A few years ago, 8K resolution seemed far-fetched, but it’s incredible how most TV brands have pushed the limits of screen technology through 8K TVs.

The best 8K TVs have ultra-high-resolution and top-tier upscaling capabilities, among other advanced features, making them suitable for both avid gamers and movie enthusiasts.

Being quite an investment, some key factors you should consider when buying an 8K TV are audio quality, clarity, color reproduction, and gaming capability.

Here are the best 8K TVs available today.

The Top 8K TVs in 2023

Despite not featuring QLED or OLED technologies, the Sony Bravia XR Z9J still rivals its subjectively superior cousins and is one of the best LED TVs around. Of course, an 8K resolution is an undeniable advantage, but it's the Cognitive Processor XR that drives this TV's remarkable performance. It uses human visual-system insights to intelligently enhance focus, tracking, and details for a natural viewing experience.

HDR content is outstanding, especially Dolby Vision. There are almost zero blooming and halo effects, while black levels are impressive. Shadows are also highly detailed, and the TV can push itself to extraordinary brightness levels of almost 3,000 nits. All in all, it’s quite the show, with depth, detail, and accurate colors bursting from every corner. Nothing gets washed out when viewed from angles, with color and contrast enjoyed from every seat in the room.

The audio is also impressive, and it supports eARC through one of its HDMI ports. There’s also 120Hz 4K gaming support, a rapid 4ms response time, ALLM, and VRR, although PS5 users require a software update for VRR compatibility. The TV is available in 75- or 85-inch models.

The Samsung QN900B is the successor to the QN900A, and it packs excellent upgrades over its predecessor. The first is the Neural Quantum Processor 8K, which offers better optimization. Second is the audio update to a 6.2.4-channel 90W speaker system that delivers punchier and more rounded sound. And third is the Motion Xcelerator Turbo Pro technology, which provides next-gen PC gamers with buttery-smooth 4K 144Hz gaming performance.

The display has micro-thin bezels for an immersive edge-to-edge experience. The visuals remain incredible, with Samsung’s proprietary Quantum Matrix Technology Pro backlighting delivering deeper blacks and brighter whites, with intricate details in both. Together with Quantum HDR 48X in the 65-inch model and 64X in the bigger displays, the brightness range is expanded, resulting in explosive colors and more detail.

While the Tizen user interface may not be as intuitive and fast as other smart platforms, you'll overcome any issues and find your way around soon enough. It comes with all the apps you’ll likely need pre-installed, so you're good to go right out of the box.

If you’re looking for a gorgeous-looking and powerful 8K TV, the Samsung Q800T QLED TV is worth buying. It packs powerful machine-learning algorithms and a wide range of image databases in the Quantum Processor 8K, which does a fantastic job of optimizing lower-resolution content. You’ll have an immersive watching experience as the TV delivers striking images with incredible blacks, dazzling whites, and natural color.

Real Game Enhancer+ saves you from the hassle of making manual adjustments when gaming. It reduces motion blur in fast-paced games, resulting in a fun and seamless experience. Additionally, one of the four HDMI ports has HDMI 2.1 support for next-gen gamers. There’s also a vast array of other connectivity inputs, making it easy to connect external speakers and other peripherals.

The ultra-slim OneRemote makes tuning to different channels and controlling other compatible devices around the house a breeze. The TV also supports multiple voice assistants, including Alexa, Bixby, and Google Assistant, making it effortless to access different channels.

Packed with cutting-edge display technologies and excellent gaming features, the TCL R648 is one of the best-value 8K TVs. It uses mini-LED technology to deliver incredible contrast and Quantum Dot Technology to showcase natural, vibrant colors.

Machine-learning algorithms drive the AiPQ Engine to further intensify the color, clarity, and contrast in different scenes. Furthermore, the local dimming technology has up to 240 zones, which control the backlight in specific areas, ensuring you view images with enhanced details.

