I can confess that I am a huge cheerleader for 8K resolution on desktop monitors for years. Why not? The geometric progression of resolution, which has seen the number of pixels (and average screen size) increase from Full HD to 4K over the past decade, has allowed consumers and businesses to take advantage of multi-screen virtual displays. Remember that a single 43-in 4K monitor is the equivalent of four Full HD 21.5-inch monitors, without the hassle of purchasing additional cables and monitor arms.
So when Dell released its first (and still only) 8K monitor six years ago (yes, six) I expected the floodgates to open, especially since it retails for several thousand British pounds/US dollars/Australian dollars. The UP3218 remains the only 8K monitor and is ironically already outdated as it does not support HDMI 2.1. Almost a year ago I did wrote that I don’t believe 8K monitors will ever go mainstreamnow I’m not even sure if many 8K monitors will be launched.
And to reiterate, I’m talking about actual 8K monitors for sale; no dual UHD models like the beautiful Samsung 57-inch Odyssey Neo G9 or paper-launched models like the Asrock PG558KF or Viewsonic VP3286-8K. Companies have plenty of 8K display products available and while consumers with very deep pockets can certainly afford them, that’s not their primary target audience.
Is 8K the new 3D?
My colleague Al Griffin wrote an op-ed last year titled “8K TVs were supposed to be the next big thing – what happened?‘, where he pointed out that ‘8K TV started with a certain amount of hype that it could not quickly live up to’. I don’t see that changing for computing and entertainment. The demand – and yes, that’s the point – is simply not there, no matter what reports research analysts put out.
In 2021, as we emerged from lockdown, 8K TV prices hit a low point from which they never really recovered. The now discontinued LG NANO956NA, a 55-inch 8K TV, sold for £679 or (then about $940, AU$1,300). At the time of writing, the cheapest 8K TV – and by extension 8K monitor – is a 2021 65-inch LG model for just under $1,500. The obvious problems with it for a productivity/consumer use are (a) it’s much larger for most desks out there and (b) it’s an old model and is being cleaned out, hence the price.
At the time of writing, LG, one of the 8K pioneers, has barely any 8K TV models listed on its various sites worldwide (see US, Britain), perhaps a testament to the general sentiment manufacturers have for what was once a promising technology. As for that 10K HDMI cable, well, Amazon sells Snowkids for less than $10.
A little anecdote in closing: I contacted a number of accessory manufacturers that produce 8K-compatible docking stations and USB hubs and asked them which 8K monitor they used when they tested these devices. They couldn’t find compatible 8K monitors, they told me, so they used 8K TVs instead. I rest my case.