What Is 16K Resolution? Will We Ever Go Higher than 8K?
By
Arol Wright
16K resolution screens are in development. But do you really need one in your living room? How would you even look at it?
4K TVs are just starting to become commonplace in households worldwide, while those who want to go fancy can go all the way up to 8K resolution for a few extra hundred dollars. However, tech companies are already thinking about the next best thing after that. And it’s widely thought that the next step is 16K resolution.
Now, there’s a lot we don’t know about 16K screens, other than they will pack amazing pixel density and should be a boon for ultra-large TVs. However, they’re still very far away.
So, what is 16K, and what can we expect from it? And more importantly, when will it come out?
What Is 16K Resolution?
Marketing names for screen resolutions over HD have been pretty clear and self-descriptive, and 16K is no different. 16K is a screen resolution with more or less 16,000 pixels horizontally. Most 16K TVs you’ll see once 16K becomes a standard will likely not have exactly 16,000 pixels. The most commonly talked-about resolution is 15,360 x 8,640 pixels—basically, exactly four times as many pixels as 8K, and 16 times as many pixels as 4K.
No actual consumer 16K screens are actually being sold at the time of writing the article, but it’s not like the concept hasn’t been explored. 16K resolutions can be run on computers using multi-monitor setups—popular YouTube channel Linus Tech Tips actually attempted to run games at 16K resolution in a video by running a multi-monitor setup comprised of 16 4K monitors. It can also be done by using four 8K monitors.
As for actual 16K screens, though, prototypes have been shown off. For example, Innolux showed a 100-inch 16K display at Touch Taiwan Display 2018, while Sony showed off a humongous 783-inch unit at NAB 2019.
There’s nothing commercial yet, though.
But why?
Why Don’t We Have 16K Resolution Yet?
In the case of 8K, the very first commercially-available 8K TV was released in 2015. Granted, back then, it cost an eye-watering $133,000, and prices have dropped steeply since. Still, if screen makers have been playing around with the concept of 16K for years now (16K prototypes have been shown as early as 2018), what’s stopping one of them from starting to commercialize it, given we’re well into 2022?
The short answer is that someone will eventually do it (after all, the tech is in development), but there isn’t much of a rush to put it on the market because it probably won’t be a game-changer for most people.
The thing with screen resolutions is that pixel density going up past a certain point starts yielding diminishing returns to the actual resolution difference the human eye will notice. Put a 50-inch 4K screen alongside a 50-inch 8K screen, and unless you’re really nitpicky, chances are you won’t notice a difference in quality.
It’s also why 8K screens are typically sold in sizes ranging from 70 inches to 100 inches.
With that being said, unless you’re planning to buy a super-large TV that’s the size of your entire wall, you likely won’t notice a big difference with 16K. These types of ultra-large screens are the ones that will truly benefit from having a 16K resolution or something above that. It could come in handy for a screen that’s replacing a projector in a movie theater, for a digital billboard, or for a screen to place in a large office.
16K Res Sounds Cool, But You (Probably) Don’t Need It
16K screens are coming eventually. But once they’re out, don’t feel in any particular rush to throw out your newly-acquired 100-inch 8K TV. Chances are you won’t notice a difference with a 16K one that’s the same size.
Right now, TV manufacturers are focusing on other ways to improve image quality rather than just resolution. For example, introducing displays with better color accuracy/reproduction and power consumption are both things that can go a long way towards making better TVs, even if their resolution is still 4K/8K.
16K TVs explained: what comes after 4K and 8K resolution?
Skip to main content
TechRadar is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s why you can trust us.
(Image credit: Sony)
Audio player loading…
Is it time to start thinking about 16K TVs? In the ongoing race between TV manufacturers to outdo their competitors, technological standards are continually being pushed to new heights, and that means 16K resolution – the next step after 4K and 8K – has arrived.
For most households, 4K is the standard resolution for the best smart TVs. It’s rare to buy a new TV without 4K being part of the bare minimum we expect. But it’s by no means the best resolution option now on the market. In fact, not even 8K TVs are the best available, given the advent of ultra-advanced 16K screens.
Promising unrivaled clarity, crispness and sharp detail, it’s arguably the holy grail of outstanding cinematic experience.
Yet, the technology is still fairly new, and it comes with a hefty price tag, begging the questions how does it differ from 4K and 8K, and will it become a staple resolution option?
Sony was the first big brand to unveil a 16K TV in 2019 . Their 16K Crystal LED display was, and still is, a thing of beauty. Its 1,000 nits brightness, 15360 x 8640 pixel count, and modular setup enables this technology to create a ‘quasi-virtual’ reality that delivers immersive viewing. It almost sounds too good to be true… and if you’re not a commercial buyer, that sadly is the case. For now.
