Shipments of 4K TV sets top 2.1M in Q2, setting record

A record 2.1 million 4K TV sets were shipped globally in the second quarter, surpassing the 1.6 million that were shipped in all of 2013.

The data comes courtesy of NPD DisplaySearch, which credits the uptick to consumer electronics brands promoting 4K as a "must have" feature to high-end buyers.

According to NPD's latest tally, China is leveling off as the dominant region for Ultra HD/4K TV shipments, after accounting for more than 80 percent off all shipments in 2013.

With the amount of 4K content also limited in China, the region represented less than 60 percent of 4K shipments in the second quarter. Western Europe is the second biggest 4K territory, accounting for around 10 percent of shipments, followed by North America.

"New 4K TV model introductions have broadened the 4K TV business, which has become a lot like the high-end TV market, in general," said Paul Gray, director of European research for NPD DisplaySearch. "Even so, there needs to be greater implementation of broadcast offerings that deepen the value of 4K sets, beyond pixel counts."

NPD global 4K TV shipments

Global 4K television shipments, 2012 thru Q2 2014. (Source: NPD DisplaySearch)

For more:
- read this NPD DisplaySearch announcement

Related links:
Lack of 4K infrastructure hinders technology's potential, report says
Study finds only 17% of U.S. broadband users are aware of 4K
U.S. fails to make Akamai's top 4K-ready nations list