Paweł Koper
According to the FlatpanelsHD service, LG's upcoming offering for 2026 will lack new television models with 8K resolution. 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 appears to be a clear signal to the entire industry: the consumer market is not yet ready for such 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 passage of years, the film and streaming industry have not provided a sufficient amount of native content that would justify the purchase of such expensive equipment. Moreover, stringent EU regulations regarding energy consumption have become a significant challenge for 8K panel manufacturers, which, due to pixel density, require significantly stronger backlighting. LG has determined that further investment in this technology, given the current production costs and lack of demand, is not a viable business goal.
Proven Direction
Instead of chasing pixel counts, LG plans to focus in 2026 on what truly affects viewer comfort. The priority will be the development of Alpha AI processors, which aim to maximise the capabilities of 4K OLED panels. A key element of the strategy will be the improvement of brightness, precision in 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 make a stronger push into the segment of televisions with a diagonal of 98 inches and larger, while remaining at 4K resolution. This move allows for maintaining a reasonable price while still delivering cinematic experiences that customers tend to choose much more often 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
