It seems like just yesterday that 4K TVs were the new big thing. Back in 2012 Sony and LG's 84-inch models hit the shelves for $25,000 and $16,000 respectively, with almost no content that could be watched in 4K and a strong belief that everyone would want 3D TV at home. Now, eight years later, with some 4K TVs going for under $500 and 8K is the new thing. But is it worth investing in?

Well, that depends on your budget, the size of your living room, whether you're buying new game consoles this year, and your need to be on the cutting edge. But probably not.

I've spent a month with the new Samsung QLED Q950T, and it's incredible. It's the most beautiful TV I have ever seen. The 75-inch model that I had, though, costs $12,099, and the only consumer 8K content I managed to find was a bunch of travel videos on YouTube. Those videos were stunning, and I was able to get close enough to the TV that it filled my entire field of view without being able to pick out a single pixel. But drone videos on YouTube alone don't justify a purchase this extravagant.

The latest HDMI spec supports 8K content, with devices including the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X expected later this year technically able to supply it, but specifics are in short supply. Movies set to be released in 8K are similarly yet to materialise, as are 8K disc formats or players.