GoKawiil8K TV market collapses as LG, Sony and TCL exit, leaving Samsung alone
After years of hype predicting 8K as the next TV standard, most major manufacturers have abandoned the format. LG Display stopped making 8K panels in 2026, Sony discontinued its 8K TVs in 2025, and TCL cited weak demand for its exit, leaving Samsung as the only major brand still selling an 8K model in 2026. Research firm Omdia found cumulative 8K TV sales reached just 1.6 million since 2015, compared with nearly a billion 4K sets in use worldwide as of September 2024, with 8K sales peaking back in 2022.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The retreat suggests that resolution alone wasn't enough to drive consumer upgrades, especially given the scarcity of native 8K content and the high cost of these sets. This could signal that TV makers and content producers are shifting investment toward other differentiators, such as brightness, color, and smart features, rather than chasing ever-higher pixel counts. Samsung's continued commitment may reflect a bet on niche or future use cases rather than mainstream demand.
- LG, Sony and TCL have all exited the 8K TV market, with LG Display halting 8K panel production in 2026.
- Samsung remains the only major manufacturer still selling an 8K TV, the QN990H, in its 2026 lineup.
- Omdia data shows only 1.6 million 8K TVs sold cumulatively since 2015, versus nearly a billion 4K TVs in use, with 8K sales peaking in 2022.
Samsung QN990H 8K Neo QLED TV — If you're intrigued by the last 8K TV standing, the Samsung QN990H is your chance to own a piece of cutting-edge (if niche) display tech directly referenced in the article. It's a flagship-grade Neo QLED panel with premium picture processing, perfect for enthusiasts who want the sharpest image available regardless of content availability.
See Samsung QN990H 8K Neo QLED TV on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: engadget.com — Thomas Godwin, 2026-11-01
Published there as: “Whatever happened to 8K TVs?”
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