The resolution that TVs can display is improving dramatically year after year. Right now, the next step in home entertainment is 8K resolution TVs that promise the most lifelike visuals yet—with indiscernible pixels on enormous screens, even when viewed from up close. The best 8K TVs are still a pretty penny to acquire, but they’re becoming increasingly affordable as time marches on.
Right now, there’s not a lot of 8K content to be experienced that’s coming from TV and movie studios or the streaming services, but if you have a cutting-edge digital camera (like the GoPro HERO 10 Black) that can shoot at higher video resolutions (like 5.3K Ultra HD), you’ll be able to take advantage of an 8K TV’s heightened capabilities right away.
While we await the glut of native 8K content that is surely coming from Hollywood, 8K TVs are already here from a selection of well-known manufacturers, and they're quickly becoming rather affordable. In fact, if you’re planning to upgrade your existing TV in 2022, it makes sense to invest in an 8K resolution TV if you plan to keep it for at least the next three to five years.
Right now, 8K TVs offer the greatest detail of any consumer-oriented TVs ever made, with the brightest HDR, and support for all of the latest high speed gaming technologies to make your next-generation console (or gaming PC) experience the envy of gamers everywhere.
Even though there’s little native content to enjoy, you’ll find that many 8K TVs will upscale from lower resolutions quite impressively. So, whether you're looking to pick up one of the more affordable 8K resolution TVs, or have the funds to afford one of the most cutting-edge models available, here are six of the best 8K TVs you can buy in 2022.
- Best 8K TV Overall: Samsung QN900A
- Best 55-inch 8K TV: Samsung Q900
- Best 8K TV for Gaming: LG NanoCell 99 Series
- Best HDR 8K TV: Sony Z8H
- Best Affordable 8K TV: Samsung Q800T
- Best 8K TV Priced Around $2,000: TCL Class-6 Series 8K Mini-LED
Best 8K TV Overall
Samsung Is Introducing Us To The Next Major Upgrade In TV Tech
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- HDR: Quantum HDR 48x, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG
- OLED or LED: QLED
Samsung ‘s new 8K TVs pretty much blow away everything its made before—and is even challenging the best looking 8K OLED TVs for contrast, color depth and clarity in darkened rooms; with none of the drawbacks. The Samsung QN900A isn't just the best 8K TV you can buy right now, it might just be the best Samsung TV ever made.
This TV uses Samsung's mini-LEDs, which are just 1/40th the thickness of traditional LEDs, letting Samsung pack more of them inside the TV for far more nuanced dimming zones when displaying HDR content with a super high contrast ratio. These mini-LEDs also deliver extreme brightness that makes the picture look like it's showing on an OLED screen, whether you're watching in a dark room or a room that’s saturated with sunlight beaming through the windows. Better yet, this TV does this without any of the risk of burn-in.
It’s Samsung’s Neo Quantum processor that gives this TV powerful upscaling capabilities, so any older 720p, 1080p and 4K content will look better than ever, even if it's not quite the same as watching native 8K content (which Hollywood will be cranking out soon enough). The TV’s support of 120Hz refresh rates make high-speed gaming possible (at 4K) over one of the included HDMI 2.1 connections.
The physical design of this TV is gorgeous too, with barely distinguishable bezels along all sides and a minimalist stand which makes the whole TV look like a piece of art. The thin frame affords the same strength when mounted on a wall. It also enjoys fantastic viewing angles, so the picture is rich and clear no matter where you're sitting.
If an 85-inch screen is too big for your living space, a range of smaller sizes are available at lower price points, like a 65-inch starting at $3,300.
Best 55-inch 8K TV
A Smaller Size 8K Screen Means A Lower Price
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- HDR: Quantum HDR 24x, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG
- OLED or LED: QLED
There aren't yet too many 55-inch 8K TVs to pick from, but that doesn't mean there aren't great ones to be found. The Samsung Q900 has all the specifications of the bigger, more high-end 8K TVs, at a fraction of the price and in a much smaller footprint. This TV supports 8K native resolution, has a 120Hz refresh rate for high speed gaming at lower resolutions, and supports most of the popular HDR standards (bar Dolby Vision).
At 55 inches, the pixel density of this TV is just ridiculous, so up close it can look even better than some of the best 8K TVs at larger sizes, though it won't offer the same immersion from a distance. It enjoys powerful 8K upscaling, making 1080p and 4K content look crisper and cleaner than ever before possible, and its local-dimming is excellent (delivering responsive and effective HDR lighting in supporting content for much more vibrant visuals).
Gamers can enjoy low input lag and FreeSync support in low-latency mode, and wide viewing angles make it great for cooperative play, or for watching sports with larger groups of people. It can even work pretty well as a big-screen PC monitor if you have the GPU power to drive it. If you’re looking for the ultimate large screen size—98 inches—with 8K resolution, Samsung has a Q900 model in this size too, but right now, it’ll cost you about $10,000.
Best 8K TV for Gaming
Take Your Gaming To The Next Visual Level
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- HDR: Cinema HDR, Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos
- OLED or LED: LED
Taking into account the current versions of the Microsoft Xbox, Sony PlayStation and Nintendo Switch gaming consoles, you can’t go wrong connecting any of these systems (or your PC) to any 8K resolution TV. The visual effects, graphics and animations will look truly stunning. However, if you can afford a higher-end 8K TV with an 86-inch screen, like this LG model, you'll be in a for a real treat. (A lesser expensive 65-inch or 75-inch model of this LG NanoCell 99 TV is also available.)