Although all the above features make it all too tempting to say goodbye to 4K for good, while bypassing 8K altogether, we can’t. This is because 16K being a household standard is far off. Most home entertainment isn’t currently available in 16K. Truth be told, there’s still a lot of channels that don’t offer true 4K, and that resolution has been available since 2012.
Still, while we can’t all purchase one now, our guide can walk you through what 16K TV actually means, what we know about this tech so far, and, ultimately, if it’ll ever dominate our living rooms.
What is 16K?
Basically, the term 16K refers to the number of pixels in an image. But to put the 15360 x 8640 pixels of 16K into perspective, we need to look at what 4K and 8K resolutions offer. Typically, 4K is defined by 3840 x 2160 pixels, while 8K is 7680×4320. This means that 16K TVs have 16 times the pixel density than 4K, and eight times the density of 8K. That’s a big upgrade.
Because pixels have to be smaller to fit so many into one display, individual pixels can’t output as much light either – so it’s crucial for 16K TVs to offer a benchmark brightness. This is why the 1,000 nits marker is such an important feature of 16K resolutions.
Assuming 16K TVs keep the modular setup that Sony showcased, the overall TV would consist of 16×18 inch square displays with 360×360 resolution in each. This would then deliver frame rates of 120Hz, 10-bit grayscale, and 99% black surface area, allowing for deep blacks and excellent contrast. Again, this is assuming other brands opt for similar specs.
(Image credit: TCL)
Are 16K screens actually better than 8K?
It may sound scandalous to ask, but do 16K displays really make that much of a difference? It’s important to ask before we start dreaming about such advanced screens arriving in our homes – as they’re a good while off.
In truth, it all depends on the size of the TV, the content you’ll be watching (are you watching 16K content?), and how close you’re sitting to the screen.
The higher the resolution of a screen, the closer you need to be to see the increased detail. So if you’re sat 10 feet away from a TV screen, you likely won’t be able to see the difference between 4K and 8K – let alone 16K.
If you are sitting close enough, you’ll want native 16K content – video that was recorded or created in 16K – to see how good it can be. Today’s 8K TV makers are still figuring out how to upscale low-res content effectively, and it gets increasingly more difficult for a TV processor the larger the disparity between the resolution of the content and the resolution of the screen is.
So there will be a notable difference in quality when compared with 4K or even 8K, but that difference would be minimal unless certain conditions are met.
The downsides to 16K right now
As we touched upon in our 4K TV explainer, the file sizes for 4K content are far larger than those for lower-res content. Streaming that kind of content over home internet or data is difficult now, and that’s without higher resolutions being included. Quite simply, the bandwidth isn’t there yet – not just for broadcasters but for viewers too, as most people don’t have high speed broadband, especially in more rural areas where reliable internet is lacking.
When you start adding in these variables, the pros of crisp imagery and smooth motion start to pale in comparison to all the potential cons right now.
The PS5 is technically capable of 8K gaming, but it’s realistically years off – and 16K games may be decades away (Image credit: Sony)
What about 16K gaming?
It’s possible, but it’s not a readily accessible option, which is a recurring theme with 16K.
Gamers have played in 16K before, as YouTuber Linus Sebastian demonstrated after setting up 16 4K screens to game on. His results were impressive, but arguably not true 16K, nor did it deliver the seamless graphics we’ve seen 16K produce since.
There’s also the fact that the latest PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles have only recently dipped into 4K options, so to expect 16K is a big ask at this moment in time. PC gamers, as always, fare better than their console counterparts, but it’s the cost that will still make getting 16K difficult.
Are we ready for 16K resolution?
Commercially, yes. Residentially, no. At this moment in time, 16K is a luxury that few people will be able to afford and/or properly enjoy. If you focus only on Sony for the moment, the price is speculated to be $10,000 (around £7,500 / AU$14,000) per module, then on top of that you have the logistics of running this exceptional tech in its optimum state.
As consumers, we’re hungry for the latest and greatest technologies, and it’s clear manufacturers are capable of making 16K work – but the everyday household isn’t ready just yet.
Nor will it be for the next couple of years. If 16K is to ever roll out to everyone, it will be a steady and gradual process, with 8K TVs first needing to become as widespread as 4K TVs are now.
What’s next for 16K TVs?
Despite being an exciting prospect for home cinema connoisseurs, 16K TV is still in its infancy. The innovation we’ve already witnessed is opening up many possibilities, but it’ll take time before 16K delivers the high standards we demand of such technology, with the affordability needed for mainstream acceptance.
There’s also the fact that 8K resolution has yet to have its day, though the way it’s quickly gaining momentum means the time could finally be upon us. The number of 8K units sold has tripled in the last year. When it comes to the natural next steps, it would seem obvious that broadcasters and viewers will want to move to 8K before leaping to 16K.
Today’s best 8K TV deals
Reduced Price
TCL 6-Series 8K Roku TV (65R648)
$1,999.
