If you’re happy with your 4K monitor, you haven’t tried 8K yet. Here is a list of all 8K monitors for incredible higher resolutions and accurate colors to up your content editing game.
The monitor’s niche has seen significant advancements over the years, with the latest being an 8K resolution monitors. This new resolution picks from where 4K and 5K monitors left, and it brings even sharper and more vibrant colors. Whether you’re a gamer or professional creative, there is a lot to like in this cutting-edge display.
8K resolution packs more pixels and a broad color spectrum for the best realistic and sharp images. Watching content in 8K appears very lifelike; it is like looking through a window.However, you have very few options if you’re in the market for 8K monitors. The Dell UltraSharp UP3218K is the first and only monitor to feature the incredible 8K resolution. As a result, this premium monitor comes with a high price tag. We expect the prices to go down, but that will take a whole until 8K monitors become mainstream.
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What You Need to Know About 8K Resolution
8K resolution refers to 7680 pixels horizontally by 4320 vertically. That is four times as many pixels as 4K resolution (3840 x 2160) and sixteen times as many as Full HD (1080p). 8K has over 33 million pixels, which leads to sharper visuals; in fact, you cannot distinguish the pixels on the screen. You’ll need a powerful graphics card to push more than 33 million pixels at 60Hz refresh rate.
While 8K excel over 4K in terms of clarity and vibrant colors, it may not be the right time to go 8K yet. This is because of various reasons:
First, there is limited 8K content on the internet. 8K is pretty much ahead of its time. Most people are just moving to 4K and 5K displays, which makes it hard to find the right content for these 8K displays. Applications such as Photoshop CC and games can’t adjust their user interface elements to match the higher resolution of 8K. Unless content creators and gaming companies start to embrace 8K, you won’t get the best value out of these monitors as of now.
Second, 8K monitors are expensive. Not just the price tag, but you need hardware upgrades too. Currently, no display interface can handle 8K resolution. The Dell UltraSharp 8K monitor uses two DisplayPort cables to run at full speed. Therefore, if your GPU doesn’t have dual DP ports, prepare to stick with only 30fps or 4K at 60Hz.
With the considerations above, 8K monitors remain the ideal choice for photo and video editing. The level of detail, color accuracy, and pixel density in these monitors is unmatched. You can manipulate high-resolution images with ease and get the best results than ever before.
GeForce RTX 3090: The Pinnacle of 8K Gaming
Up until GeForce RTX 30 Series reveal, codenamed Nvidia Ampere GPUs, you would’ve needed multiple cables to run 8K resolution at 60Hz refresh rate on a monitor. The new RTX 30 Series GPUs now gives you a genuine reason to upgrade to 8K with support for HDMI 2.1 capable of running native 8K60 or 4K120. You only need a single Ultra-High-Speed HDMI cable to drive an 8K monitor.
The best highlight of the Ampere GPUs is the GeForce RTX 3090. It is the most powerful and fastest GPU available, and as Nvidia claims, it’s “the world’s first to connect, play, capture, and watch games at 8K HDR“. If you were uncertain about moving to an 8K monitor, now you have every reason to, whether for gaming or 8K video rendering.
8K gaming has arrived!
GeForce GTX 3090 is the first graphics card that can play, capture and watch in 8K.
That’s 4X as many pixels as 4K, and 16X as many pixels as 1080p, for incredible levels of detail.https://t.co/ROLaK4eL9v pic.twitter.com/4rgXZRVeLQ
— NVIDIA GeForce (@NVIDIAGeForce) September 1, 2020
Best 8K Monitors Comparison Table
| Image | Product | Features | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Dell UltraSharp 8K UP3218K | Panel: 32", IPS Resolution & Refresh Rate: 8K 7680 x 4320 at 60 Hz, 6ms Ports: 2 x DisplayPort, 5 x USB 3.1, 1 x Audio out, No Thunderbolt Stand: Height, pivot, swivel, tilt. VESA compatible Color Reproduction: 100% AdobeRGB, 100% sRGB, 100% Rec 709, 98% DCI-P3 | Check on Amazon |
Here is the review of the first 8K monitor in the market. Kindly note we will update the list as more options enter the market.
1. Dell UltraSharp 32″ UP3218K – The Best 8K Monitor
The first monitor to feature an outstanding 8K resolution is a dream come true to professional creatives.
The Dell UltraSharp UP3218K was announced in the CES 2017 and is now available for purchase and shipping. It is the only monitor with an 8K resolution, which explains its high price tag. The monitor provides exceptional performance for creatives and gamers with sharp and realistic visuals.
Dell UP3218K packs the most dense pixels with over 33 million of them and 280PPI; you’ll never miss even the most tiny details in your editing work.We recommend the Dell UltraSharp 8K for professional image and video editing and other graphics related work. It is not the best monitor for high-end gaming as you will not get the ideal refresh rate and response times like in other gaming monitors. But for casual gaming, you’re in for an immersive experience.
