When can we expect to see the first 8K OLED TV on the market? Probably around June 2019, according to LG (via Korean media). Mass production of the panel will commence in May 2019.
First 8K OLED TV
LG Display, the display panel manufacturer, will start mass production of 8K OLED panels in May 2019. The plan was confirmed at an industry conference held at COEX in Seoul, Korea.
- "We plan to begin the mass production of 8K OLED panels in May next year," LG Display CEO and Vice Chairman Sang-Beom Han told the audience.
A representative from LG Electronics, the consumer electronics company, added that he expects LG to launch a consumer version of the 8K OLED TV in June 2019. An 88-inch prototype was unveiled at the CES show in Las Vegas earlier this year and again at the IFA show in Berlin last month.
Samsung introduced its first 8K LCD TV earlier this month and has about a year’s head start on 8K OLED. Foxconn is also producing 8K LCD panels that are sold under the Sharp TV brand.
Curiously, LG Display said that it will start mass production of 8K OLED before 8K LCD, thus supporting its commitment to the new display technology. Production of 8K LCD will commence in the second half of 2019, the CEO confirmed.
It is still very early days for 8K technology and with the exception of some short video clips on YouTube and Vimeo there is no content available in native 8K – or 7680x4320 pixels – resolution. Nevertheless, we expect more manufacturers to join the race next year. The 2020 Olympics in Tokyo will be the first event to be broadcast in 8K.