The THX-Certified Game Mode coordinates essential gaming settings like input lag, picture processing, ALLM, and variable refresh rate, so you can enjoy playing with smooth graphics. When it comes to sound performance, the TCL R648 doesn’t disappoint. It features two down-firing mid-range tweeters and two stereo speakers that deliver crystal-clear dialogue and deep bass.

The Samsung QN900C Neo QLED is the successor to the QN900B. While both TVs are superior 8K QLEDs, the QN900C offers some excellent upgrades. This model is the 65-inch version, and there are slight variations between this one and the larger 75- and 85-inch models.

Of course, the cost is the most significant factor; choosing the larger sizes will significantly increase the already hefty price tag of the 65-inch model. Another difference is the HDR technology. The larger sizes boast an even more impressive peak brightness than the over 2,000 nits this model offers.

However, the display on the 65-inch still showcases incredible color accuracy and vibrancy complemented by deep, dark blacks and popping highlights. Details are exceptional, even in the shadows. With its ultra-wide viewing angle, color and contrast remain rich and consistent, even from extreme angles.

For gamers, it checks all the boxes. It sports four HDMI 2.1 ports, VRR, ALLM, FreeSync Premium, a 144HZ refresh rate for PC gaming, and a super-low input lag. Other features include Dynamic Black Equalizer to adjust brightness in certain areas of the screen and Mini Map Zoom, which is perfect for spotting the enemy.

The successor to the Z9J, the Sony Bravia XR Z9K offers mini-LED technology for an even more immersive experience. It offers more precise control of the backlight for even deeper blacks, dazzling whites, greater depth, and more lifelike images. In addition, the algorithms of the XR Backlight Master Drive reduce bleeding, blooming, ghosting, and flare to almost undetectable levels.

The Z9K runs on the same innovative Cognitive Processor XR that mimics human visual and auditory perception the Z9J does. But the Z9K features Sony’s Bravia Cam, an excellent add-on that helps create the best possible immersive audio/visual experience by adjusting the sound and picture based on where you're sitting and the room's ambient lighting.

The Samsung Q950TS is a colossal 85-inch QLED that takes your viewing experience a huge notch higher with lifelike picture quality. The Quantum Processor 8K has incredible upscaling capabilities as it uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve lower-definition content, enabling you to see intricate details that are hard to see on 4K TVs.

Gaming enthusiasts will have an immersive experience playing modern titles on this TV. The 240Hz motion rate reduces blur significantly, plus there’s Real Game Enhancer+ that optimizes visibility and sound. The built-in 4.2.2-channel speaker system, which produces 70 watts in total, offers a surround sound experience.

All dialogues are crystal-clear, thanks to the Active Voice Amplifier technology, which analyzes ambient noise to enhance different voices. The ultra-viewing angle design and glare reduction let you see vibrant images from any position. As such, family members won’t cramp on one couch to watch content.

What to Look for Before Buying an 8K TV

There are numerous considerations when buying an 8K TV. The first and foremost is the fact that there is very little commercial 8K content to watch. Let’s face it: most of us haven’t yet felt the full impact of 4K. However, you can find 8K content to watch on various websites, such as YouTube and Vimeo, and there are a handful of popular movies shot in 8K. Therefore, before buying an 8K TV, you should check how good its upscaling is.

Exceptional TVs like the Sony Z9K offer outstanding upscaling as well as incredibly immersive audio and visuals. However, the Z9K is a pricey TV. But you don’t need to shell out so much for an 8K TV. Since the release of the Samsung QN900C, the Samsung QN900B has dropped in price and offers tremendous value. It doesn’t cut back on the upscaling, either. Using various techniques, including AI, it offers buyers excellent value and astonishing visuals.

But for a balance between superior performance and good value, consider the predecessor to the Z9K, the Sony Bravia XR Z9J. It’s around the midrange mark for a high-quality 8K TV, and while it doesn’t feature the Bravia Cam found on the Z9K, it still offers gobsmacking visuals, dazzling peak brightness, quality sound, and excellent gaming specs.