4K TV Briefs: Scientists Say 4K Isn’t Better Than HDTV; When Is the Best Time to Buy a 4K TV; Do You Need a 8K TV?

By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man – Follow me on X.

Scientists Say 4K TV Picture Not Better Than HDTV?
The Guardian writes that anyone considering buying an expensive 4K TV might be better off keeping that old High-Definition set that’s been sitting around the house for awhile. The newspaper’s article is based on a new study from the University of Cambridge, and Meta (Mark Zuckerberg’s company), which found that there’s no “noticeable benefit” in a 4K TV picture compared to a similarly sized 2K screen, “In other words, there is no tangible difference when it comes to how sharp an image appears to our eyes,” the newspaper writes, quoting the study’s author as saying: “At a certain viewing distance, it doesn’t matter how many pixels you add. It’s just, I suppose, wasteful because your eye can’t really detect it.” The study’s conclusion will likely be challenged by 4K enthusiasts who say that seeing is believing. (And your humble correspondent would agree with them.) Plus, you have to consider that the study was done in part by Meta which has no vested interest in televisions but a large vested interest in non-TV devices such as VR goggles and computers/mobile devices used to access Facebook. To learn more about the study, click here.

LG Unveils 136-Inch Micro LED 4K TV
LG’s most famous TV model is its OLED 4K TV which arguably offers the most vivid and clear picture on the market. However, the LG OLED discussion may now have some competition from LG’s new 136-inch Micro LED set which can control each individual pixel for the best possible picture quality. Tom’s Guide writes that the TV has a 4K resolution and a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1. However, here’s the catch: LG has yet to set a price. To learn more, click here.

4K vs. 8K: Do You Really Need 8K?
Well, with scientists questioning the validity of buying a 4K TV, the answer might seem obvious. And Analytics Insight has broken down the multitude of reasons why buying a 8K TV really doesn’t make any sense in 2025. To read the article, click here.

When Is the Best Time to Buy a 4K TV?
This is a question I sometimes get from readers and I always say the best time is in the spring when TV manufacturers bring out their new models. At the same time, they discount the previous year’s models which are often just as good (but cheaper) as the new editions. IGN has also chimed in with its recommendation for the best time to buy a 4K TV. To read it, click here.

4K TV Market Projected to Hit 1307 Billion By 2033
Scientists may not be impressed with 4K TV, but the folks at SNS Insider estimate that the 4K TV market, which was valued at $305 billion this year, will rise to $1307 billion by 2033. Consumers are yearning for a better picture and now are much more likely to buy a larger screen than in previous years, the site says. To learn more, click here.

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