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Sharp Jumps the 4K Crowd, Shows Off Next Step With 8K Display

Sharp Electronics is demonstrating both 4K and 8K ultra high-definition displays at CES, hinting at the future of HDTV.

By Will Greenwald
January 7, 2013
Sharp Jumps the 4K Crowd, Shows Off Next Step With 8K Display

LAS VEGAS—Sharp is joining the growing crowd of HDTV manufacturers showing off the next step in high definition at CES this week. The company is demonstrating several new ultra high-definition (UHD, also known as 4K) HDTVs and digital signage products, along with an 85-inch 8K display that could represent the next "next step" in high definition.

Sharp is demonstrating a proof-of-concept display on the show floor that will show an 85-inch picture capable of displaying 7,680 by 4,320 pixels, or 15 times the number of pixels on a 1080p screen. The resolution is a huge jump over ultra high-definition, or 4K, displays, which only show 3,840 by 2,160, or four times the number of pixels on a 1080p screen. The display is a technology demonstration, and won't be seen in consumer products until years after the long-awaited UHD resolution screens hit the market.

CES 2013 Bug For "standard" UHD displays, Sharp will demonstrate a new prototype of the Aquos Ultra HD television for home use and the IGZO 32-inch digital sign for commercial use. Sharp UHD screens might appear on digital billboards sooner than they hit homes, but one way or another, the technology is nearing commercial release.

If you want an HDTV that uses current technology and will actually be available in stores this year, Sharp has several new 1080p HDTVs on the way. The company is showing off its 90-inch LED display, claimed to be the largest LED HDTV in the world. Sharp will also premiere its new 6-Series connected HDTVs, and 7- and 8-Series 3D Quattron HDTVs, all of which will be available in 60-, 70-, and 80-inch sizes. Pricing and availability for those screens have not yet been announced.

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About Will Greenwald

Lead Analyst, Consumer Electronics

I’ve been PCMag’s home entertainment expert for over 10 years, covering both TVs and everything you might want to connect to them. I’ve reviewed more than a thousand different consumer electronics products including headphones, speakers, TVs, and every major game system and VR headset of the last decade. I’m an ISF-certified TV calibrator and a THX-certified home theater professional, and I’m here to help you understand 4K, HDR, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and even 8K (and to reassure you that you don’t need to worry about 8K at all for at least a few more years).

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