But the inclusion of 4K graphics in modern consoles has got many gamers wondering whether these same consoles can output at much higher resolutions, such as 8K! Is it possible to enjoy these consoles on an 8K TV? And would it be worth buying an 8K TV as part of your gaming setup?
Here at Reliant, we’ve been creating tech guides for a number of years. We’ve watched as gaming and television technology have improved, and the two have become more intertwined. With our years of experience, we’ve put together this guide, to pair your console with its perfect TV!
Can An 8K TV Be Used For Gaming On PS5 And Xbox Series X?
There’s nothing stopping you from using an 8K TV with your PS5 or Xbox Series X. However, this does not mean that you will be gaming at 8K resolutions. Currently, no games on the PS5 Or Xbox Series X can be played at 8K resolutions. Instead, the highest resolution most console games can achieve is 4K!
However, 8K TVs are compatible with all 4K and even 1080p video sources. So you don’t have to miss out on 4K content, or legacy content at 1080p.
It’s totally possible to play PS5 and Xbox Series X games on an 8K TV. However, these consoles cannot currently output games at 8K. Thus, an 8K TV is not a total necessity for gamers!
8K TVs can technically be used to enjoy PS5 and Xbox Series X games. But these consoles can’t output games at 8K resolutions. Following on from this, you might wonder whether there’s any point in buying an 8K TV for your gaming needs!
Should You Buy An 8K Gaming TV?
Though it’s not possible to enjoy 8K gaming from the PS5 or Xbox Series X, this doesn’t mean that 8K TVs are totally useless.
If you’re planning to use your new TV for more than gaming, it might be worth buying an 8K model. There are many 8K streaming titles that can make full use of your TV’s 8K resolution.
An 8K TV can also be a great future proofing investment. As gaming technology continues to improve it’s likely that 8K gaming is not far away. Having an 8K gaming TV ensures you will be ready for 8K gaming by the time it finally arrives!
If you want to make the most of your gaming TV right now, and you only plan to use it for gaming, you’re better off with a 4K model. 4K televisions are now much more affordable than ever.
An 8K TV would be a wasted investment if you were to purchase a smaller model. By which we mean 65-inch TVs and smaller ones. 8K TVs have a pixel count of around 33 million pixels! In order to make the most of every one of these pixels, it’s best to allow them to spread out over a larger screen! On a smaller screen, 8K resolutions may not be noticeable.
Can You Do 8K Upscaling On PS5 And Xbox Series X Games?
Many 8K TV models allow you to upscale content in real-time so that it can appear as though it is natively 8K. This is done on the front end of the TV itself. After the TV receives an input signal, it then upscales it to an 8K resolution. This means that upscaling can easily be used on PS5 and Xbox Series X games!
However, 8K upscaling is far from perfect. Essentially, your TV is learning from every frame of video it receives to try and estimate how best to improve an image. Sometimes, it can do it perfectly. Sometimes, less so. Thus, it’s not an essential technology to make use of while gaming. 8K upscaling does not deliver true 8K visuals. Instead, it simply delivers what it believes 8K visuals would look like from your chosen video source!
It’s not worth using 8K upscaling on PS5 and Xbox Series X games. In order to upscale your games in real-time, the input latency will increase massively! This can ruin your gameplay!
In most cases, we would actually recommend against using 8K upscaling technology on your games! 8K upscaling is a post-processing effect carried out by the TV itself. This means that, for a few extra milliseconds after your 8K TV receives a signal from your console, it is focused on upscaling the image. This means that the time between pressing a button on your controller and seeing the corresponding action on-screen can be massively increased. Higher latency can totally ruin a great gaming experience!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can An 8K TV Be Used For Gaming On PS5 And Xbox Series X?
Absolutely. Your PS5 or Xbox Series X can easily be connected to an 8K TV through an HDMI cable. 8K TVs are fully compatible with 4K input sources. However, it’s not currently possible to enjoy 8K resolutions with major PS5 or Xbox Series X titles! Thus, an 8K TV is inessential for gaming at the moment!
Are 8K TVs Good For Gaming?
8K TVs can easily be used for gaming. This is because they are fully compatible with 4K games and consoles. 8K TVs also often come with large screen sizes. This makes them great for enjoying cinematic games with single-player stories. However, PS5 and Xbox Series X games cannot currently be played at 8K resolutions.
Does Xbox Support 8K?
The Xbox Series X console is able to output content at 8K resolutions. But this does not include video games. Currently, the Xbox Series X is limited to displaying games at 4K resolutions. However, there’s every chance that 8K gaming lies just beyond the horizon. The next model of Xbox console may very well include 8K gaming!
