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Best 8K monitor – Jan 2023 (latest news & top picks)

A closer look at the future of modern display technology

Updated: Jan 5, 2023 3:15 pm
Best 8K monitors

The idea of the best 8K monitor might seem a little farfetched right now, however, with the ever-evolving technology that goes into modern displays, it’s really only a matter of time before these high-resolution panels are sat on our desks.

CES 2023 is officially live and we’re already seeing leading brands announce hugely impressive 8K monitors into the market.

Here are the best 8K monitors on offer right now – with a TV or two thrown in for good measure. 

If like us, you’re trying to get ahead of the curve, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve got a tonne of experience when it comes to modern display technology, having reviewed everything from HDMI 2.1 monitors to OLED TVs. In this guide, we’ll be breaking down everything you need to know when it comes to 8K monitors, including; potential pricing, specifications, and future offerings. It doesn’t matter whether you’re looking for the next-generation gaming monitor, ultra-crisp editing panel, or just curious about the idea of 8K, this guide will explain it all in a way that is easy to digest.

So, 8K monitors, a pipe dream or reality? Let’s see.

READ NOW: Samsung start work on 8K monitors

Best 8K monitor video


Best 8k monitor: Our top picks


What is 8K monitor resolution?

So, what exactly is an 8K monitor resolution?

Well, monitor resolution refers to the number of pixels horizontally by the number of pixels vertically. These numbers can be multiplied together to get a total pixel count, but that doesn’t really tell us anything more than how dense the pixel count is on a monitor.

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An 8K resolution is defined by 7,680 pixels horizontally by 4,320 pixels vertically (7680 x 4320) – giving you an idea of how many pixels your GPU has to drive to render an image.

Below are the most common resolutions available in modern monitors:

1080p (FHD) = 1920 x 1080

1440p (QHD) = 2560 x 1440

4K (UHD) = 3840 x 2160

8K (UHD) = 7680 x 4320

Best monitor size for gaming

How much will 8K monitors cost?

At the time of writing this, there is only one available 8K monitor in today’s market – the Dell Ultrasharp UP3218K 8K. It currently retails for well over $3,000 and lacks some of the fundamental features of 2023 monitors – including HDMI 2.1 support, high refresh rates, and gaming-tailored settings.

With that in mind, it’ll come as no surprise that 8K monitors will be the highest-priced monitors on the market. They will probably utilize features such as like OLED technology and mini LED backlight technology – meaning they’ll be less equipped for gaming when compared to today’s best 360Hz monitors.

When will 8K monitors become mainstream?

It’s hard to say with 8K, mainly because the technology that goes into even the most powerful PCs wouldn’t be able to push high framerates. That said, there are several articles that suggest 8K monitors could be coming sooner than we think. Techradar published an interesting piece at the end of 2021 that stated the following:

TechRadar Pro contacted a number of monitor vendors – and Dell rivals – that have confirmed plans to release 8K – and/or 5K monitors – in 2022.

However, there are still no real signs to suggest that 8K monitors will come to fruition anytime soon – so we’ll take that with a pinch of salt for now.

Do you need an 8K monitor right now?

Right now there is literally no need for an 8K monitor – unless you want to futureproof your display for the next decade. Games, films, and TV are mostly rendered in 4K resolution – with some upscaling to 8K for those using an 8K TV. That being said, while there are 8K monitors in the market, there is no real use-case for them right now.

That being said, articles have been published in recent times that might suggest that 2023 could be the year for 8K monitors. However, at present, the latest monitor announcements seem to be surrounding 1440p 300Hz gaming panels.

Will 8K be supported by PS5 and Xbox Series X?

While both Xbox series X and PS5 do support 8K, the amount of available content rendered in 8K is incredibly slim. At present, there is only one game that actually utilizes the 8K resolution. However, due to the nature of consoles right now, the PS5 will actually downscale the game to 4K to enable it to work efficiently.

Ultimately, while both consoles do support 8K resolution, neither has it enabled. Once 8K resolution content becomes more available (in both games and film), both consoles will be able to render it natively. But until then, 8K console gaming is a pipe dream.

Will 8K monitors be good for gaming?

Despite plenty of excitement surrounding the idea of 8K monitors, the chances of them being good for gaming are fairly slim.

Let’s take the arrival of 4K monitors as a prime example. When they first came to fruition, the best 4K gaming monitors only offered a 60Hz refresh rate. At that time, 144Hz and 240Hz monitors were fairly abundant in the market, making new 4K monitors the third choice for gaming.

For that reason, 8K monitors will likely showcase the same performance flaws. That being said, this is purely speculation and 8K monitors could come to shelves with 144Hz and above refresh rates. If that were the case, however, you’d definitely struggle to reach the framerates required for smooth gameplay. The best graphics cards in 2023 still struggle to push 144 frames per second on 4K monitors, so upping that to 8K would only see a reduction in performance.

All being said, everything points to 8K monitors being more immersive-type panels. They will likely be used for editing, content creation, or everyday panels – with 8K gaming monitors coming sometime after.


Best 8k monitor in 2023: in-depth review

Dell UltraSharp 32 PremierColor UltraHD 8K Monitor

Dell ultrasharp 321k8

Refresh Rate

60Hz

Response time

6ms

Screen size

31.5″

Resolution

7680 x 4320

/5
Editor’s Rating
Pros
  • 8K screen resolution
  • World’s first 31.5″ 8K monitor
  • Stunning image quality
  • Excellent colors
Cons
  • Extremely expensive

The world’s first 8K monitor came to fruition thanks to the ingenuity of DELL. The Ultrasharp 8K monitor might be the first of its kind, but it comes with a price tag that far exceeds the expectations and limits of most buyers.

