Find out which resolution is best for your home theater
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Is it really worth paying more to get an 8K TV?
Piort Adamowicz?Getty
Overall Findings
Older, more supported tech.
Resolution: 3840 x 2160.
Available at a variety of price ranges.
Newer, with less support presently.
Resolution: 7680 x 4320.
Theres no doubt that 8K is a better technology than 4K but is this alone worth upgrading for?
Weve broken down the competing formats resolution, compatibility, available content, and cost to help you decide.
4K cinema standard is 4096 x 2160 pixels.
Four times the number of pixels as 1080p (HD format).
Very good detail and clarity.
Ideal for most home theater setups.
Less detail and clarity at larger screen sizes.
7680 x 4320 pixels.
Four times as many pixels as 4K (and 16 times as many as 1080).
Best detail and clarity.
Ideal for larger screens.
However, whether youll actually notice a difference is debatable.
4K TVs already offer a high enough resolution that youre unlikely to notice any pixelation or jaggedness.
Works with both HDMI 2.0 and HDMI 2.1 cables.
Bitrate: 15 - 25 Mbps.
Minimum internet speed for streaming: 25 Mbps.
Requires HDMI 2.1/advanced cables.
Bitrate: 50-100 Mbps.
Minimum internet speed for streaming: 50 Mbps.
HDMI 2.1 supports uncompressed 4K at 120 fps and 8K at 60 fps.
), cables, and TV.
This is less of a concern with 4K because most sources are compatible with it.
Content: Way More Available in 4K
Widely available on streaming services and Blu-ray.
PS5 and Xbox Series X support.
No Blu-ray support currently.
The biggest advantage 4K has over 8K right now is actual content.
Simply put, there isnt much you’re free to actually watch in 8K.
No streaming services, broadcasters, or physical media support it.
4K content is limited to a degree, but its much more widely available.
Cost and Availability: 4K is Much Cheaper
Affordable prices.
Many models to choose from.
Theres also availability to consider.
The 4K market is much more competitive, making it easier to find lower-priced, high-quality displays.
However, the 8K TV is starting to drop in price, especially during holiday or clearance sales.
Final Verdict: Stick With 4K For Now, Unless .
From a pure technical level, 8K is superior to 4K.
Butis it worth buying an 8K TV?
Probably not if money is your only barometer.
Of course, the calculation is going to be different for you if moneys no object.
In that case, there really isnt a downside to getting an 8K TV.
However, for most people, 4K is still the best way to go.
