Socionext has announced a new chip series that will
be capable of processing 8K video and send it over
HDMI v2.1 – Yes, a new version of HDMI is spotted!
But most AV components still run HDMI v2.0…

So while 4K seems to have landed now and getting available in a reasonable quantity to rectify an investment in 4K equipment, the problem is that new standards usually makes the investment into new hardware necessary.

First TV being capable to show 8K are already announced but are they equipped with HDMI2.1 already? Most likely not as the chip from Socionext will be available from March 2019. So What’s it all about with 8K when you’re not able to get any hardware that can at least physically be upgraded to playback 8K with a native solution for HDMI2.1?

Even cables aren’t certified for HDMI2.1 yet so you won’t have a chance here either!

This is in some way just freaking. The electronic companies urge you to invest in new hardware to “experience” the new richness in image clarity yet not offering the most modern hardware inside, making these investments possibly obsolete with the official release of hardware that is natively HDMI2.1 compatible.

So a good advice here is not to jump on the 8K train while it’s still just leaving the train station. Better hop on when it has reached the “ready station” and ready to leave for the future. This way you will save thousands of dollars of early-bird investments you might regret later!