The modern television industry is largely dominated by two iconic juggernauts: 4K, and 8K. Take a look through any tech store, and you’ll be bombarded with 4K and 8K screens. 4K and 8K resolutions are both incredibly eye-catching. Offering realistic images with incredible fidelity and bursting with detail. But when these two different resolutions are competing for your attention, you’ll need to know which of the two is best.

Is an 8K TV truly better than a 4K TV? Does its higher resolution really make it a better purchase? Our Reliant tech experts have spent a lot of time with both 4K and 8K televisions. With this immense expertise, we’ve been able to put together this guide, to find out whether 8K TVs really are better than their 4K counterparts.

Is An 8K TV Better Than A 4K TV?

It’s difficult to say for certain whether 8K TVs are definitely better than 4K TVs. Both display types offer their own benefits and drawbacks, so it’s tough to decide on one ultimate winner. However, in terms of resolution, 8K TVs are undeniably better. 8K TVs have 4 times the number of pixels of 4K TVs. This means that they can be used to display truly lifelike images, with ultimate clarity.

However, it’s tough to say whether 8K TVs are a more worthwhile purchase than 4K TVs. The existence of 8K TVs has not resulted in 4K TVs becoming totally defunct. In fact, 4K TVs are still much more popular. There are actually a few reasons for this.

One reason is that the vast majority of content is produced in 4K resolutions. From films to television shows, 4K is the current resolution standard across the industry. Currently, there’s very little content that is produced to target an 8K resolution. However, the film and TV industries are forever changing. As camera technology improves, and 8K displays become more widespread, it’s likely that 8K may completely take over from 4K!

On a purely technical level, 8K TVs are better than 4K TVs. They feature 4 times the resolution, resulting in an image with immense fidelity. However, they have yet to overtake 4K TVs as the most popular display type!

There’s also the fact that 4K TVs are simply more affordable. 8K TVs often cost a lot more than their 4K counterparts. This can make them a tough sell for most people!

What Is The Difference Between 8K And 4K?

Before we continue on, we think it would be worth refreshing ourselves on what the difference between 8K and 4K actually is! A 4K display has a pixel count of 3,840 x 2,160, while an 8K display has a pixel count of 7,680 x 4,320. As mentioned, this means that an 8K TV has 4 times the clarity of a 4K display!

8K TVs are still relatively in their infancy. Some of the first 8K TVs were introduced around 2019, and they have yet to shake off their reputation as “Luxury” goods with “Luxury” price tags!

Why Opt For An 8K TV?

So, if 4K TVs haven’t been totally usurped by 8K TVs, what’s the point in even grabbing one of your own? There’s a reason 8K TVs haven’t totally faded away as just a mere fad in the years since their introduction. 8K resolutions are close to quickly taking over from 4K resolutions!

We mentioned earlier that 8K cameras and filming equipment are now being employed on film and TV sets. With content more often being made with 8K in mind, it’s likely that 8K will slowly overtake 4K as the top resolution. This means that buying an 8K TV is a great form of future-proofing. With an 8K TV, you’ll be ready to stream films at true 8K as soon as they’re available.

It’s also worth noting that 8K TVs are fully compatible with 4K content. 4K resolutions are displayed in their full glory on 8K displays. This means you don’t have to worry about missing out on the best 4K content with an 8K display.

Despite not currently being essential, 8K TVs are still a great investment! 8K resolutions are likely to become the standard across film and TV, so having an 8K display is great future-proofing!

While you await the arrival of dedicated 8K content, you can still make full use of the resolution! Many 8K TV models offer 8K upscaling technology that can remaster 4K content, as you watch it. This results in older content appearing as though it were made with 8K in mind! This technology is referred to differently depending on which TV model you use. TVs from Samsung and LG even make use of AI, to ensure a consistent and accurate upscaling that makes the most of your content.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is An 8K TV Better Than A 4K TV?

8K TVs are better than 4K TVs when it comes down to pure resolution. 8K displays feature 4 times the number of pixels for a massive 33 million pixels! 8K images are rich in clarity and detail. If you’re looking for total realism, then 8K is essential. However, despite being technically better than 4K, 8K TVs have yet to overtake 4K TVs. 4K TVs still sell far better than 8K TVs.

Is There Any Point In Buying An 8K TV?

8K resolutions are likely to become the standard across the industry. An 8K TV can be a great investment if you want to keep up with the best that TV and film have to offer. In the meantime, 8K TVs can currently upscale content in real-time to recreate the look of 8K!

Do 8K TVs Use More Electricity?

Yes. Because 8K TVs have 4 times the number of pixels as 4K TVs, they do consume slightly more electricity. If you’re hoping to save money on your electricity bills, then a 4K TV may be a more sensible investment. However, you can reduce the energy consumption of an 8K TV by lowering the screen brightness!