The television resolution war shows no sign of stopping - there are probably countless people around the world still wondering whether now’s the time to upgrade to a 4K TV, but manufacturers are still steaming ahead with even more high-res options.

  • What is 8K TV, when is it coming and does it really matter?

8K is the new 4K, in many ways, upping the resolution to a staggering 7680x4320, and that means that the major TV makers are all rushing to get sets out for you to pick from. The good news for you is that if you’re looking to pick up a bleeding-edge TV, we’ve rounded up the best 8K models in this list just for you.

For now, it’s worth saying that these models are still on the expensive side, and there’s not a huge variety to choose from at present - that’s the price of being on the cutting edge of display tech. Over time, as more models hit the market, those prices will, of course, come down.

Our Top Pick:

For

  • Amazing brightness and clarity Excellent design Impactful HDR rendering

Against

  • Still expensive Still no Dolby Vision

This is an 8K TV that delivers in the areas that count - its picture quality will have you believing that you’re basically living a few years ahead of the rest of the world, with HDR performance that gets jaw-dropping at times.

There are some hangups, and there’s no getting around how expensive it is, but the TV’s design is also a home run with almost zero bezel space to speak of. If you’ve got the budget, this is unlikely to disappoint.

  • Amazing quality Superb for gaming Looks supreme

  • Still pricey No Dolby Vision

The QN900A is the 2021 version of our top dog, and despite it being a little older it’s still packed to the brim with cutting-edge technology.

There are a few areas in which the 2022 model bests it, such as backlighting accuracy and audio performance. But, since the QN900A can now often be found at a significantly discounted price, it’s a far better value proposition.

  • Superb natural colours Excellent video processing Extremely bright

  • Only available in 75 and 85 inch Lacks YouTube 8K support

Sony’s Z9J is a seriously impressive TV and it does a great job of addressing the biggest issue with 8K - a lack of content. The TV uses something called Cognitive Processor XR to upscale and enhance both sound and image to deliver the best results possible.

We love that the tech doesn’t veer into the over-processed look and the colours, especially, appear pleasing and natural. The biggest downside is that it doesn’t support 8K content from YouTube, which is one of the only outlets offering such resolutions.

  • Gorgeous picture quality Good upscaling Dolby Vision and Atmos support

  • Lacks some codec support for 8K Still a fair chunk of change

The slightly older ZH8 is still an astoundingly impressive TV, especially if you’re able to get your hands on any native 8K content to watch on it.

If not, its upscaling tech from 4K is still mightily impressive, and the presence of Dolby Vision and Atmos will please picture and sound enthusiasts. It was released at the top end of the pricing scale but now often sees discounts, making it more appealing than ever.

  • It’s an 8K OLED One of the brightest OLED panels around Good audio performance

  • Prohibitively expensive The feet don’t inspire confidence

While the LG Z2 is significantly cheaper than previous 8K OLED models, it’s still astonishingly expensive. That said, it’s certainly an impressive bit of kit, and if you want all the benefits of OLED, at an 8K resolution, then this is the TV for you.

The good news is, if you can get past the price, you’re getting a serious performer. The picture quality is second to none and it’s also one of the brightest OLED panels on the market. The audio packs a good punch, too.

  • The only real OLED option Stunning picture

  • Unreal price Hard to find

LG took the plaudits for being the first to get an 8K TV out there, going with an OLED display that frankly beggars belief when you’re watching it. At an astromical £30,000 new, you’d hope so, of course, but this is still one of the most sumptuous TVs in the world right now.

The Z9 offers as perfect a picture as anything can at present, and also packs in great sound and a really smooth and easy UI to make it one hell of a package. If you’re dead set on 8K and have the money for it, the Z9 will feel a lot like arriving in the future.

How to pick an 8K TV

Picking an 8K TV is a tough nut to crack - while there aren’t that many options at the moment, you’ll have a lot of money on the line. These questions could help you make the right choice.

What’s your budget?

The biggest question as you approach the purchase of an 8K set is how much you want to spend - the sky is the limit, since TVs can get basically as expensive as you’re willing to go when you’re on the cutting edge. If you’re looking to get the most affordable 8K TV you can, we think you might be better off getting a really excellent 4K TV instead, but either way you’ll want to figure out your budget early on.

How big a TV do you want?

Another interesting quandary for 8K TV buyers comes on the size front. Simply put, it’s quite hard to find an 8K TV that’s any smaller than 65 inches, because TV companies have largely been sticking to the flagship sizes for their cutting-edge displays.

This means you will need to think carefully about where you can fit your TV before you commit to a purchase - if you don’t have the space, don’t buy a huge screen!

What will you use it for?

Finally, there’s the question of what you do with your TV. Do you watch loads of movies on it? Or are you a huge gamer, for instance? These should inform your choice too, since some TVs have options like 120Hz support for gaming and low-latency modes, while others also pack in cinema modes for ideal viewing experiences. The variation isn’t huge since these are all top-end TVs, but it’s worth double checking.