4K resolution TVs are just about to start trickling into the market, yet IHS says consumers will go for even higher resolution TVs soon enough-- global 8K (7680x4320) resolution TV shipments are forecast to reach nearly 1 million units by 2019.

According to the analyst global 8K TV shipments total 2700 units in 2015, while 2019 shipments should reach 911000 units. The most popular size for such TVs is 65-inch, accounting for almost 80% of 2019 shipments.

“The biggest inhibitor to the growth of 8K TV will be consumer screen size preferences,” IHS remarks. “8K requires a very large screen or the higher resolution becomes invisible at normal viewing distances. The average screen size in the TV market has grown by an inch each year over the past decade, but it is still a long haul before sizes over 70-inch become commonplace.”

The main 8K growth driver is China, a market proven for early TV technology adoption (as seen with 4K TV). Furthermore more Chinese LCD fabs should come online within the next 3 years, bringing further capacity to make 65-inch 8K LCD TVs.

Go Global 8K TV Shipments to Approach 1m Units in 2019 IHS Says