Tomasz Wadowski
This is the end of a certain technological ambition. Sony officially confirmed in a conversation with the portal FlatpanelsHD that it no longer intends to produce 8K televisions. After the Z9K model, presented in 2022, the company has no plans for further devices with that resolution. Furthermore – the Z9K has already been withdrawn from stores, and Sony's 8K line has effectively been discontinued.
8K in retreat, but not without reason
For many, this may come as a surprise, but Sony's decision is not shocking. The company has never chased competition in annual releases – instead, it has employed a calmer, two-year update cycle. The Z9K has still managed to stay on the market remarkably long, as long as three years, covering the 2023 and 2024 seasons as well.
But the lack of 8K content makes a difference – apart from a few videos on YouTube, it's hard to find any substantial material that actually utilises this resolution today. Even the PlayStation 5 consoles, though promoted with 8K support, have no games that natively use such a high resolution. Sony, while heavily promoting its new console PS5 Pro with 8K support via HDMI 2.1, knows well that 8K games are more about marketing than a real need.
Time for 4K, QD-OLED and Mini-LED
Instead of 8K, Sony is now focused on improving 4K televisions. Later this year, a new Bravia 8 II model based on QD-OLED technology will hit the market, equipped with an AI-based smart processor designed to enhance colour and image precision. Next year, the company plans to debut its first Mini-LED televisions with proprietary RGB LED backlighting, providing even more precise local dimming, something that can significantly improve contrast in LCD televisions.
Samsung sticks with 8K, but the rest are pulling back
Sony is thus joining the ranks of companies that are moving away from 8K resolution, with similar decisions made earlier by LG and several other manufacturers. The only major player still actively developing and promoting 8K TVs is Samsung, which will launch two new models with that resolution in 2025. This includes the successor to the QN900D that we tested.
8K is still being produced by some Chinese brands, but they are not hitting the European market due to energy restrictions.
Will 8K make a comeback in the future? Sony hasn't definitively shut the door, but all signs point to the company focusing on technologies that are more useful for everyday use in the coming years – better OLED panels, powerful Mini-LEDs, and proprietary image algorithms.
Source: FlatpanelsHD