Design
UltraSharp UP3218K provides a premium experience from its looks to performance. The aluminum frame with refined finishing offers a stunning design while the InfinityEdge display offers more screen real estate to enjoy your visuals. It is one of the monitors with thinner bezels that provides immersive viewing experience no longer distracted with the borders.
The monitor perfectly fits with other stands and mounts should you be thinking of mounting it on the wall or using different viewing positions. It is compatible with VESA Mounting Interface (100 x 100 mm).
Display
The Dell UltraSharp UP3218K features the best display yet. Onboard you get a 31.5 inches screen with a 7680 x 4320-pixel resolution and pixel density of 280 PPI for the sharpest visuals and crisp text. The monitor provides consistent picture quality across the 178 degrees viewing angle thanks to the in-plane switching panel.
The color reproduction in this monitor is phenomenal. Dell PremierColor provides a broad color coverage consistent with most industry standards. UP3218K covers 100 percent of the AdobeRGB color gamut, 100 percent of sRGB, 100 percent of Rec. 709, and 98 percent of the cinema-standard DCI-P3.
With a color depth 1.07 billion colors, the Dell UltraSharp delivers excellent value for color grading work, image and video manipulation, Photoshop users, and professional photographers.Some of the downsides of this display is the lack of HDR support and higher response times of 6ms. Casual gamers can enjoy the 60Hz refresh rates and long response times, but professional gaming check out these 144Hz gaming monitors.
Connectivity
Dell UltraSharp UP3218K features two DisplayPort ports and a couple of USB ports. However, there are no Thunderbolt 3 or USB Type-C ports, which comes as a disappointment for most users. To enjoy the full functionality of this 8K monitor, you need to connect two DisplayPort cables from your GPU to the monitor at the same time.
Ports
- 2 x DisplayPort
- 3 x USB 3.0 downstream (Type A)
- USB 3.0 downstream (Type A with charging)
- USB 3.0 upstream (Type B)
- 3.5mm Audio line-out
Dell UltraSharp UP3218K is an amazing 8K monitor that delivers everything you need to create high quality and impeccable content. The resolution provides realistic and accurate visuals, while the broad color coverage comes handy in your editing work. If you want to edit content in 8K, this is the only option in the market. As a result, it is very premium and pricey.
While we are still waiting for mainstream 8K content, the Dell UltraSharp UP3218K provides a glimpse of how the future holds. And to be fair, its everything we have ever wanted: dense pixels, impeccable color accuracy, borderless design, and premium build quality.
- Bragging rights: only monitor with 8K resolution
- Crystal clear and sharp visuals
- Premium build quality
- Ergonomic stand with VESA mount support
- Impeccable color accuracy with Dell PremierColor
- Best pixels
- Needs powerful hardware
- Limited 8K content at the moment
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any 8K Monitors?
Yes, Dell UltraSharp 32 8K Monitor supports 8K (7680×4320) resolution with 1 billion colors and 100% Adobe RGB. It’s the only 8K monitor available. But it does not support HDMI 2.1; you need two DisplayPort cables to run 8K at 60Hz.
What is the best 8K gaming monitor?
Currently, the Dell UltraSharp 32 8K is the only 8K monitor available, so it can also be said that it’s the best 8K gaming monitor as well.
Is 8K really worth it?
There is hardly any 8K content in the market, and it will take some time until it becomes mainstream. But if you want 8K, you can get 8K. Multiple 8K TVs from Samsung and LG do an excellent job of upscaling content to near 8K quality, providing detailed and mesmerizing visuals.
The Dell UltraSharp monitor is a perfect choice for content creators and professional photographers looking for the best picture quality and color accuracy with no compromises. However, for professional gaming and everyday use, such as Netflix, 8K isn’t worth it for now. We suggest waiting until there are 8K gaming monitors and mainstream 8K content in the market.
Can the human eye see 8K?
Many factors come to play when determining whether the human eye can see 8K. At some point, yes, we can see 8K. But you need to be very close to the display, like 0.75 times the picture height, which downplays the need to have a higher resolution monitor.
Is 8K a gimmick?
No. 8K is not a gimmick. There are multiple 8K displays that offer excellent visual fidelity perfect for multimedia and professional content creation.
What’s the highest resolution monitor available?
The Dell UltraSharp 32 8K Monitor (UP3218K) is the highest resolution monitor with a whopping 7680 x 4320 resolution. That’s 33 million pixels, four times that of 4k and 16 times as many as 1080p.
Can you tell the difference between 4K and 8K?
It depends. If using smaller displays up to 60 inches, no. You need bigger screens like 85-inch TV or more than 100 inches to tell the difference between 4K and 8K. Otherwise, you have to sit really close to the display to note the difference if you know what to look for.
Are there any upcoming 8K monitors?
Yes, at the time of writing, popular upcoming monitors are ViewSonic VP3286-8K, Sharp 8M-B32C1, and a holographic monitor called Looking Glass 8K Gen 2.
What’s next after 8K?
16K resolution is the next big thing after 8K. Sony already developed a gigantic 16K display targeted at the cinema and home use, but it will cost you millions.
