The only problem is that finding this perfect gaming TV is often much easier said than done. There are so many different gaming TVs on the market. And so many differing opinions as to what makes for a truly great gaming TV. How are you meant to select that one TV when thousands of options are competing for your hard-earned money?
It can be easy to end up lost in a maze of technical terms and jargon when looking through the modern world of TVs. Luckily, for our tech experts here at Reliant, understanding TVs is like second nature! We’ve collated our expertise to put together this definitive guide to choosing your gaming TV! We’ll take you through all of the most important considerations, and how they’ll affect your gaming experience!
What Should You Look For When Choosing A Gaming TV?
Resolution
Resolution is one of the first things you’re likely to think of when looking at TVs. Luckily, it’s also one of the most important things to look at! Consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X can now output games at 4K resolutions. This really allows next-gen graphics to shine. Character models look more photorealistic, and in-game environments practically burst with life and energy.
Whether you’re planning to delve into the latest RPG epic or to play the latest fast-paced roguelike, you’ll want a TV with a great resolution!
We might go so far as to say that a 4K TV is essential to make the most of consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X. These consoles were designed with 4K graphics in mind!
4K TVs are now actually very affordable. When 4K displays were first introduced, prices were high enough to cause anyone to break out in a sweat. Nowadays, 4K TVs can more easily be acquired without needing to break the bank!
Can You Use An 8K TV For Gaming?
At this point, you’re likely wondering if it would be worth grabbing an 8K TV for gaming. After all, with double the pixel count of a 4K TV, surely an 8K TV is the best option to let your games shine. Unfortunately, buying an 8K TV specifically for gaming is not currently an advisable investment.
We mentioned earlier that consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X can only achieve a 4K resolution. This means that they cannot output games at 8K! As such, an 8K TV that you only plan to use for gaming would be a wasted investment!
However, if you wanted to use your 8K TV for other content outside of games, such as film and TV, it might be a more worthy investment.
Can You Use 8K Upscaling On Games?
Currently, the film and TV markets are dominated by 4K resolutions. There is not much content at all produced with 8K resolutions in mind. While this is subject to change as 8K displays become more accessible, it does mean that there is less 8K content available to make the most of a compatible display.
To counter this, many 8K TVs are equipped with special upscaling technology. This technology is able to analyse an incoming video signal and improve its fidelity in seconds to improve the way it looks. This can lead to some content appearing as if it were natively 8K! The only trouble is that this technology is not worth using on gaming content.
8K upscaling results in an increase in input lag. This means that there will be a delay between pressing a button on your controller, and seeing your in-game character respond!
8K upscaling is a post-processing technology that occurs on the front end of the TV. The process of upscaling content thus delays it from showing up on-screen. This only leads to a delay of a few milliseconds. For film and TV content, this delay is fine. However, for gaming, this delay can seem interminable. Upscaling your games will result in high input lag that leaves them feeling slow to play!
Display Type
TVs now differ in more ways than just their resolution and screen size. Display technologies have changed a lot over the past few decades. This has allowed manufacturers to invent innovative methods for rendering on-screen images.
There are a number of different display types on the market. Let’s take a look at them!
LED
When most people imagine a stereotypical TV, the image they conjure up is often closest to an LED! LED TVs have been around for several decades, but despite this, they still make a great option for gamers!
LED TVs produce images through a combination of pixels and LED backlights. The pixel layer renders an image before LEDs then shine light through the pixels.
LED TVs are incredibly affordable, and are available in an array of sizes. This makes them great for gamers of all types. Especially for those looking for a budget display!
LED TVs can create high brightness levels thanks to their powerful LED light layers. However, when compared to other displays, they do lack slightly in terms of colour range and depth.
QLED
QLED displays are a very recent innovation, and if you’re a fan of HDR gaming, you’re going to want to listen up! QLED TVs differ massively from other TVs in terms of how they produce images. Instead of making use of simple pixels, QLED TVs instead make use of quantum-sized semiconductors. They’re so small that you would actually need a microscope to see them. These semiconductors are then powered up. Depending on the amount of power they receive, these semiconductors can produce light of different colours!