In addition to the cutting-edge resolution this LED screen offers, you can expect up to a 120Hz refresh rate that’ll display richer colors and deep blacks with what the company refers to as “revolutionary” backlight control. With AI upscaling, this TV will make any lower-resolution content look spectacular.
For gamers, the TV’s TruMotion 240 feature does a great job at reducing blur while sharpening every detail at up to 240 frames per second. This allows for fast-moving and high-action gaming sequences to appear crystal-clear. The TV’s Game Optimizer functionality provides easier access to all your personalized game settings, plus it utilizes a Auto Low-Latency Mode, and the more dynamic gaming offered by HGiG. With four HDMI ports, you can connect multiple gaming systems and other equipment.
Best HDR 8K TV
Sony Offers Great HDR Support In Its 8K TVs
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- HDR: HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision
- OLED or LED: OLED
The Sony Z8H builds on the successes of the Z9 Master series OLED TV and does almost everything just as well. The 2,500 nits brightness doesn't quite match the Z9's ridiculous 4,000 nits, but it's plenty bright for SDR and HDR content. When combined with 320 individual dimming zones, the Sony Z8H doesn't just make bright scenes look glaringly realistic, but little details like flashes on metal or water stand out too.
This isn't the best TV for gaming, but it's not terrible either. As an OLED, it has low input lag and a 120Hz refresh rate, which means it supports high frame rates on new-generation consoles and connected gaming PCs. It does lack variable refresh rates (as well as FreeSync and G-Sync support), however, and it doesn't support automatic low latency mode either. It only has a single HDMI 2.1 port (you may need to perform a firmware update to unlock it) but at least it’s there.
Although the Sony Z9J Master TV ($8,998) with its Full Array LED display is the better HDR 8K TV, the Sony Z8H offers a far lower price, so for a somewhat affordable HDR-focused 8K TV, there's little better than this one.
Best Affordable 8K TV
Samsung Is Offering 8K TVs At An Affordable Price
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- HDR: HDR10 and HDR10+
- OLED or LED: QLED
There's no denying that 8K TVs are expensive—you’re paying a premium for cutting edge technology (and in most cases, for the brand name as well). But while the biggest and best 8K TVs can cost many thousands of dollars, there are more modest 8K TVs available (especially in a 65-inch screen size).
Samsung's Q800T might lack the near-invisible bezel of the Q950TS and it doesn't have the depth of color or contrast as the high-end LG alternatives, but at its discounted price ($2349), this TV is much more affordable and offers a great entry point for those looking to dip their toe into 8K content.
Even if it could be considered an entry-level 8K TV, the Q800T is anything but in the wider world of quality televisions. It's at its most affordable at 65-inches, but it’s also available in a 75-inch and 82-inch version if you want something larger (and pricier).
This 65-inch 8K TV enjoys many of the features of Samsung's higher-end models, like Ambient Mode for converting your TV into a work of art in your home, or stealthily hiding it away with a wallpaper-matching image. There's also multi-view, which lets you watch an instructional video while you watch a movie, or use social media to publish your comments while enjoying your favorite TV shows for an at-a-distance communal experience.
HDR content is lovingly displayed with high brightness for realistic flashes and explosions, and when combined with an anti-reflective display, there's little concern over glare in bright environments, which makes this a great TV for rooms where you can't or don't want to black out the curtains. Gamers can take advantage of a high refresh rate and low response time, making for very low input lag. And with FreeSync support, you can also make screen tearing during intense gaming sessions a thing of the past.
Best 8K TV Priced Around $2,000
TCL Has Brought The Price of 8K Down To Less Than $2,000
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- HDR: Dolby Vision, Smart HDR, HDR Pro Pack
- OLED or LED: Mini-LED
This 8K TV from TCL offers proof that 8K technology is becoming much more affordable, especially when it comes to a 65-inch screen size. The “smart” aspect of this TV is powered by Roku TV, so you’ll have immediate access to a vast selection of content (including 8K content once it becomes available). In the meantime, you can enjoy 720p, 1080p and 4K content with improved clarity thanks to built-in 8K upscaling. For the price, this is a really great deal for a powerful TV if you’re looking to step into the 8K resolution realm without having to get a second mortgage on your home.
What’s The Real Difference Between 4K and 8K TVs?
The biggest difference between 4K and 8K TVs is their resolution, which directly impacts picture quality, brightness, vibrancy and smoothness. With the introduction of 4K resolution TVs, we saw twice the resolution of what 1080p offered.
With the introduction of 8K resolution TVs, video can now be seen at 7680 x 4230 pixels. That’s more than 33 million total pixels at once, which is four times the number of pixels used to display 4K resolution content, and 16 times more pixels than 1080p resolution content.
In addition to resolution, the type of display also makes a difference. For example, QLED can deliver a brighter image and accommodate larger screen sizes at a lower price point, but OLED technology can display video using a wider viewing angle with darker blacks, for example. No matter which type of display the 8K TV utilizes, your viewing experience will be significantly better than any 4K resolution TV that’s currently available.
The big drawback right now is that there’s no native 8K content available from the TV networks, Hollywood studios, or popular streaming services. However, this will definitely change in the near future—most likely starting with the popular streaming services, like Netflix. In the meantime, any 8K resolution TV will use AI-based upscaling to enhance the resolution of native 720p, 1080p and 4K resolution content to make it look as crisp as possible with the increased pixel density.
