High-definition flat-panel TVs have become popular items for many consumers, and during this holiday season those TVs are likely to be of the Ultra-HD variety. That’s the conclusion of a new report by market research firm Strategy Analytics titled “4K and 8K HDTV Global Market Forecast.”
According to the report, 222 million homes will own an Ultra HD TV by the end of 2018, an increase of 50 percent over the past 12 months. The report also forecasts that more than 600 million homes will own an Ultra HD TV by 2023. Most of these TVs will be of the 4K variety, with only 3 percent 8K-ready by that time, says Strategy Analytics.
The report says North America will spearhead the adoption of Ultra HD TV, with 71 percent of households owning one by 2023. The largest market for Ultra HD TV sales will be the Asia-Pacific region, with sales reaching 46 million units in 2018. The figure shows global Ultra HD TV sales by region.
According to the report, sales of 8K-ready Ultra HD TVs will grow from 400,000 units in 2019 to over 11 million by 2023, representing 6 percent of the total Ultra HD TV market.
David Watkins, Director at Strategy Analytics, says in a statement, “Owners of 8K TVs will primarily be watching 4K and HD content, while the TV’s image processors will do a good job of scaling most content to give impressive images. Amidst the excitement surrounding 8K TVs, it is important to remember that image resolution, whether native or otherwise, is only one element in perceived video quality, and TV vendors and content players alike should not lose focus on other important drivers of consumer satisfaction, such as High Dynamic Range (HDR) and High Frame Rate (HFR).”