Because of how they work, QLED displays are actually able to replicate a much wider spectrum of colours than any other display type. This makes them perfect for HDR! Games like Fortnite, Rocket League, and Grand Theft Auto are able to burst with realistic colour. Everything on-screen appears richer and more saturated!
QLED displays are immensely colourful. For games that support HDR, QLED displays are almost essential! QLED displays are also immensely bright, so you can see every colour, and every tiny detail!
QLED displays are also able to achieve high brightness levels. But if we had anything negative to say about them, it would be that they had milliseconds more input lag than our next display type.
OLED
OLED displays are totally perfect for gaming. This ultimately comes down to how they operate. OLED displays are totally unlike other TVs. Instead of making use of backlight arrays to display an image, it uses only its own pixels! OLED pixels are able to generate colours, and then project them out with their own light.
The nature of OLED pixels means that they’re incredibly responsive and fast. This means that they’re great for high refresh rates (More on that later!). OLED pixels can also be turned off independently, as needed. This means that these displays can create true black values. While OLED displays may not be quite as colourful as QLED displays, the enhanced contrast offered by OLED pixels allows for every colour to shine.
OLED displays can give you a slight edge over the competition. The increased contrast makes it easier to spot your enemies from afar!
OLED displays are often built with gaming in mind. They’re smooth and incredibly responsive. However, you must be sure to take good care of an OLED display. As they’re susceptible to screen burn-in!
However, OLED displays are quite vulnerable to screen burn-in. Let’s find out a little more about that below!
What Is Screen Burn-In?
Screen burn-in is a direct result of OLED pixels burning out. When the pixels burn out, they’re less able to produce light. In turn, this results in a static image appearing as though it has burned right into the screen.
In some cases, screen burn-in is easy to overlook, while in other cases, it’s more severe.
Screen burn-in occurs when OLED pixels are overloaded. This usually happens when individual pixels are charged with displaying the same colours, and the same brightness levels for long periods of time. For instance, if you were to leave an OLED TV on your console’s home screen the brightest parts of the image would burn out they’re dedicated pixels.
Screen burn-in can also occur as a result of static gameplay elements. If your favourite games have health bars stuck to the corners of the screen, they can run the risk of burning in!
How Can You Prevent Screen Burn-In?
So far, the risk of screen burn-in sounds rather “Doom-and-gloom”! Luckily, there’s plenty you can do to prevent screen burn-in while gaming! Screen burn-in is actually very rare on modern OLED TVs, especially if you care for them well!
One of the best things you can do to prevent screen burn-in is to turn the TV off when it’s not in use. It’s incredibly easy to leave the screen dormant, with your game paused. If left for too long, this could put the TV at risk.
OLED TVs are susceptible to screen burn-in. But only if you don’t take good care of them! Make use of sleep timers and pixel shift to keep your OLED display from burning in!
If you want to minimise the risk of leaving your TV on, be sure to make use of its sleep timers! A sleep timer will turn your TV off after a certain amount of time. This prevents you from accidentally leaving it on!
You can also prevent screen burn-in by activating pixel shift. Pixel shift is a technology found in many smart TVs that works to protect the display. Essentially, pixel shift forces each of the millions of pixels to shift slightly. This means that the pixels aren’t forced to maintain the same level of light for hours at a time. When you’re in the middle of an intense game, you won’t even notice when pixel shift has happened!
Screen Size
You don’t need us to tell you that your TV’s screen size is worth considering. When most people are tasked with grabbing a new TV, their first idea is to go for the largest screen available! It’s a reasonable idea. After all, a larger screen helps you to emulate the cinematic experience from home!
However, larger gaming TVs are only recommended for some gamers. For other gamers, much smaller screens may be preferable.
Larger TVs are best for cinematic games with a focus on narrative and atmosphere. A larger screen lets you soak in all of the world-building detail! Just make sure you have the space for the TV!
Some games look amazing on larger TVs. For instance, story-driven titles like God Of War Ragnarok, and The Last Of Us are able to show off their cinematic potential on a much larger screen. If you’re opting for a TV of a larger size, such as an 85-inch TV, it’s worth considering what you’ll use the TV for. If you plan to also use it to watch films, then a larger screen size is highly recommended!
