It doesn’t seem like too long ago that the world of great televisions was buzzing at the promise of 4K Ultra HD; well, now 8K TVs are here. Offering roughly four times the pixels of standard high definition, the best TVs of the day promised viewers greater image clarity, colour depth and improved immersion. We were going to see things that we hadn’t seen before. As it turned out, this was all true. Rather expectedly, the jump between resolutions was incredible. Hold on to your hats, people.
Rather intimidating in terms of sheer numbers, 8K Ultra HD boasts a whopping 7,680 horizontal pixels and 4,320 vertical. That’s 33,177,600 pixels dedicated to providing you with nothing but the clearest, deepest and, frankly, most mind-blowing visual experience available today. Likewise, 8K TVs are loaded with tech to upscale any pre-existing content, providing even the oldest of content with fresh appeal and reinvigorated life.
The best 8K TVs at a glance:
• Best overall 8K TV: Samsung Q800B - View now on Amazon.co.uk
• Best value 8K TV: Samsung QE65QN900A - View now on Amazon.co.uk
• Best high-end 8K TV: SONY BRAVIA XR85Z9KU - View now on Currys.co.uk
There’s more to be excited about with 8K TVs than just the impressive visual experience. To match the flawless imagery, manufacturers have taken particular care to craft an equally impressive audio spectacle, with speakers mounted behind the screen to deliver audio directly to the audience. Though some will still want to opt for one of the best surround sound systems, there's no denying that 8K TVs are redefining what in-built audio can do.
While there's not an abundance of 8K content around, it’s on the horizon – the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are ready to go with content for 8K TVs. Pretty much the only other way you're going to up your gaming experience is with one of the best VR headsets.
The best 8K TVs of 2023
Best overall 8K TV
Description
The ability to purchase a 2022 8K TV for under £3,000 is something of a surprise, given that such technology is still relatively fresh in the market. What's even more surprising with the Q800B is that this price point has been achieved on a massive 75-inch model; and without proving a detriment to the TV's performance. Samsung's 8K Neural Quantum Processor, QLED, and HDR 10+ are a line-up made in technical heaven.
The quality of the image is staggering, bright and colourful. Both HD and 4K upscaled content is treated with care and precision, appearing almost as though 8K is its native resolution. While the colour representation isn't quite up to the standard of the (vastly more expensive) Samsung QE65QN900A 8K TV below, those upgrading from HD or 4K sets aren't going to notice or mind.
One of Samsung's best innovations made it to the Q800B: object-tracking. Using the speakers mounted behind the screen, the TV can immerse the viewer with accurate, directional audio. We're also glad to see Tizen OS in use once again – it's a simple system that becomes powerful through its simplicity and user-friendly nature.
Pros
- A fully featured 8K TV below £3500
- That robust yet refined Samsung build-quality
- Dolby Atmos sound
- AMD FreeSync for dynamic refresh rates
- Anti-reflection screen
Cons
- Slightly better colour can be found… but at nearly double the cost
Best value 8K TV
Description
Samsung's QE65QN900A is an astonishing example of what 8K TVs can offer at a lower budget. It still seeks to provide the ultimate in immersive home entertainment of course. The 65" QLED screen and HDR 10+ are, as we've come to expect from the tech, a delight to behold; the image is bright, clear and deep, with colour representation being naturally vibrant and inviting. The edgeless Infinity Screen design adds to this sense, creating a viewing experience more akin to looking through a panoramic window, rather than a boxed image.
The Neo Quantum Processor completes a flawless function, continuously analysing and tweaking visual media to provide the best performance, upscaled or otherwise – don't worry, this happens without you noticing. Samsung has taken as much care over the sound, too. As is quickly becoming the industry standard, the QE65QN900A has a colossal 10 speakers sitting behind the screen, helping to create a sense of immersion. If you have a soundbar as well, Samsung's Q- Symphony will synchronize it with the in-built speakers. This is taken further with the use of object-tracking, which allows the speakers to follow an object across the screen.
Pros
- 120hz variable refresh rate
- Infinity Screen with wide viewing angles
- It's loaded with experience-enhancing features
- 10 powerful speakers
Cons
- Minor bloom with local dimming
Best high-end 8K TV
www.currys.co.uk
Description
The XR75Z9KU from Sony is bleeding-edge TV tech with a slightly eye-watering price tag of just under £10,000. For those who can dream, this is a total beast of a television. It's the pinnacle of 8K home cinema. And yes, in terms of magic features, if you can think of it you’ll probably find it inside this 8K monster.
One major feature is the ‘Cognitive Processor HR’. This unique AI-powered tech analyses every scene, optimising picture and sound. It also adds subtle 3D depth mapping to create a subtle naturalistic feel. Alongside this, you also have Motion Clarity XR which works to reduce motion blur with fast-action like sports. Being an XR model, the XR55A80J has extra features for PS5 users, namely Auto HDR Tone Mapping which adapts the HDR performance of the screen for outstanding gaming visuals. Input lag is low with this model - you get Variable Refresh Rate, up to a silky-smooth 120hz.
True cinephiles aren't forgotten either. NCM (Netflix Calibrated Mode) will bypass some of the TV's internal processors to deliver the movie as the Director intended. There are a few pros and cons of Mini LED as display technology, but their advantage over OLED screens is the overall brightness. This makes for more accurate HDR performance. Despite less accurate dimming zones than OLED, This is a genuine rival to OLED screens.
If you’re hungry for some Sony goodness but want to look for a smaller or more affordable TV, check out our recommendations for the best Sony TVs.
Pros
- 8K resolution
- Everything except the price
Cons
- No HDR10+, but mitigated by Dolby Vision
What size TV do I need?
Unsurprisingly, this decision is best made after deliberating over your available space, budget and requirements. However, it tends to be sensible to have the smaller TVs in smaller rooms, and larger ones - like 8K TVs - in the biggest rooms. At the moment, 8K resolutions only tend to be found in much larger screen sizes, so your 8K TV is likely to demand a lot of space.
And so, if you're too close to a TV (and definitely in the case of large 8K TVs) no matter how high-quality the image, it's going to look blown out and poor. Too far, and you may as well watch Netflix on your phone.
Here’s a rough guide to give you an idea of the minimum distance you should have from your TV when viewing HD content:
40-inch TVs - 80 inches (6.7 feet)
50-inch TVs - 100 inches (8.3 feet)
55-inch TVs - 108 inches (9 feet)
60-inch TVs - 120 inches (10 feet)
65-inch TVs - 130 inches (10.8 feet)
75-inch TVs - 150 inches (12.5 feet)
Screen resolution guide:
HD: 1,280×720
Full HD: 1,920×1,080
Ultra HD/4K: 3,840×2,160
8K: 7,680×4,320
What are HDR and HDR10+?
HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. It works to get as much light, crispness and depth into your picture. Therefore, whites are brighter and blacks are darker. It offers a huge range of over one billion colours. HDR10+ is an extension of this, but the use of metadata creates an even more refined picture. On an 8K TV you'll really see the benefit of this technology.
What's OLED?
LED screens use a backlight to provide the image. With OLED, the pixels produce their own light. Therefore this gives greater accuracy to the image. As you might expect, this technology is ideal for 8K TVs.
What’s QLED?
Samsung does not make OLED TVs, they make QLED. QLED is a Samsung property that replaces Liquid Crystals (found in LCD) and replaces them with Quantum dots, which Samsung believes produce much more vibrant and bright colours and sharper images. QLED technology does tend to make an 8K TV cheaper than its OLED competitor.