As the official opening of the Berlin International Consumer Electronics Show (IFA 2018) approaches, and due to time differences and early press events by many manufacturers, we can expect to see new product launches from Sony, ZTE, and other major companies tonight. Samsung and LG, however, could not wait and directly announced their new TV models earlier today.

At the IFA 2018 venue, LG showcased its new OLED TV—the world's first 88-inch 8K OLED TV. Of course, since the show has not officially opened, detailed specifications and real-world performance images have not been released; only two photos are available for reference.

Currently, 4K LCD remains the mainstream product in the market now and in the near future, but the significance of IFA lies in looking ahead. It seems that 8K OLED will be LG's first step into the future. LG also revealed that to better position itself in the OLED market, it will double OLED production within the year, aiming to reach 9 million units by 2022—a clear commitment to OLED.

Samsung, on the other hand, announced more new 8K QLED TVs. The models are reportedly the Q900/Q900FN, available in 65-inch, 75-inch, 82-inch, and 85-inch sizes. However, only the 85-inch model will be sold in the U.S. The Chinese version may be called Q900F, but this is not yet confirmed. The official release date is October, with pricing still undisclosed.

This QLED product features a full-array backlight with direct-lit backlight zone control, and comes with 100,000 AI algorithms that can upscale non-8K content to near-8K quality. Samsung stated that this technology is based on analysis of millions of content pieces at various resolutions, using machine learning for continuous improvement. It includes the Bixby voice assistant and SmartThings, and shares features with the Samsung Q9S, such as an integrated slim optical cable for inputs, ambient mode, and automatic input device detection. It also achieves a peak brightness of 4000 nits and supports HDR10+.

From both the design and certain specifications, it is clear that Samsung's 8K QLED is aimed directly at competing with 8K OLED. As for the actual performance, let us all look forward to the impressive displays from each company when IFA officially opens!

In addition to these two companies, domestic brands such as LeTV Super TV, TCL TV, and Hisense TV will also participate in the show. In particular, LeTV Super TV seems poised to release a new series of Super TV products at the event, which is certainly worth watching.