Sharp will start selling the world’s first 8K TV – four times the resolution of 4K – in Japan next month. The 85-inch LCD TV will need four HDMI connections to deliver 8K resolution and will cost just over $130,000 dollars.
Sharp launches first 8K TV
We have seen Sharp’s wildly impressive 8K TV on several occasions but it has not been available to buy until now. 8K resolution – or 7680x4320 pixels - is sixteen times HD or four times 4K. In total, it has over 33 million pixels.
The 85-inch TV has a built-in tuner but it is not capable of receiving 8K content. The only way to input native 8K content to the TV is by using all four HDMI 2.0 inputs at once, each delivering a 4K signal that the TV stiches together to form 8K.
Sharp has made the TV possible by utilizing its IGZO LCD technology, also used in high-resolution mobile displays. While 8K is extremely impressive and this TV is the first of its kind, in relative terms the 85-inch TV has 104 PPI (pixel per inch), which fades in comparison to high-end smartphones that often come in at above 400 PPI.
Japan’s national broadcaster, NHK, has been working on 8K for some time. NHK expects to start 8K test broadcasts next year during the Rio Olympics. It expects 8K to “become common” in 2020 in time for the Tokyo Olympics.
Competitors, including Samsung and LG, have also been showcasing prototype 8K TVs at trade shows in recent years.
Sharp’s LV-85001 will be available to professional customers in Japan starting October 30th for approximately $130,000 dollars.
- Source: Sharp
