the comparison of the best models in 2022

If you’re tempted by the ultimate in image detail, look no further. We have chosen for you the best 8K TVs on the market from Samsung, LG or Sony.

The best 8K TVs in 2022

8K resolution TVs (7680 x 4320 pixels) are beginning to hit the market, promising unparalleled image quality. If they remain very expensive, their prices are now low enough to no longer reserve them for emirs and other professional footballers.

Let’s be honest, however: adapted content is non-existent and native sources are extremely rare. That hasn’t stopped several manufacturers from jumping in, however, with surprisingly good results thanks to the efficiency of modern scaling engines.

That said, don’t expect miracles. Full HD videos will consistently lack detail and native 8K content won’t be around for years to come. Clearly, if the technology is pretty solid, you will have to wait a while before you can fully exploit an 8K TV. For the vast majority of buyers, a 4K TV will be a much better choice.

If you’re really motivated, no worries, so we’ve compared the best 8K TVs on the market for you. As few models are available, this selection is currently limited, but we will expand it when new televisions pass through our hands. CES 2022 saw a number of announcements, with availability in the first half of the year. In the meantime, if the choice seems too limited, you can always read our comparison of the best 4K TVs.

Samsung QE65QN800A (QLED 2021) 8K almost for everyone

Last year, Samsung surprised its world with incredibly affordable 8K TVs that were priced at the level of a quality OLED screen. The Korean is therefore trying the experiment again this year by switching to Neo QLED. Beyond this improved slab, we welcome the return of the One Connect box which deports all the connections to a more accessible external box.

The switch to mini LED means that the backlight zones are multiplying: 1300 on this Samsung TV. The result is stunning, with a very high contrast that is getting closer and closer to OLED while ridiculing the latter from the point of view of brightness. However, the light peak is around 1200 cd/m2. As with the 4K model, the blooming is however sometimes noticed, in particular on the subtitles. Samsung has also made an effort on the calibration. Without reaching the perfection of Sony, it is now quite acceptable from the opening of the box.

The scaling is good, although, as with all televisions of this type, we will favor 4K sources above all. We must salute the care taken in the video game part, with not only perfect support for HDMI 2.1 for next gen consoles, but also G-Sync and Freesync for PC players. The image of this Samsung TV is therefore its main asset.

Its price is almost reasonable in view of its direct competitors, but it remains to be seen whether it will experience the same impressive price reductions as last year’s model. Samsung remains one of the brands to turn to for 8K TVs.

Sony XR-85Z9J 8K according to Sony

Sony was among the first to draw 8K televisions two years ago and continues its momentum with this behemoth of 75 inches and nearly 46 kg! Suffice to say that you will have to be sure of yourself if you want to install it on the wall. The feet are however well thought out, with an adjustable width to accommodate a soundbar or not.

LCD panel obliges, we are entitled to a good quality image, with very high brightness. We thus measured 2140 cd/m2, i.e. three times more than the best OLED panels. On the other hand, the contrast is logically much lower and one sometimes notices blooming. Nothing to complain about on the color side, the screen is perfectly calibrated, with a Delta E of only 1! Suffice to say that your eye will not see the difference with reality.

The upscaling engine generally does a good job, but it struggles a little with non-4K content, with the image often being too smooth. The content is also missing since we are not even entitled to YouTube 8K despite the presence of Google TV.

On the game side, we appreciate the presence of HDMI 2.1 and theinput lag content. Among the pleasant details, we also note the presence of a backlit remote control, a function far too often ignored.

Sony delivers here an exceptional television, stunning with quality content, but a little struggling for Full HD. There is also a significant price – even if it is still a giant 85-inch television. We tell you more in our test of the Sony XR-75Z9J.

LG 75QNED99 LG launches Mini LED

LG had already launched on 8K with an impressive Z1 series, but the brand is coming with a surprising new television model. This LG 75QNED99 does not use OLED, but Mini LED. A technology that we found so far especially in its great rival, Samsung, and which will not be long in coming to Sony.

Nothing to complain about the very neat design of the machine, the edges are thin and the foot rather pretty, even if it makes the installation of a sound bar complicated. Be careful if you plan to attach it to the wall, with 40 kg on the scale we are in the presence of a beautiful baby.

The 8K panel at 100 Hz displays no less than 2500 zones on this model. Thanks to this, the contrast ratio rises to 6000:1, an excellent figure for an IPS panel, but still behind other technologies. As on other Mini LED TVs, blooming is a recurring concern around elements such as subtitles. The brightness is acceptable, but far from what the best QLED TVs offer. On the other hand, there is nothing to complain about the colorimetry, LG once again does a neat job.

Bad surprise for gamers, yet generally pampered by LG. If HDMI 2.1 is in the game, VRR is not supported, just like Freesync or G-Sync. Unlike Samsung and Sony, the LG TV will not be recommended for gaming.

Although it generally offers more than adequate performance, this television is a little struggling compared to its direct competitors. On sale, however, it can be a more than acceptable option. We tell you more in our test of the LG 75QNED99.

If you are looking for the best televisions on the market, all categories combined, it’s here. If it’s above all a diagonal that you are looking for, you will find below our guides by screen size:

If you’re looking on the brand side, here are our dedicated TV picks:

Finally, if it’s a particular screen technology that interests you, here are our guides by panel type:

Choosing the right 8K TV

What 8K content exists?

If the televisions themselves are relatively mature technically, it is on the content side that the shoe pinches. There is indeed very little native 8K content. YouTube does offer a few demo videos in this resolution, but that’s about it.

As for TV channels, some experimentation has been done on major sports competitions, but we risk having to wait a long time to have programs in native 8K, the vast majority of channels being content with Full HD.

Finally, there remains the question of films and other series, and there is also no content available. A streaming 8K stream will require a substantial bandwidth (around 50 MB/s) and no 8K optical disc has yet been mentioned.

What HDMI standard do you need to display 8K on a TV?

Who says higher definition also says exploding bandwidth requirements. And classic HDMI 2.0 just doesn’t have enough room for an 8K stream. So for that, you’ll need HDMI 2.1 devices. If all televisions are compatible, you will need a latest generation console or a PC equipped with a latest generation graphics card to output an 8K image via HDMI.

What are the differences between 4K and 8K resolutions?

In technical matters, the only real difference between 4K and 8K televisions is the definition. The rendering of the image is especially visible on 65-inch TVs. 8K thus provides much more accurate rendering of colors and images. To see the difference, just look at the pixel density on a 75-inch TV. 8K will be much better supplied than 4K.

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