Samsung's The Premiere 8K Projector Achieves 8K Association Certification
Samsung's The Premiere 8K projector has recently been certified by the 8K Association (8KA), making it the world's first projector to receive this prestigious certification. For the projection industry, 8K has always been a dream-like next-generation concept. After all, projectors are all about delivering large screens—and what good is a large screen without cutting-edge resolution? High resolution and larger display sizes go hand in hand. Samsung's achievement with The Premiere 8K shows that while progress in 8K technology has been slow, the industry is still pushing forward.
The Bottleneck for Projectors: Resolution!
In 2024, nearly 80% of LCD TVs sold in China were 4K models. However, for projectors, which are known for their larger screens, the adoption rate of 4K is less than 10%. According to AVC Revo data, 4K penetration in the Chinese TV market reached 78.3% in Q1 2024, while smart projectors lagged behind at just 9.7%. This stark contrast highlights a key challenge: achieving 4K adoption and aiming for 8K standards is a critical value proposition for the future of large-screen projectors.
The issue isn't that consumers don't want ultra-high-definition projectors—it's that technological limitations are holding the market back. For example, in the budget projector market (around $140), 1LCD models with 1080p resolution easily outperform DLP models, which typically offer only 720p resolution. In the premium market (above $700), consumers overwhelmingly choose 4K models, making high resolution a must-have feature.
However, delivering high resolution in projectors is no easy task. The core of a projector is its digital light valve chip, which is typically very small. For instance, mainstream DLP 4K projectors use a 0.47-inch light valve. Achieving 2K resolution on such a small chip is already challenging, and 4K requires pixel-shifting technology. For 8K, a native 4K light valve chip of around 0.8 inches is needed, combined with pixel-shifting to simulate 8K resolution.
Over the past two decades, DLP's smallest physical pixel size has remained at 5.4 microns, limiting its resolution capabilities. LCOS technology, on the other hand, offers smaller pixels (down to 3.8 microns), enabling 4K resolution on chips smaller than 0.7 inches. Meanwhile, 1LCD technology, which dominates the entry-level market, requires large 4-6 inch panels for 4K, while 3LCD struggles with pixel miniaturization due to "aperture ratio" limitations, with its smallest pixel size currently at 6.2 microns.
The Challenge of "Small Chips, Big Screens"
Projectors face a unique dilemma: they need to deliver high resolution on large screens, but doing so requires cramming exponentially more pixels onto tiny imaging chips. For example, 8K resolution requires 16 times the pixels of 1080p. While high-end audiovisual experiences and content are increasingly moving toward ultra-high-definition, projectors must overcome significant technical hurdles to keep up.
Pixel-Shifting: A Savior with Limitations
Currently, the majority of the over one million 4K projectors sold globally each year rely on DLP technology, specifically 0.47-inch light valves using pixel-shifting to simulate 4K resolution. This approach offers clear advantages: it's cheaper, easier to implement, and allows for more compact projector designs.
However, pixel-shifting has its drawbacks. First, the visual clarity of pixel-shifted 4K is noticeably inferior to native 4K, especially when compared to 4K LCD TVs. This is true across DLP, LCD, and LCOS technologies.
Second, pixel-shifting has limitations. For example, 1LCD projectors, with their large display panels, aren't suitable for this technology. Similarly, 3LCD and 3LCOS systems, which use three light valves, face higher complexity and costs when implementing pixel-shifting.
In essence, pixel-shifting is more of a clever workaround than a true technological advancement. It allows projectors to squeeze more resolution out of existing hardware, but it doesn't solve the fundamental challenge of increasing physical resolution.
Looking ahead, the industry will need to address 8K resolution. If 4K relies too heavily on pixel-shifting, what will happen with 8K? To prepare for this future, the industry must focus on achieving native 4K resolution as a foundation for 8K pixel-shifting. This is the approach taken by high-end home theater projectors from brands like Epson, Sony, and JVC, which cost over $4,200. Samsung's The Premiere 8K also follows this strategy.
Why LCOS Could Be the Future of Ultra-HD Projection
Given the demand for large screens, projectors are inevitably moving toward ultra-high-definition: 4K as the baseline and 8K for the high-end. However, achieving this requires overcoming two major hurdles: technical feasibility and cost-effectiveness.
Currently, a small number of 8K projectors are available, including both pixel-shifted and native 8K models. Notably, native 8K projectors almost exclusively use LCOS technology. This is because LCOS offers the smallest physical pixel size, giving it a natural advantage in the ultra-HD era. While LCOS has historically played a minor role in the projection market, its potential is now being unlocked.
Additionally, LCOS chips can be smaller in the 8K era, reducing core costs and enabling more compact designs. Both factors will help drive adoption and application development.
However, LCOS has faced challenges in the past, primarily due to the complexity of its silicon-based driver and liquid crystal light control structure. The thermal expansion mismatch between silicon (3ppm/°C) and glass substrates (9ppm/°C) has made achieving 50μm-level alignment accuracy a significant hurdle for mass production. Fortunately, these technical challenges are gradually being overcome.
