Katarzyna Petru
Televisions with a diagonal over 80 inches are becoming increasingly affordable. According to forecasts from the research firm Omdia, this segment is set to grow by as much as 44% in the next five years.
Leading the way are TCL with 85 and 98-inch models, followed closely by Hisense with 100-inch screens. Other players like LG, Thomson, Samsung, Sony, and others are also joining in, and the trend shows no signs of slowing down.
– “Significantly lower prices of ultra-large TVs make this previously premium category accessible to a wider group of consumers. This results from more efficient production and the strategies of Chinese brands, which in the segment above $1000 prioritize market share and brand visibility over margin,” comments Matthew Rubin, chief TV market analyst at Omdia.
They're Powered by LCD, Not OLED
The increase is mainly driven by LED-backlit LCD TVs. OLED and microLED in sizes over 80 inches are still prohibitively expensive, although prices for 83-inch OLEDs are starting to slowly decline.
The entire TV market will not grow significantly – from 209 million units in 2025 to 211 million in 2029 – but it is the ultra-large segment that will account for this growth. Omdia forecasts that sales of TVs over 80 inches will rise from 9 million in 2025 to over 13 million in 2029. The leaders will remain China and North America, while growth in Europe will be moderate.
RGB LED instead of 8K
More and more attention is being paid by manufacturers to the RGB LED technology, which will quickly make its way into mid-range models.
Hisense is already announcing cheaper models with this backlighting for next year, while Sony and Samsung are preparing to expand their offerings beyond flagship devices. LG is also signaling work on its own RGB LED.
Interestingly, manufacturers are now focusing more on RGB LED in ultra-large TVs than on further promoting 8K.
