Paweł Koper
As reported by FlatpanelsHD, the upcoming LG offer for 2026 will lack new 8K resolution television models. This strategic withdrawal from the niche segment concerns both the flagship OLED panels from the “Z” series and models from the QNED 99 family. This decision seems to be a clear signal for the entire industry: the consumer market is not yet ready for such a high resolution.
Why 8K is Losing to Market Reality?
The main reason for this decision is the marginal interest in the 8K standard. Despite the passing years, the film and streaming industry has not provided a sufficient amount of native content that would justify the purchase of such expensive equipment. Furthermore, stringent EU regulations regarding energy consumption have posed a significant challenge for manufacturers of 8K panels, which require much stronger backlighting due to pixel density. LG has concluded that further investment in this technology, given the current production costs and lack of demand, is not aligned with their business objectives.
Proven Direction
Instead of chasing the number of pixels, LG intends to focus in 2026 on what truly affects viewer comfort. The priority becomes the development of Alpha AI processors, which aim to extract the maximum potential from 4K OLED panels. A key element of the strategy will be improving brightness, precision of colour reproduction, and even more effective upscaling of lower resolution content. In the face of increasing competition, the Korean manufacturer is focusing on refining proven solutions.
An interesting turn in LG's strategy is the shift in focus towards large-format displays. Instead of offering 8K in smaller sizes, the company plans to hit harder in the segment of televisions with diagonals of 98 inches and larger, while sticking with 4K resolution. This move allows for maintaining a reasonable price while still delivering cinematic experiences, which customers are choosing much more frequently than the currently unnecessary pixel density of the 8K standard. It turns out that the only manufacturer of 8K screens for "the people" is now Samsung with its line of Neo QLED 8K televisions.
Source: FlatpanelsHD
