Samsung has unveiled its most affordable 8K TV to date, just in time for preparation of the 8K-ready PS5 and Xbox Series X game consoles. Samsung Electronics UK has announced a new model, the Q700T QLED 8K TV.

The new Samsung Q700T starts with a 55-inch model priced at £1,999 and there is also a 65-inch model priced at £2,699. And this pricing is not a typo; Samsung has so far announced that the new TVs will only be sold in the UK.

This pricing is cheaper than Samsung's current entry-priced 8K set, the 65-inch Samsung Q800T, which sells for $3,199/£3,799. However, the lower price comes with some changes to the overall quality of the TV. [Samsung's QLED TV Q700T offers the same Ultra HD resolution and impressive colors found on more expensive models, and Samsung has backed up the 8K picture with Quantum Processor 8K.

The Q700T also boasts Samsung's immersive Object Tracking Sound+ (OTS+) technology, which incorporates eight speakers on four sides of the TV chassis to provide 3D sound that tracks left, right, up and down, giving the illusion of sound coming directly from the screen. Samsung also includes Adaptive Sound+ and Active Voice Amplifier (AVA), which adapts the sound to the surrounding room and adjusts the output based on the type of content. [Support for AMD Freesync and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), with a reported lag time of 9.7 milliseconds, combined with the 8K/60Hz or 4K/120Hz output offered by the PS5 and Xbox Series X, will enable next-generation gaming at the highest resolution and frame rates. at the highest resolution and frame rates.

Although the Q700T does not feature Samsung's zero-bezel display, the bezels on this set appear to be in line with the acceptably slim bezels found on Samsung's 4K QLED sets. The Q700T also has a different stand, using a cylindrical pedestal stand rather than the more upscale angled stand used on the Q800T model.

The biggest blow, however, is to the display itself, which now has half the dimming zones of the Q800T and an overall HDR rating down to HDR1000, half the Q800T's HDR2000 rating. 1000 nits of brightness is still high, and nearly every 4K set on the market should look beautiful compared to the Q800T, but will appear dimmer than more expensive sets.

Perhaps the biggest problem with the new Q700T is its size: at 55" and 65", the 8K resolution cannot be fully appreciated without sitting within 2 feet of the screen. And while 55- and 65-inch sets are easy to fit into most homes, they are small enough that most of their detail would not be appreciated anyway.

The new Samsung Q700T should be a welcome addition to the premium TV space, bringing 8K to an affordable level that actually fits in some people's wallets, offering an 8K set without filling up the walls like 80-inch and larger sets. We can only hope that this new set makes it to the U.S. market.