Is there a finish line in the pixel race among TV, monitor, tablet and smartphone makers? Virtually all the leading brands now offer devices with 4K screens, despite the limited selection of ultra high-definition (UHD) content available. This isn't stopping the manufacturers from taking things a step further, stretching the limit to 8K.
Towards 8K TVs...
In 2014, brands like Sharp and Samsung took advantage of CES in Las Vegas and IFA in Berlin to wow the crowds with 8K screen prototypes. At CES 2015 this January, LG has announced it will reveal its own 8K screen, measuring 55 inches. The 8K designation corresponds to over 33 million pixels (7680x4320), a resolution 16 times greater than HD (1080p).
All of these screens are only prototypes, and the first commercial 8K TVs are not expected to launch until a few years from now. Although manufacturers continue to push the limits of the technology, the applications are currently limited, as there is no video content compatible with such a high-definition screen resolution. The very first 4K productions are slated to arrive in 2015, mainly via platforms such as Netflix and Amazon.
... and 4K smartphones
Even outside the TV sector, screens of all kinds are headed once and for all towards ultra high-definition. Last fall, Sharp demonstrated a 4.1-inch display panel with a record density of 736ppi (2560x1600 pixels). The screen could likely pave the way for phablets with unprecedented screen definition starting in 2015 or 2016. The Japanese manufacturer is not the only display maker pushing the limits of resolution; according to several Chinese media sources, Samsung has a similar project in the works. Among products already on the market, the LG G3 holds the current pixel density crown with 538ppi (2560x1440 pixels on a 5.5-inch screen). The majority of high-end smartphones available today have screens with between 300 and 500ppi.
Increasing the pixel count on smartphones will be essential in the coming years, as a few smartphones and cameras (including the recently launched GoPro HERO4) are already capable of filming in 4K. In the absence of commercially produced UHD content, users can at least take their own footage to enjoy and show it off to their friends.
