026 may mark the end of new 8K TV production. With demand remaining low, manufacturing 8K panels is becoming commercially unviable.
