How exactly do you connect an 8K panel to something and get full resolution? Surely HDMI doesn't support that - maybe not even at 30 Hz. I think DisplayPort 1.4 can at 60 Hz. It would be weird (but not unwelcome) for a TV to have DP inputs.
First gen 4k displays had a similar issue. They rely on lower rez content and upscaling to work because there is no practical way to get all those bits in there at launch. 2020 8k displays will have better support, and some content to go with it... except that there really is no content. 4k was specked out as being 'film equivalent' for archival purposes; that isn't to say that there is not some improvement going above 4k for old films... but the use case is surely limited. I think the real reason for 8k is not for native content, but to provide a crisper picture on truly large displays. I mean really large 120"+ displays. Full wall displays, signage, etc. I could see airports replacing their 20+ display walls with 4 or 6 8k displays and seeing some power and maintenance savings. Plus for weirdos like me who use TVs as computer monitors. You will never see the difference between 4k and 8k video footage... But static text on a 40-50" 'computer monitor' would be waaaaaay easier on the eyes in 8k. We will finally have that paper-like clarity on the desktop that we have enjoyed for years on cell phones, and that will be a welcome change! But oh man... apps that don't support scaling will need a magnifying glass lol
The article doesn't mention which HDMI standard the TVs are using, but I'll assume it's HDMI 2.0 and not 2.1. The only way to get an 8K signal to the TV with HDMI 2.0 will be using 4:2:0 chroma sub-sampling and a refresh rate of 30Hz, significantly impacting the quality of the picture.
Like zmeul said, it really is like selling submarines to Hungary. HDMI 2.1 should be the minimum prerequisite before even contemplating an 8K TV.
I don't know how many people will get it for 8k. I see people getting it more for the HDR peak brightness of 4000* nits than resolution alone. Resolution is just icing on the cake.
*I'm not aware of any other TV sets that offer that caliber of brightness.
HDMI 2.1 supports 8K resolutions and Samsung has said that while the HDMI 2.1 spec isn't final yet, once it is, they expect to say that this TV will support it. Currently, you would be limited to USB or to streaming for 8K.
This TV uses 4 HDMI 2.0 connectors to deliver 8K@60Hz. These HDMI connectors are connected to Q900-series One Connect Box, which is the connected to the TV using a proprietary optical connector/optical cable (One Invisible Connection).
In the future, we might see a HDMI 2.1 version of the One Connect Box.
HDMI (720p) HDMI (1080i, 1080p) HDMI (3840 x 2160p) HDMI (4096 x 2160p) *HDMI (7680 x 4320p @ 30 Hz) USB (720p) USB (1080i/p @ 60 Hz) USB (3840 x 2160p @ 24/30 Hz) USB (3840 x 2160p @ 60 Hz) USB (4096 x 2160p @ 24/30/60 Hz) *USB (7680 x 4320p @ 24/30/60 Hz) " *: This input signal is only supported by Q900R model series.
The HDMI 1 port connection supports 8K resolution only when HDMI UHD Color is set to On, and supports 4:2:0 8-bit 30 Hz input signals only
Samsung won't even support 4K in BBC's iPlayer in its 2016 models (shipped with 2012 draft encryption libraries), so why would anyone in the UK trust it to support 8K properly down the road?
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Supacon_Fizzix - Wednesday, October 17, 2018 - link
How exactly do you connect an 8K panel to something and get full resolution? Surely HDMI doesn't support that - maybe not even at 30 Hz. I think DisplayPort 1.4 can at 60 Hz. It would be weird (but not unwelcome) for a TV to have DP inputs.zmeul - Wednesday, October 17, 2018 - link
what's the point of this!? is like selling submarines to HungaryCaedenV - Wednesday, October 17, 2018 - link
First gen 4k displays had a similar issue. They rely on lower rez content and upscaling to work because there is no practical way to get all those bits in there at launch.2020 8k displays will have better support, and some content to go with it... except that there really is no content. 4k was specked out as being 'film equivalent' for archival purposes; that isn't to say that there is not some improvement going above 4k for old films... but the use case is surely limited.
