Can The Human Eye See 8K?

The PS5 and human eye both have a few things in common - they are both complex, intricate creations, and people ask if they support 8K.

8K TVs have been around for a while now albeit they are still pretty expensive. If you're not happy with a 4K TV, or want a new monitor, it could be the next step up.

When considering if it is worth upgrading to an 8K TV, there's the question as to whether 8K actually makes a difference to the human eye. Here's what we know.

Can the human eye see 8K?

The term 8K doesn't really apply to how eyes work, but if we reduce the complex nature of sight down to this marketing buzzword then yes, the human eye can see in 8K and beyond.

The reason for this hesitation is that eyes don't see in pixels, or use resolutions - no optician has ever said you can only see in 720p. Despite this, using some detailed calculations, Roger Clarke worked out the eye can see in 576 megapixels. In comparison, an 8K image is captured using a 33.71-megapixel camera.

However, while the eye may be able to see well past an 8K resolution, there are certain caveats here.

Can you tell the difference between 4K and 8K?

These 8K TVs do output higher resolution images that includes details not found in 4K, 1440p, or 1080p displays, but it is only noticeable at a certain distance. This is similar to how after a certain refresh rate, the difference is not noticeable.

Based on calculations for a 65-inch 8K TV, this TV has a Visual Acuity distance of 2ft. This means that from beyond this point, the eye is no longer able to distinguish certain details, and pixels will blend together. As you go further back, these pixels blend together further. Considering the TV and the sofa are often on different ends of a room, this means that when you reach around 9ft, the differences won't be that much.

So while you can tell the difference between 4K and 8K TVs, it is only when sat very close to the screen.

READ MORE: The Best 4K Gaming Monitors in 2021