This is a translation of a foreign article, so there may be translation errors.
https://www.avpasion.com/lg-abandona-8k-televisores-adios-oled-lcd/
LG Declares 8K Discontinuation: No New 8K TV Launch Plans for 2026
Amid the absence of native content, high prices, and thriving 'premium' 4K, 8K has lost its meaning to the masses... and LG seems to have acknowledged this too.
In the TV industry, 8K sounded impressive at press events, but ended up being an empty 'promise' in the real world. On paper, it's perfect. Higher resolution, finer detail, stunning picture quality. The problem is reality. When you sit on the couch and turn on Netflix, Prime Video, Movistar, what you end up watching most of the time (if you're lucky) is still 4K.
In the meantime, 8K TVs have faced three major obstacles: excessively high prices, critically lacking native content, and marketing for 'magical upscaling' that sometimes feels like a trick. Moreover, to make matters worse, today's best 4K TVs show significantly better picture quality in terms of contrast, processing, HDR, and light control compared to many 8K TVs that 'fall short of their potential.'
So it's no surprise that LG has said 'that's enough.' LG is discontinuing its 8K business and has decided to stop releasing both 8K OLED and 8K LCD TVs. This is an interesting shift, considering that LG has been leading the 8K market (particularly as the almost only player in the OLED segment) for quite some time.
LG's 8K OLED Was an Excellent Showcase, But... 4K Took Over the Market
In 2019, LG jumped into the 8K OLED market with the 88-inch Z9 model carrying the message 'Look at our technology.' It was a monster-like device made more for showcasing technology than for general households. In subsequent generations, a 77-inch option was added, and the lineup evolved through Z1, Z2, and Z3.
The problem is that Z3 became the last of its kind. Z3 was maintained in the 2024 and 2025 catalogs but was discontinued at the end of 2025, and no successor model for 2026 was announced. In other words, LG's iconic 'showcase' 8K OLED era has come to an end.
Adding my personal opinion, no matter how beautiful 8K is, a well-made 4K flagship OLED today provides far greater satisfaction. Higher effective brightness, better tone mapping, consistent HDR representation... and you don't need to pay extra for a resolution you'll rarely use. Buying an 8K OLED is like buying a Ferrari to go buy bread on a narrow alley full of speed bumps.
LG's 8K LCD Is Also a Dying Ember... The Market Has Shrunk
In the LCD field, LG started 8K models in 2019 and tried to expand its range with more "affordable" options in 2021. However, signs of downsizing were already apparent. The lineup decreased in 2022, and there was no 8K lineup at all in 2023. It ended with the 8K QNED model, which was released only in some regions, marking a "practical end."
This model was sold for a while, but now only some stock remains. There are no successor models. The fact that even LG, a brand capable of making big noise if it wants to, has gotten off this train means that sales volume is not enough to keep the manufacturing and distribution system running.
Interestingly, this is not an isolated case. Other brands have also withdrawn from the 8K market in recent years. Ultimately, 8K failed to cross the critical threshold (Masa Crítica).
A little-known fatal blow: The entanglement with HDMI
Here's another important but little-known detail: many 8K TVs couldn't properly receive specific 8K compressed signals through HDMI 2.1. This is poison for real users. Users don't want to study manuals like they're assembling a rocket. They just want to connect their consoles, PCs, and players and have it work.
In fact, when some platforms and devices tried to support 8K, serious problems arose. "Okay, we know it's 8K... but is the signal coming in properly? What about the frame rate? The compression method? How does the TV handle this?" These are complex issues that users don't want to deal with.
So, is 8K over?
No. As a technology, 8K is not dead. It just remains at the point where "it will return when it makes sense" as a "general living room product." For 8K to be meaningful, two very simple things are needed.
-- Actual 8K content (not just a few demo videos).
-- A perfect ecosystem: Solving compatibility issues, reasonable pricing, and visual improvements beyond just numbers.
Until these conditions are met, the wisest choice is to choose a top-tier 4K TV. Focus on the elements that really make a difference: powerful HDR, precise light control (mini LED), well-organized OLED, excellent processing, full HDMI 2.1 support, gaming mode, and a comfortable smart TV system.
8K on the spec sheet may look luxurious, but what matters in everyday life is not the number on the box, but the actual picture quality that appears before your eyes.
▶ Source: https://www.avpasion.com/lg-abandona-8k-televisores-adios-oled-lcd/
