LG launched the world's first 8K OLED TV that costs $42,000

LG

The LG 88Z9 is an 88-inch 8K OLED TV with a price tag of $42,000.

• LG is launching its 88-inch OLED 8K resolution TV called the "88Z9" in South Korea this week, with a North American and European launch later this year.
• The 88Z9 costs ₩ 50 million KRW in South Korea, which translates to around $42,000 USD. Pre-order pricing starts at ₩ 40 million KRW, which is about $34,000 USD.
• There's little 8K content out there to play on the 88Z9, but LG says a built-in chip is designed to upscale 4K and 1080p content up to 8K resolution.
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LG announced on Monday the launch of its new 88-inch OLED 8K TV, which will be available for pre-order in South Korea this week, and is coming to North American and European markets in the third quarter of 2019.

The model 88Z9, as it's called, will retail for ₩ 50 million KRW, which roughly translates to around $42,000 USD, according to The Verge. Pre-order pricing will start at ₩ 40 million KRW, which translates to around $34,000 USD.

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At 8K resolution, LG's 88Z9 is four times as sharp as 4K resolution, and 16 times as sharp as 1080p resolution.

There currently isn't much 8K resolution content, and that is likely to remain so, at least in the near future. There are a few 8K YouTube videos available to stream, as well as a few 8K Blu-rays, and major streaming services like Netflix don't offer 8K resolution content yet. And you can forget about 8K cable TV, as 4K cable TV is barely available.

But LG's main selling point for an 8K TV in 2019 when there's so little 8K content to watch in 2019 is a chip that can upscale 4K and 1080p video to 8K resolution.

LG's 88Z9 will be the world's first 8K OLED TV to go on sale. OLED TV panels are seen as the gold standard in TV technology for their exquisite color reproduction, as well as their ability to display a true black color. That's because pixels displaying the color black turn themselves off, so they're not projecting any light, which can create a gray color on traditional LCD displays. The result is gorgeous contrast in addition to the incredible color.

Read more: This $20,000 TV has speakers that rotate and spread like wings when you turn it on

LG isn't the first TV maker to release an 8K TV. Samsung already has an 8K TV available to buy called the Q900 that comes with the companies QLED display, which is based on traditional LCD technology. Samsung's nearest equivalent 85-inch model to the LG 88Z9 retails for $15,000, but the Q900 is available in smaller screen sizes starting at 55 inches for $4,500.

With a price tag in the tens of thousands, LG's 88Z9 is an option for wealthy early adopters. Over time, it wouldn't be surprising if 8K OLED TVs becomes more affordable, much like 4K and OLED TVs have in the last couple of years.