Aesthetically, the UltraSharp features the brand’s subtle design language, display no flashy RGB or sharp angles. Instead, the UP3218K opts for a simple design characterized by thin bezels, a square metallic stand, and a slender profile.

Looks aside, the UltraSharp isn’t going to blow anyone away as far as gaming performance is concerned. At the heart of this 8K monitor lies an IPS 60Hz panel that delivers a peak brightness of 400 nits. The response time of this monitor runs at 8ms (out the box) or 6ms when it fast mode – meaning it will likely fall victim to motion blur and smearing. Let’s be honest though, this was never meant to be a gaming monitor – tailored more towards editors and creative types. The UP3218K certainly delivers excellent color reproduction thanks to Dell’s Premiercolor technology – offering 100% Adobe RGB, 100% sRGB, 100% Rec. 709, and 98% DCI-P3 color coverage. Each panel is also said to be factory calibrated out of the box, offering up an average deltaE <2.

Inputs will include 2 x DisplayPort, USB upstream, USB downstream, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

02
Best 8K TV

SAMSUNG 65-Inch Class Neo QLED 8K QN800A Series

Samsung QN800A

Refresh Rate

120Hz (HDMI 2.1)

Response time

N/a

Screen size

65″

Resolution

7680 x 4320

/5
Editor’s Rating
Pros
  • Crystal clear image quality
  • Highly accurate colors expected
Cons
  • High price point expected

The Samsung QN800A is a fine choice for any console gamer that wants to take their gameplay to the next level. It features all the high-end features you could want for a truly immersive experience – but be aware, this thing doesn’t come cheap.

Aesthetically, the QN800A is a fine piece of kit – offering up a sleek and premium styling that is sure to suit almost every scenario. Looks aside, it’s in the performance where this TV truly sings. Users can expect a stunning 8K visual experience that is enhanced by a top-of-the-range processor and mini LED FALD backlight technology. The QN800A also features HDMI 2.1 support for 4K @ 120Hz next-gen console gaming. Despite not featuring OLED technology, the QN800A still delivers superb colors thanks to QLED HDR 2000 certification. It also features HDR10+ support, a number of additional inputs, and stunning contrast ratio thanks to the mini LED backlight technology.

While this isn’t strictly a monitor, the 65-inch can be used as a monitor if utilized in the right manner. It’s a great option for content creators or console players who want to reap the rewards of TV display technology.

03
Future 8K monitor arrival

ViewSonic ColorPro VP3286-8K

Viewsonic 8k monitor

Refresh Rate

N/a

Response time

N/a

Screen size

32″

Resolution

7680 x 4320

/5
Editor’s Rating
Pros
  • Crystal clear image quality
  • Highly accurate colors expected
  • Thunderbolt 3 support
Cons
  • High price point expected

ViewSonic officially announced the ColorPor VP3286-8K back in January, however, it still hasn’t come to fruition just yet. Don’t let that put you off though, this monitor will be hitting shelves in the near future – and when it does, it looks set to impress.

ViewSonic has given the new 8K monitor a subtle design that is fairly in keeping with the rest of the monitors the brand has designed in the past. Users should expect thin bezels, a subtle color scheme, and limited gaming nonsense.

As far as performance goes, there are still a few blanks in the specification list of this panel. It will likely feature a similar 5-8ms response time as DELL’s offering – alongside the same 60Hz refresh rate. Of course, the monitor will deliver a native 8K resolution, decent colors right out of the box, and a plethora of connectivity support. Speaking of colors, rumors suggest that we should expect an extremely wide color gamut that is in the region of 99% Adobe RGB. At the current stage, there is no indication of HDMI 2.1 support, nor are we expecting high refresh rates or gaming-tailored features in the OSD.

That being said, this is certainly a monitor geared towards creatives, editors, and multi-tasking scenarios.

Best 8K monitor in 2023 frequently asked questions

What is the best 8K monitors?

Right now, the Dell Ultrasharp Up3218K is the best 8K monitor on the market – showcasing excellent picture quality, aesthetics, and good value for money.

Are 8K monitors good for gaming?

At the time of writing this, the technology that drives the latest games isn’t powerful enough to support 8K gaming.

While some consoles can support 8K gaming, there isn’t a great deal of supportive content to go with it.

8K monitors are still a luxury right now, however, in the future, they’ll likely be the monitor of choice.

Do 8K 120Hz monitors exist?

At the time of writing this, 8K monitors seem to be limited to around 60Hz. This is no real surprise as when 4K monitors hit market, they too only offered a lackluster 60Hz refresh rate.

That said, there are a number of 8K TVs that feature faster 120Hz refresh rates, so it’s really only a matter of time before monitors feature the same refresh rate.

Final Word

So, there you have it, our quick rundown to the best 8K monitors available today. Unfortunately, there aren’t a great deal of options available right now, however, it really is only a matter of time before 8K becomes much more mainstream.

Like always, we’ll be keeping this page bang up to date with all the latest news, arrivals, and updates so you never miss a beat when it comes to purchasing an 8K monitor.

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