I’m starting to believe in 8K TVs and Hisense’s latest move gives me hope for an affordable future
The topic of 8K TVs has become a complicated one over the past few years. At one point or another, many brands, including LG, Samsung, Sony, TCL, and Hisense, jumped on the 8K TV bandwagon and embraced the new technology in an attempt to future-proof their TVs. So, if 8K TVs were supposed to be the next big thing, what happened?
The biggest factor is price. You’ll often pay double for one of the best 8K TVs compared to a 4K equivalent. For example, Samsung’s 2024 flagship 8K TV, the Samsung QN900D, will cost around $4,999 / £4,999 / AU$6,499 for the 65-inch model. The Samsung QN95D, its 4K equivalent, will cost £2,899. (The QN95D is a UK-only model, with the US/Australia price said to be around $2,699 / AU$4,099.) There’s also the continued lack of 8K content available, with the occasional exception of YouTube videos. As a result, 8K TVs have fallen in popularity with consumers and companies have begun to shy away from the technology.
I never really believed in the 8K TV hype when I was still working in AV retail, mainly for the reasons mentioned above. But after testing the Samsung QN800D, a fantastic mid-range 8K TV, my skepticism turned into faith: I’m starting to buy 8K TVs. And yet, the fact is that 8K TVs are expensive.
Recent developments suggest that this could change in the future. Hisense, maker of some of the best TVs including the Hisense U7N and Hisense U8K, has joined the 8K Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to the future investment and development of 8K technologies. But why is this such a big deal?
Are Affordable 8K TVs on the Way?
Hisense TVs are popular with consumers and critics alike for offering solid picture quality and features for a fraction of the price of some competitors. I tested a budget and premium Mini LED TV side by side, with the budget model represented by the Hisense U6N and the premium model by the Sony X95L. While the X95L was clearly the superior TV thanks to its richer contrast, deeper blacks, and more natural textures, the U6N offered solid performance across the board for a price that’s $1,200 / £700 cheaper than the X95L (X93L in the US).
If Hisense can do this in the world of 4K TVs, why not 8K TVs? The company joining the 8K association could herald the arrival of more affordable 8K TVs, with similar features to more premium options from bigger rivals like Samsung.
In a statement, David Gold, president of Hisense USA and Hisense Americas, said: “We are committed to contributing to the 8K ecosystem and collaborating with other industry leaders to accelerate the integration of 8K technology into the home entertainment experience.It seems Hisense is keen to introduce 8K TVs into more homes, hopefully by selling them at lower prices.
8K TVs: Should They Remain Premium?
My enthusiasm for cheaper 8K TVs is not without its reservations. 8K TVs, particularly those from Samsung, are designed not just with 8K in mind, but also with 4K. The aforementioned Samsung QN900D and QN800D both use AI upscaling on 4K sources, and this processing delivers an incredible boost to textures, detail, color and high dynamic range in photos.
Samsung’s AI technology is bolstered by the quality of the mini-LED backlights used in its TVs. Part of this is the number of local dimming zones used – the more zones the better, as I discovered during a mini-LED backlight demo.
Hisense sometimes sacrifices performance, such as the number of local dimming zones used in the TV, to achieve low price tags. But can this be done at the 8K level, where there’s not as much room for compromises in picture quality? This isn’t Hisense’s first foray into 8K TVs, with the 2021 U80G and the more recent ULED X 8K shown at IFA 2023 among its contributions. But both sets were premium models, which begs the question: does Hisense think 8K should remain premium?
Final thoughts
Ultimately, Hisense’s commitment to the 8K association indicates that it’s looking toward an 8K future for both its TVs and projectors. Hisense has offered budget alternatives to its more expensive 4K models that offer unbeatable value, so if there’s a chance the company can do the same with 8K TVs, sign me up.