Another issue is the scale of the LCOS market. Without scale, there's no cost advantage or fast track for development. In recent years, domestic LCOS companies have gained valuable experience in fields like optical communications, automotive HUDs, precision instruments, 3D printing, and AR applications. The growth of automotive HUDs, in particular, has significantly boosted the "image-grade" LCOS supply chain, paving the way for broader adoption.
For example, Mercedes' latest Digital Light system uses LCOS modules to achieve 1.3 million pixels per eye for AR-HUD projection. Similarly, LCOS HUDs in models like the Huawei M9 have demonstrated the potential for large-scale market success. The automotive market's success is now feeding back into the projection market, creating a viable growth path for LCOS.
While LCOS's liquid crystal layer efficiency still lags behind DLP's micro-electromechanical reflective layer in applications like optical communications and automotive HUDs, having a domestic LCOS supply chain offers a "safe choice" and helps alleviate DLP supply bottlenecks. This is one reason why companies like Huawei entered the LCOS chip market over a decade ago.
In recent years, Chinese companies have made significant strides in LCOS technology. According to Qichacha data, LCOS-related patent applications in China reached 427 in 2023, a 380% increase from 2018. Companies like Goertek and Chipone have established strong technical barriers in areas like liquid crystal alignment films and silicon-based drivers.
With its inherent technical advantages and a growing domestic supply chain, LCOS is well-positioned to shape the future of projection. As ultra-HD content continues to evolve, the benefits of LCOS technology will become increasingly apparent.
The Road Ahead: Ultra-HD and 8K Projection
In the next 3-5 years, ultra-HD and 8K projection are expected to take off. DeepSeek analysis suggests that, leveraging the domestic supply chain, 8K LCOS projectors using pixel-shifting technology could hit the $700-$1,100 price range within 1-2 years. According to Yole Development, as 12-inch LCOS wafer production lines come online, LCOS chip costs could drop to 40% of current prices by 2026, potentially bringing 0.7-inch 4K chips down to around $200. This aligns with the current trend of pixel-shifted 4K projectors dipping below the $420 mark, creating a viable path for ultra-HD adoption in the projection market.
In conclusion, the projection industry's demand for ultra-HD is clear, as are the challenges and the optimal technological direction. Under these conditions, 4K/8K projection is likely to become a key competitive focus in the next 2-3 years. Industry players must prepare now to upgrade their supply chains and meet this demand head-on. This is precisely why Samsung is racing to secure the first 8K certification in the projection industry.
Samsung's The Premiere 8K projector has recently been certified by the 8K Association (8KA), making it the world's first projector to receive this prestigious certification. For the projection industry, 8K has always been a dream-like next-generation concept. After all, projectors are all about delivering large screens—and what good is a large screen without cutting-edge resolution? High resolution and larger display sizes go hand in hand. Samsung's achievement with The Premiere 8K shows that while progress in 8K technology has been slow, the industry is still pushing forward.
The Bottleneck for Projectors: Resolution!
In 2024, nearly 80% of LCD TVs sold in China were 4K models. However, for projectors, which are known for their larger screens, the adoption rate of 4K is less than 10%. According to AVC Revo data, 4K penetration in the Chinese TV market reached 78.3% in Q1 2024, while smart projectors lagged behind at just 9.7%. This stark contrast highlights a key challenge: achieving 4K adoption and aiming for 8K standards is a critical value proposition for the future of large-screen projectors.
The issue isn't that consumers don't want ultra-high-definition projectors—it's that technological limitations are holding the market back. For example, in the budget projector market (around $140), 1LCD models with 1080p resolution easily outperform DLP models, which typically offer only 720p resolution. In the premium market (above $700), consumers overwhelmingly choose 4K models, making high resolution a must-have feature.
However, delivering high resolution in projectors is no easy task. The core of a projector is its digital light valve chip, which is typically very small. For instance, mainstream DLP 4K projectors use a 0.47-inch light valve. Achieving 2K resolution on such a small chip is already challenging, and 4K requires pixel-shifting technology. For 8K, a native 4K light valve chip of around 0.8 inches is needed, combined with pixel-shifting to simulate 8K resolution.
Over the past two decades, DLP's smallest physical pixel size has remained at 5.4 microns, limiting its resolution capabilities. LCOS technology, on the other hand, offers smaller pixels (down to 3.8 microns), enabling 4K resolution on chips smaller than 0.7 inches. Meanwhile, 1LCD technology, which dominates the entry-level market, requires large 4-6 inch panels for 4K, while 3LCD struggles with pixel miniaturization due to "aperture ratio" limitations, with its smallest pixel size currently at 6.2 microns.
The Challenge of "Small Chips, Big Screens"
Projectors face a unique dilemma: they need to deliver high resolution on large screens, but doing so requires cramming exponentially more pixels onto tiny imaging chips. For example, 8K resolution requires 16 times the pixels of 1080p. While high-end audiovisual experiences and content are increasingly moving toward ultra-high-definition, projectors must overcome significant technical hurdles to keep up.
