In the early '80s, desktop computers cost thousands of dollars. The same happened with memory modules, hard drives, inkjet printers, and flat screens. What's next? A good example is the new LV-85001 television made by Sharp. It's the first commercial 8K resolution TV on the planet, and its official price lives up to such a title: $133,000.
Many users think that 4K video is truly insane. If we push it to an extreme, we'll also find those who think the same about 1080p. 4K content is still very rare, but advances in gaming and graphics cards have made it possible to play at that resolution, and play well. Now... not everyone plays video games, and if 4K wants a chance in the general sphere, it will need the help of series and movies as soon as possible. The most curious thing about this situation is that manufacturers, and mostly those responsible for pushing 4K to market, have been working on its immediate replacement.
The Sharp LV-85001 in detail
Finally, it's time to welcome the first 8K television on the market. It belongs to the people at Sharp, and the model is LV-85001. This monster has an 85-inch screen, a 176-degree viewing angle, a contrast ratio of 100,000:1, and of course, a maximum resolution of 7,680 by 4,320 pixels, which equals a density of 104 pixels per inch. As a first-generation device, the Sharp LV-85001 has to make some compromises. The first is power consumption, which climbs to a not-to-be-scoffed-at 1,440 watts. The second (if my Japanese doesn't fail me) is in the processing of the 8K signal, since it needs to use four HDMI 2.0 ports (one port for each 4K signal before combining).
Price and availability
Is it logical to recall the price? Honestly, I don't know, but we're going to suffer together: The Sharp LV-85001 will arrive on the Japanese market on October 30, with a price tag of 16 million yen, equivalent to about $133,000, following current exchange rates. 8K broadcast tests will begin in Japan next year, while the rest of the world is still trying to solve the 4K equation...
