I can confess that I have been a great animator of 8K resolution on desktop monitors during years. After all, why not? The geometric progression of resolution that saw the number of pixels (and average display size) increase over the last decade from Full HD to 4K has allowed consumers and businesses to benefit from multiple virtual displays. Remember that a single 43-inch screen 4k monitor It's the equivalent of four 21.5-inch Full HD monitors, without the hassle of extra cables or monitor arms.
So when Dell launched its first (and only) 8K monitor Six years ago (yes, six), I expected the floodgates to open, especially as it sells for several thousand pounds sterling/US dollars/Australian dollars. He UP3218 It is still the only 8K monitor and, ironically, it is already obsolete because it does not support HDMI 2.1. Almost a year ago, I wrote that I don't think 8K monitors will ever become widespreadnow I'm not even sure there will be many 8K monitors released.
And just to reiterate, I'm talking about actual 8K monitors available for sale; not dual UHD models like the gorgeous 57-inch Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 or paper-launched models like the Asrock PG558KF or Viewsonic VP3286-8K. Companies have many 8K display products available, and while deep-pocketed consumers can certainly afford them, that's not their core 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 noted that “8K television started with a degree of hype that it failed to quickly live up to.” I don't see that changing for computing and entertainment. The demand – and yes, this is exactly what it is – simply does not exist, regardless of the reports published by research analysts.
In 2021, as we emerged from lockdown, 8K TV prices hit an all-time low from which they never recovered. The LG NANO956NA, a now-discontinued 55-inch 8K TV, sold for £679 or (around $940, AU$1,300 back then). At the time of writing, the cheapest 8K TV (and, by extension, 8K monitor) is a 2021 LG 65-inch model for just under $1,500. The obvious problems with it for a productivity/consumer use case are (a) it's much larger than most desktops out there and (b) it's an old model and is being phased out, hence the price.
As of this writing, LG, one of the pioneers of 8K, has barely any 8K TV models listed on its various sites globally (see US, United Kingdom), perhaps a testament to the general sentiment manufacturers have toward what was once a promising technology. As for that 10K HDMI cable, well, Amazon sells Snowkids for less than $10.
A little anecdote to conclude: I contacted a couple of accessory manufacturers that produce 8K-capable USB docking stations and hubs and asked them what 8K monitor they used when testing these devices. They told me they couldn't find any compatible 8K monitors, so they used 8K TVs instead. I rest my case.