Pixel-Shifting: A Savior with Limitations
Currently, the majority of the over one million 4K projectors sold globally each year rely on DLP technology, specifically 0.47-inch light valves using pixel-shifting to simulate 4K resolution. This approach offers clear advantages: it's cheaper, easier to implement, and allows for more compact projector designs.
However, pixel-shifting has its drawbacks. First, the visual clarity of pixel-shifted 4K is noticeably inferior to native 4K, especially when compared to 4K LCD TVs. This is true across DLP, LCD, and LCOS technologies.
Second, pixel-shifting has limitations. For example, 1LCD projectors, with their large display panels, aren't suitable for this technology. Similarly, 3LCD and 3LCOS systems, which use three light valves, face higher complexity and costs when implementing pixel-shifting.
In essence, pixel-shifting is more of a clever workaround than a true technological advancement. It allows projectors to squeeze more resolution out of existing hardware, but it doesn't solve the fundamental challenge of increasing physical resolution.
Looking ahead, the industry will need to address 8K resolution. If 4K relies too heavily on pixel-shifting, what will happen with 8K? To prepare for this future, the industry must focus on achieving native 4K resolution as a foundation for 8K pixel-shifting. This is the approach taken by high-end home theater projectors from brands like Epson, Sony, and JVC, which cost over $4,200. Samsung's The Premiere 8K also follows this strategy.
Why LCOS Could Be the Future of Ultra-HD Projection
Given the demand for large screens, projectors are inevitably moving toward ultra-high-definition: 4K as the baseline and 8K for the high-end. However, achieving this requires overcoming two major hurdles: technical feasibility and cost-effectiveness.
Currently, a small number of 8K projectors are available, including both pixel-shifted and native 8K models. Notably, native 8K projectors almost exclusively use LCOS technology. This is because LCOS offers the smallest physical pixel size, giving it a natural advantage in the ultra-HD era. While LCOS has historically played a minor role in the projection market, its potential is now being unlocked.
Additionally, LCOS chips can be smaller in the 8K era, reducing core costs and enabling more compact designs. Both factors will help drive adoption and application development.
However, LCOS has faced challenges in the past, primarily due to the complexity of its silicon-based driver and liquid crystal light control structure. The thermal expansion mismatch between silicon (3ppm/°C) and glass substrates (9ppm/°C) has made achieving 50μm-level alignment accuracy a significant hurdle for mass production. Fortunately, these technical challenges are gradually being overcome.
Another issue is the scale of the LCOS market. Without scale, there's no cost advantage or fast track for development. In recent years, domestic LCOS companies have gained valuable experience in fields like optical communications, automotive HUDs, precision instruments, 3D printing, and AR applications. The growth of automotive HUDs, in particular, has significantly boosted the "image-grade" LCOS supply chain, paving the way for broader adoption.
For example, Mercedes' latest Digital Light system uses LCOS modules to achieve 1.3 million pixels per eye for AR-HUD projection. Similarly, LCOS HUDs in models like the Huawei M9 have demonstrated the potential for large-scale market success. The automotive market's success is now feeding back into the projection market, creating a viable growth path for LCOS.
While LCOS's liquid crystal layer efficiency still lags behind DLP's micro-electromechanical reflective layer in applications like optical communications and automotive HUDs, having a domestic LCOS supply chain offers a "safe choice" and helps alleviate DLP supply bottlenecks. This is one reason why companies like Huawei entered the LCOS chip market over a decade ago.
In recent years, Chinese companies have made significant strides in LCOS technology. According to Qichacha data, LCOS-related patent applications in China reached 427 in 2023, a 380% increase from 2018. Companies like Goertek and Chipone have established strong technical barriers in areas like liquid crystal alignment films and silicon-based drivers.
With its inherent technical advantages and a growing domestic supply chain, LCOS is well-positioned to shape the future of projection. As ultra-HD content continues to evolve, the benefits of LCOS technology will become increasingly apparent.
The Road Ahead: Ultra-HD and 8K Projection
In the next 3-5 years, ultra-HD and 8K projection are expected to take off. DeepSeek analysis suggests that, leveraging the domestic supply chain, 8K LCOS projectors using pixel-shifting technology could hit the $700-$1,100 price range within 1-2 years. According to Yole Development, as 12-inch LCOS wafer production lines come online, LCOS chip costs could drop to 40% of current prices by 2026, potentially bringing 0.7-inch 4K chips down to around $200. This aligns with the current trend of pixel-shifted 4K projectors dipping below the $420 mark, creating a viable path for ultra-HD adoption in the projection market.
In conclusion, the projection industry's demand for ultra-HD is clear, as are the challenges and the optimal technological direction. Under these conditions, 4K/8K projection is likely to become a key competitive focus in the next 2-3 years. Industry players must prepare now to upgrade their supply chains and meet this demand head-on. This is precisely why Samsung is racing to secure the first 8K certification in the projection industry.
