The future of TV technology
First, we had the Beatles in black and white "pixels" on the Ed Sullivan Show, and we were floored. Then, we tuned in to watch Marvin Gaye belt it out on Arsenio Hall, and we were gooped. Now, you can stream live Coachella performances with such clarity and detail, you can almost feel yourself in the crowd. And with the speed at which TV technology is accelerating, you won’t have to wait long to experience next-gen entertainment.
Bigger Screens
Let’s talk size first. Each year, TV manufacturers debut bigger, more immersive screens. What was once considered large is now below-average in terms of size. Especially post-pandemic, consumers have become increasingly intentional about home entertainment. We want the movie theater experience in the comfort of our sweatpants. Back in 2004, the average screen size was 25.4 inches and cost roughly $2.14 per square foot ($552 median price). Even as recently as 2019, screens were comparatively smaller, with an average size of 47 inches at roughly $0.39 per square foot. So not only have screens grown exponentially — they’ve also become more affordable when you consider size and cost.
Hisense has been at the forefront of this trend by making bigger screens with cutting-edge technology to offer innovative solutions like Laser TV to bring a theater-like experience into the home that’s actually portable and affordable. Unlike traditional projectors, Laser TVs can sit inches away from the wall, don’t require replacing expensive, proprietary bulbs, and most importantly, offer tremendous picture quality. And unlike flat panel TVs, a Laser TV’s display size can scale - up to 150” for some models. You can easily move it to another room without breaking a sweat.
While Laser TVs are growing in popularity, flat panel TVs are more common…meaning, you will have more options to choose from. Hisense already sells 100” Mini-LED TVs at prices that were unthinkable just a couple of years ago, and 110” (and bigger!) ULED TVs are not far off.
4K and 8K
As screens get bigger, the need for better picture resolution has grown alongside it. If the resolution and picture can’t keep the tempo, you might as well whip out your old VCRs and humiliating home movies, because that’s what the quality will feel like. A time portal back to 1998.
4K and 8K refer to the number of pixels on a screen. The greater the amount of pixels, the sharper the image will look. What’s the difference? 4K has a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels, and because 3,840 is almost 4,000, the industry has adopted the term, 4K. It makes even the most mundane content look visually engaging. We’ve seen an influx of available 4K media on streaming platforms and in video games, including YouTube, Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+ and others.
8K kicks it up several notches with four times the number of pixels. You’ll be able to experience content in greater detail, making whatever you’re watching feel incredibly lifelike. This will be especially crucial as screens get bigger. Right now, 8K content looks great on smaller screens, but you'll really notice the difference when you hit those bigger sizes.
This is still a relatively new technology, so there aren’t many 8K shows, movies, or games on the market yet. In addition, the infrastructure needs to catch up to support the 4x increase in data which includes everything from video equipment to semiconductors, cables, and of course the TVs. But if you can swing it and like being on the cusp of future-facing technology, investing in an 8K TV now means you would be the first to reap the benefits of 8K content when it’s available. It’s not reasonable for everyone, so there’s no harm in waiting a few more years to see how 8K will be priced once more 8K native content becomes available.
Mini LED
A mini LED is a TV that uses smaller Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) than standard LED TVs. The smaller LEDs allow for more precise dimming zones which improves contrast and black levels. Being that this is a relatively newer technology, you’ll find mini LEDs at the higher end of the TV spectrum but we’re aggressively pushing this technology into the mainstream.
Micro LED
You’ve probably heard of micro LEDs. As you may have guessed, these are LEDs that are even smaller than mini LED’s. Unlike LED TV’s, each micro LED can emit their own light and color. In this respect, they have more in common with OLED technology than LED technology, and promise superior picture quality over current LED tech, including mini LED. Given that it’s cutting-edge stuff, manufacturers still need to overcome logistics and cost hurdles before they can be produced at scale. One manufacturer debuted micro LED screens at CES 2023 to the tune of a whopping $80,000. Needless to say, we’ve got a ways to go before Micro LED is the norm for people besides oil tycoons. It's only a matter of time, and when that time comes, it’ll give OLEDs a serious run for their money.
AR/VR
Listen. AR and VR are insanely cool. It’s a new leap into fully immersive entertainment. But it has its pros, its cons, and questions as to whether it’s a hobbyist’s fad, or something we’ll eventually implement into everyday life.
While Meta popularized VR with their Oculus line of products, Apple recently announced their Vision Pro headset, which takes things to a whole new level, giving us a glimpse into where AR/VR is headed. You’ll be able to browse the internet, run productivity apps, watch movies on IMAX-like screens, sit courtside at a basketball game and more, all while commanding the tech with eye movements, your voice, and simple hand gestures. It’s the kind of fast-forward leap into the great beyond that we love to geek out over.
Innovation aside, AR/VR still has some question marks looming over it. The wearability of the design, whether or not those who wear glasses will need special lenses, and battery life will impact long-term adoption. If done right, AR/VR has the potential to replace your laptop, tablet, smartphone, headphone, and TV. Considering Apple’s Vision Pro has a starting price of $3,500 and a battery life of 2 hours, we may be waiting a while for that day to arrive, however.
So What’s Next?
We can’t give away all our secrets, but we can tell you that the industry as a whole will look to integrate hand gestures, button-free voice commands, and even eye movements into controlling your TVs. Our homes will become smarter and more connected. If someone rings your doorbell, the video feed of your front door will appear on the TV screen. If you need to get up to grab a refill mid-movie, the video will automatically pause, triggered by your movement from the couch. Smart technology will better understand our preferences, siloing information or performing tasks that better suit our interests. The Internet of Things will become increasingly interwoven with our everyday lives. We’re picturing Blade Runner tech, without the grim dystopia.
When Can I Buy Next-Gen Tech?
Thankfully, you have a lot of options if you want to experience future-forward tech today. We’ve been hard at work developing TVs with bigger displays (at a lower cost), higher brightness, higher contrast, faster processing, and better UI for a better, more immersive experience.
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Tech moves fast. What seemed preposterous even five years ago – like 100” flat panel TV’s and battery powered cars – has quickly moved from theoretical and/or out of reach to practical. Our mission is to keep delivering TV tech that feels on the cusp of impossible, at an affordable price. Our obsession is your gain.
Whatever you’re looking for, or however you want to be entertained, we have a TV that’s perfect for you.