LG has announced what is claimed to be the "world's first" 84-inch television that can support 4K ultra definition (UD) pictures.

The new LG UD TV, which also supports 3D pictures, has an 84in (213cm) screen, smaller than a 90-inch model offered commercially by Sharp.

However, LG's set pips its rival by supporting 4K UD, boasting a picture quality with 8 million pixels per frame, four times the resolution (3840x2160) of existing Full HD TV panels.

It is part of the rush by manufacturers to get into the ultra definition market. Toshiba already offers a 55-inch 4K model, while Panasonic offers a 20-Inch set. Sony and Samsung are also working on 4K products.

LG said that it sees the 4K space as being vital for the firm to get in early, and this 83-inch set is certainly a clear marker to other firms.

However, LG's eye-watering 25 million-won (£13,940) price tag on the set will dissuade anyone but the super wealthy or most committed of early adopters.

"The 4K display market is still in its infancy but it was important for LG to claim a stake in this space," said Havis Kwon, the president and chief executive of LG Electronics Home Entertainment Company.

"LG's UD 3D TV represents a whole new level of home viewing experience because it offers every advanced technology we currently have to offer."

The new UD set uses LG's Triple XD Engine to boost the resolution of standard television pictures, while content from external sources such as hard drives and websites can also be rendered in high detail.

Alongside ultra definition, the set supports 'passive' Cinema 3D and comes with a range of smart features, such as LG's Magic Remote and web connected Smart TV ecosystem, offering 1,4000 different apps and other content.

The LG 84-inch US 3D TV will roll out in the US, Europe Asia and Latin America from September.

As with the initial introduction of 3D TV sets last year, the problem for consumers who take the plunge with 4K will be finding native TV content that they can actually watch.

Japan's public service broadcaster NHK recently joined the BBC in trialling the ultra HD Super Hi-Vision service at London 2012 Olympics.

However, it required a bespoke, 85-inch 8K television set to show the action, delivering the equivalent of about 32 megapixels per frame at a screen resolution of 7680 x 4320.

The system also used a 22 multichannel rig for the audio, helping to create the illusion of being right in the action.

LG's set comes with a 2.2 Speaker System consisting of two 10W speakers and two 15W woofers that is designed to simulate "3D sound".

NHK hopes to have Super Hi-Vision in homes in Japan by 2020, and so there will be an acceleration in development of 4K and 8K technology over the next decade to bring the costs down.

In the mean time, well-heeled customers can use LG UD TV to upscale their videos and other selected content to dizzying resolutions.