If you’re on the fence about picking up a 4K display, heed my advice and wait. 8K is poking right around the corner and will force a drastic drop in price of 4K. Considering 1080p is still the most prevalent display technology, then Japan Display Inc.’s (JDI) recently announced 120 Hz 8K IPS LCD panel must seem like the stuff of legend.
As an 8K module, the 17.3-inch panel features a whopping 7,680 x 4,320 resolution, roughly equivalent to four times the resolution of 4K (but stuffed within a 17-inch panel at a massive 510 pixel density). An impressive feat no doubt, but what’ll really blow your socks off is the fact that screen retains a 120 Hz refresh rate and is an IPS panel, meaning it reproduces extremely accurate color depth with sharp blacks; this is a very rare combination that has not even fully disseminated on the 4k level.
Many tech-enthusiasts often self-righteously argue that “the human can’t see beyond 60 frames-per-second,” but as a proprietor of a 120 Hz monitor, I refute this assertion; you’ll definitely notice a difference if your GPU can handle 120 frames-per-second.
A more immediate issue to contend with, however, is that the latest HDMI 2.0 standard can only output 4,096 × 2,160p (4K), let alone at 8K resolution at 120 Hz. Such vast data may require the development of an entirely new output format.
According to JDI itself, which is a joint venture between Hitachi, Sony, and Toshiba, the 8K is aimed at video production engineers, PC gamers, and medical schools or hospitals — places that require sharp, close-up detail.
The unit will be on display on October 7 -10 at the NHK/JEITA booth of the CEATEC JAPAN 2015 tradeshow. Given its specs, I estimate the unit will retail between $1,000 and $1,500.
Source: Digital Trends
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