CES 2020 | LG announces eight "Real 8K" TVs

LG today announced eight 8K TVs. The two OLED and six LCD televisions offer what LG calls “Real 8K” as well as a slew of other features, including an AI-enabled chip. 

LG unveiled a 77- and 88-inch OLED model, three 75-inch LCD TVs, and three 65-inch LCD sets. All the TVs support HEVC, VP9, and AV1 codecs and HDMI 2.1, which can process 8K content at 60 fps. More interestingly, the new TVs have LG’s new Alpha 9 Gen 3 processor, which LG claims uses deep learning algorithms to improve picture and sound quality. Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa are also onboard for smart assistant features. 

Readers are probably wondering what “Real 8K” means. The term is a bit more than a marketing buzzword. LG uses “Real 8K” to distinguish its TVs from competitors sets, particularly Samsung’s. While the “Real 8K” TVs have the same 7680x4320 resolution as other 8K televisions, LG is a member of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) and thus uses its definition. The CTA’s definition of 8K relies on slightly different metrics than other groups like the 8K Association, of which Samsung is a member. We won’t get into the details here, but suffice it to say they are technically different formats. 

There’s no word on pricing or availability yet, but considering how new 8K TVs are, expect these new TVs to cost a pretty penny. LG’s new 8K TVs will be on display at CES 2020.