I’m not 100% certain, but from what I’ve heard the actual panels used in the 8k and 8kx are going to be 4k panels for each eye. If that’s the case, this might explain why the pixel arrangement is as it is on the 8k model (and likely the 8KX)
quoted from this article
"LG and Google used a two subpixel per pixel arrangement, which is often found in mobile phone displays. Each pixel features a green subpixel and either a red or a blue subpixel. The team used a white OLED structure with color filters [RGBW or RGWBGW] to simplify mass production of the new panels because the traditional Fine Metal Mask processes used to build display panels don’t work well for displays with upwards of 1000 PPI."
Edit: Also, I’ll leave this here. Seeing as there’s lots of really up close pictures and a microscopical analysis and scrutiny of the SDE and pixel arrangement of both the 5K+ and 8K at the moment, here’s some screenshots posted by @park (VrManiac) on youtube of how images might look through the lens on the 8k to your eyes.
Full gallery: https://imgur.com/a/hWLEKlu
Figure: Pixel arrangement for the upcoming 18mp displays made by Google and LG.
Here’s the 5k vs 8k pixel arrangement.
Here’s some different pixel arrangements.
As you can see, the panel on the 8K is some form of RGBG pentile or RGBW pentile screen, due to the alternating pixel arrangement on the 8k from the red pixels appearing diagnonally below in adjacent columns. But according to Google and LG, this type of pixel arrangement is necessary to achieve higher pixel dense screens. So everyone should settle down about it, it’s likely going to be the norm no matter which manufacturer you buy from going into the future.