99
$1,799.99
View
See all prices
Reduced Price
TCL 6-Series 8K Roku TV (75R648)
$3,999.99
$1,998
View
See all prices
TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site .
©
Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street,
New York,
NY 10036.
What are 16K displays and do they have a future?
Articles
07/01/2022
Author: Luda
16K screens are currently under development. But do you need such a TV in the living room?
4K TVs are just beginning to appear in homes around the world, and some are willing to pay a hefty premium for a sharper 8K picture, but manufacturers are already thinking about how to further improve the picture quality.
The next step will presumably be 16K resolution.
We don’t know much about these screens other than that they will have amazing pixel density and become the standard for extra-large TVs. However, this is still a long way off.
So what is 16K resolution, what can we expect from it, and more importantly, when will it be available to consumers?
Contents
- 1 What is 16K?
- 2 Why are there no 16K screens available?
- 3 16K — cool but not practical
What is 16K?
For screen resolutions above HD, marketers began to give fairly clear names that spoke for themselves, 16K is no exception. This designation corresponds to approximately 16,000 horizontal pixels, and to be precise, at this stage we are talking about a resolution of 15360 × 8640, exactly four times more pixels than 8K, and 16 times more pixels than 4K .
To date, there is not a single TV with a similar resolution on the market, but this does not mean that the concept is not being explored.
For example, the popular YouTube channel Linus Tech Tips showed what games look like in 16K resolution by connecting 16 4K monitors to the computer at the same time. Four 8K monitors are also suitable for this.
As for real 16K screens, prototypes have already appeared. For example, Innolux showed off a 100-inch 16K display at Touch Taiwan Display in 2018, and Sony showed off a huge 783-inch screen at NAB a year later.
However, commercial production has not started yet. What is the reason?
Why are there no 16K screens available?
In the case of 8K, the very first TV went on sale in 2015 for a whopping $133,000, but prices have since dropped dramatically. The question arises: if manufacturers have been playing with the 16K concept for many years (the first prototype was presented back in 2018), what prevents at least one of them from launching a serial production, given that it is already 2022 in the yard?
In short, someone will eventually do it (the technology is in development, after all), but companies are in no rush to bring the new format to market because it probably won’t change anything for most people.
The thing is that increasing the pixel density after a certain point starts to lead to a decrease in the return on the actual difference in resolution that the human eye can see. Place a 50-inch 4K TV next to a similarly sized 8K TV, and if you don’t look too hard, chances are you won’t notice a difference in picture quality. That’s why 8K screens typically come in sizes ranging from 70 to 100 inches.
So, to fully appreciate a 16K image and distinguish it from an 8K one, you have to buy a giant wall-mounted TV. Such screens are more suitable for cinemas, large offices or as a digital billboard, but hardly for the home.
16K — cool but not practical
16K screens will hit the market sooner or later. But once they’re released, don’t rush to write off your newly purchased 100-inch 8K TV and run for the new one. You probably won’t notice a difference in the image if the 16K screen is the same size.
TV manufacturers today are focusing on other ways to improve picture quality.
For example, more accurate color reproduction and efficient power consumption will significantly improve image quality, even at the same 4K/8K resolution.
Based on www.makeuseof.com
See also
8K and 16K video resolutions via USB-C port
The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) has unveiled its new video standard that allows PCs to connect to 16K displays using a USB-C cable over the DisplayPort standard. The new version 2.0 DisplayPort Alt Mode is capable of handling video data for two 8K displays or a single 16K display over USB-C and has a maximum throughput of about 80 gigabits per second (Gbps) — almost three times that of the previous DisplayPort 1.4 protocol. This means you can connect a monitor with a stunning 15360×8460 resolution and 60Hz refresh rate to your desktop or laptop via a USB Type C connector. While it may sound exciting, the standard won’t appear in final products until 2021. For consumers, the expectation won’t be too great given that there aren’t many mainstream video content on the market that exceed 4K resolution today.
Of course, 8K digital cameras will appear, but experts say you don’t need them. Gamers may take notice of the visual fidelity provided by 8K and 16K panels, but the slower 60Hz refresh rate of even the best 144Hz panels of 2020 may limit the appeal of these high-res panels to enthusiasts.
At least initially, the standard will surely find interest among photographers and designers working with 8K content.
“In DisplayPort Alt mode, the USB-C connector can transmit up to 80 gigabits per second (Gbps) of DisplayPort video data using all four high-speed lanes in the cable, or up to 40 Gbps with simultaneous delivery of SuperSpeed USB data,” announced the Association in a prepared statement. DisplayPort Alt Mode 2.0 is built using USB4 specifications. VESA has partnered with the USB Developers Forum (USB-IF) to develop new features for Alt Mode 2.0.
The DisplayPort 2.0 protocol was first introduced last year and provides support for features such as higher refresh rates, high dynamic range (HDR) content, multiple display settings, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) displays, and also resolutions over 8K.