Full HD or 1080p is so 2012. The new black is 4K, a resolution of 4096×3072 which Sony’s going to add to it’s new 84-inch mega TV. This is, if the rumours pan out.

The 4K resolution is naturally four times the display power of 1080p. Sony is said to reveal this TV at IFA 2012, Germany’s biggest consumer electronics show. Here’s what we know about the 4K mega TV:

It’s going to have a side-lit LCD panel, so expect the TV to be wafer-thin. Also, the speakers will be removable, for whatever purpose that serves. We’re sure Sony’s got something up its sleeve though. There’s no image of the TV yet to speak of, but sources say that the design will be “a reimagined retro-style with a modern twist”. So maybe there’ll be a huge bulge at the back of the TV and a bunny-ear arial that needs adjusting. Stranger things have happened.

The rumoured price tag of US$30 000 is pretty frightening though. But with all new tech, prices plummet when the competition begins aping original concepts. The 4K TV’s are still pretty much ahead of the content it supports right now, so it’ll be a slow uptake until these devices are standard in every home. Sony already has a 4K Blu-Ray player, so here’s the TV to match it.

There’s no release date, but IFA 2012 starts 31 August. Hopefully we can sneak a peek at the 4K 84-inch TV from the future then.