While most TVs released between 2010 and 2015 support 3D, the feature is used to clear a series of annoying obstacles. You had to buy 3D glasses, which ranged from $10 to $20 for the frames that didn’t come in, to upwards of $50 for active glasses that needed constant charging. You should have made sure that your Blu-ray player supports 3D discs. Again you had to pay a premium for those 3D Blu-rays, assuming you could get them in stock.
For media geniuses who have removed those roadblocks, 3D Blu-rays have done a good job of replicating what a 3D theater does. But the results are highly dependent on the size and viewing distance of your TV. If you’re too far away from a 42-inch or 50-inch set, you won’t really be immersed An avatar the world of Pandora. And it was pretty annoying if you wanted to have a 3D watch party with a crowd – you’d have to buy a ton of extra glasses, or hope your nerdy friends had their own.
Worst of all, 3D TVs with passive glasses have effectively reduced the 1080p resolution, as they were supposed to deliver a different picture. 3D projectors and high-end TVs avoided that problem because they relied on active glasses, but the cost and battery limitations of those frames put viewers off.
Besides 3D Blu-rays, it was also hard to find much 3D content. Networks such as the BBC and ESPN broadcast a few 3D shows and sports, but both discontinued the format in 2013. “I have never seen a greater appetite for 3D television in the UK,” said Kim Shillinglaw, the BBC’s head of 3D, in an interview with 2013 no. Radio Times (with The Independent). “Watching 3D is a rush experience at home. You have to get your glasses before you turn on the TV. I think when people watch TV they concentrate differently. When people go to the cinema they tend to do one thing. I think that’s one of the reasons why 3D TV disappoints.”
As the hype surrounding 3D TVs subsides, 4K sets with HDR are starting to reap immediate benefits. They looked sharper and brighter than previous HDTVs, and supported a ton of 4K content from Netflix and other streaming services. There was no need to buy a Blu-ray player, no need to install glasses and no need to look hard for special content. No wonder 4K is gone. (And even if you don’t watch 4K content, those new TVs still make your old SD and HD shows look better than ever.)
According to a recent study by Precision Reports, about 25 percent of households with 3D TVs actually used the technology during the peak period between 2010 and 2018. Less than 10 percent of families are still using the technology after three years. The same report also found that 65 percent of users stopped using 3D because of the lack of content, 50 percent noticed discomfort during long viewing periods and 42 percent stopped because of the high cost of equipment.
Despite the many problems, however, Precision Reports also predicts that the 3D TV segment will grow by 15 percent by 2036 due to the increase in 3D sets without glasses, commercial implementation and gaming. I’m still going to be impressed with any 3D TVs without glasses, personally, and they don’t support a lot of viewers as they rely on complex eye tracking to work.
