Global shipments of 8K ultra-high definition (UHD) resolution TVs are expected to grow from 2,700 units this year to 911,000 in 2019, according to IHS.
The forecast hinges on the 65-inch screen size, which has by far the highest volume in production and is slated to account for almost 80% of 8K TV shipments in 2019.
According to Paul Gray, principal analyst for HIS, the biggest inhibitor to the growth of 8K TV will be consumer screen size preferences.
“8K requires a very large screen, or the higher resolution becomes invisible at normal viewing distances,” he said. “The average screen size in the TV market has grown by an inch each year over the past decade, but it is still a long haul before sizes over 70 inches become commonplace.”
According to the IHS, new LCD plants in China will be built over the next three years, so the capacity to make 65-inch 8K TV displays will increase dramatically. At the same time, Chinese consumers have proven to adopt new TV technologies early, as shown by their recent uptake of 4K TVs.
Gray said: “We can be confident that a combination of enhanced local panel production and consumers, eager for the latest technology, will make China the driving factor in 8K television growth”.