I think the real reason for 8k is not for native content, but to provide a crisper picture on truly large displays. I mean really large 120"+ displays. Full wall displays, signage, etc. I could see airports replacing their 20+ display walls with 4 or 6 8k displays and seeing some power and maintenance savings.
Plus for weirdos like me who use TVs as computer monitors. You will never see the difference between 4k and 8k video footage... But static text on a 40-50" 'computer monitor' would be waaaaaay easier on the eyes in 8k. We will finally have that paper-like clarity on the desktop that we have enjoyed for years on cell phones, and that will be a welcome change! But oh man... apps that don't support scaling will need a magnifying glass lol
r3loaded - Wednesday, October 17, 2018 - link
The article doesn't mention which HDMI standard the TVs are using, but I'll assume it's HDMI 2.0 and not 2.1. The only way to get an 8K signal to the TV with HDMI 2.0 will be using 4:2:0 chroma sub-sampling and a refresh rate of 30Hz, significantly impacting the quality of the picture.Like zmeul said, it really is like selling submarines to Hungary. HDMI 2.1 should be the minimum prerequisite before even contemplating an 8K TV.
WinterCharm - Wednesday, October 17, 2018 - link
I'd be okay with the world switching to DisplayPort. It's a much better standard than HDMI anyways.euler007 - Tuesday, October 23, 2018 - link
Don't hold your breath, next up is HDMI 2.1. You can joing a BetaMax support group for your displayport concerns.enoch861 - Wednesday, October 17, 2018 - link
I don't know how many people will get it for 8k. I see people getting it more for the HDR peak brightness of 4000* nits than resolution alone. Resolution is just icing on the cake.*I'm not aware of any other TV sets that offer that caliber of brightness.
cheinonen - Thursday, October 18, 2018 - link
HDMI 2.1 supports 8K resolutions and Samsung has said that while the HDMI 2.1 spec isn't final yet, once it is, they expect to say that this TV will support it. Currently, you would be limited to USB or to streaming for 8K.demu67 - Wednesday, October 17, 2018 - link
This TV uses 4 HDMI 2.0 connectors to deliver 8K@60Hz. These HDMI connectors are connected to Q900-series One Connect Box, which is the connected to the TV using a proprietary optical connector/optical cable (One Invisible Connection).In the future, we might see a HDMI 2.1 version of the One Connect Box.
CU - Wednesday, October 17, 2018 - link
8K is only 30hz over HDMI based on the manual.HDMI (720p)
HDMI (1080i, 1080p)
HDMI (3840 x 2160p)
HDMI (4096 x 2160p)
*HDMI (7680 x 4320p @ 30 Hz)
USB (720p)
USB (1080i/p @ 60 Hz)
USB (3840 x 2160p @ 24/30 Hz)
USB (3840 x 2160p @ 60 Hz)
USB (4096 x 2160p @ 24/30/60 Hz)
*USB (7680 x 4320p @ 24/30/60 Hz)
" *: This input signal is only supported by Q900R model series.
The HDMI 1 port connection supports 8K resolution only when HDMI UHD Color is set to On, and supports 4:2:0 8-bit
30 Hz input signals only
Trackster11230 - Wednesday, October 17, 2018 - link
I agree, but playing devils advocate:Could it be using a tiling effect where an HDMI 2.0 port is driving half the display at a higher frequency / chroma sub-sampling?
chris.london - Wednesday, October 17, 2018 - link
FYI a UK retailer also has the 75 inch version in stock.GreenReaper - Friday, October 19, 2018 - link
Samsung won't even support 4K in BBC's iPlayer in its 2016 models (shipped with 2012 draft encryption libraries), so why would anyone in the UK trust it to support 8K properly down the road?