Just make sure that your chosen TV actually fits into your home! Not only do you need to get it through the front door, but you also need to make sure there’s enough space to take it all in! Preferably, you should be able to take in the entire image of the screen, without having to move your head!
Can A TV Be Too Big For Gaming?
Absolutely. However, whether or not a TV is too big for gaming will depend on the kinds of games you’re playing. As we mentioned above, for story-focused games, larger screens are great. Action scenes simply look better when spread out over the length of a 98-inch TV screen.
However, a TV would certainly be too big for players of more competitively-oriented games. Avid players of online FPS games and fighting games will likely prefer the compact screen sizes of smaller models. Professional gamers need to have a full grasp of important in-game information at all times. It’s much easier to see the entirety of a smaller TV screen when sat up close, than a much larger TV. Gamers are known to sit quite close to the screen during gameplay. A smaller screen is able to facilitate this!
Why Do Gamers Prefer Smaller Televisions?
Gamers also often find that their games perform much better on smaller TV screens. The reason for this is a result of simple physicality.
When a video signal reaches a TV, it then has to render that image across the entirety of the screen. This involves the video signal travelling to each of the screen’s pixels! On a physical level, it simply takes much longer for a video signal to reach every pixel of a larger display. On a smaller TV, it takes much less time. This means that larger TVs often have higher levels of input lag.
If you’re focused on frame-perfect performance in your games, then you might be better off with a smaller gaming TV. Smaller screens are easier to take in and have lower input lag!
On a technical level, the delay to send a signal across a larger screen is only a few milliseconds. An 85-inch TV has a few more milliseconds of input lag than a 43-inch TV, for example. To most people, this amount of input delay isn’t worth worrying about. However, if you’re focused on having the greatest reaction times in multiplayer games, then these extra milliseconds can be totally game-ruining!
Refresh Rate
Refresh rates are crucial for gaming TVs. However, in a regular discussion of gaming TVs, they very often go overlooked. In fact, “Refresh rate” is a term that not many people can actually define!
Put simply, the refresh rate of your TV refers to the number of times the screen can refresh its image within a single second. Television screens operate on very simple film principles. Essentially, all a TV is doing is showing you a series of related images in quick succession to create the illusion of movement. The more images there are in a single second, the smoother movement appears!
If you want your gaming TV to be truly up to snuff, then a higher refresh rate is just right. It allows you to take advantage of high frame-rate gaming.
But you might be wondering, what is the difference between a refresh rate and a frame rate? Let’s clear it up!
What Is The Difference Between Refresh Rate And Frame Rate?
We mentioned just above that a TV’s refresh rate refers to how many times its screen can refresh in a single second. Frame rate, on the other hand, refers to how many images an input source can render in a single second. If you have a game running at 60 frames per second, it quite literally means that the console is rendering 60 individual frames every second!
The more powerful the console, the higher the frame rate it can achieve. Consoles like the PS5 and Xbox One X can both crank out frame rates as high as 120FPS.
What Refresh Rate Should You Look Out For?
So, in order to make the most of 120FPS gameplay, you’ll need a TV that’s up to the task. You need to pair your TV’s refresh rate to the frame rate you want to play at!
If you want to enjoy 60FPS, then you’ll need a TV with a refresh rate of at least 60Hz.
If you’re looking to play the latest games, you’ll want a TV with a 120Hz refresh rate. A refresh rate this high is crucial for displaying games in their full 120FPS glory!
It’s important to match your TV’s refresh rate to your console’s frame rate, lest you want your game’s visuals to be muddled by constant screen tearing. Screen tearing occurs when a game’s frame rate is incongruent with the TV’s refresh rate. It results in the TV refreshing out of sync with the console rendering images.
What Is A Variable Refresh Rate?
Luckily, you don’t have to play all of your games at 120FPS to make use of a 120Hz TV. Just make sure to look for a gaming TV with variable refresh rate technology. With variable refresh rate technology, your TV will be able to adjust its refresh rate on the fly, according to your needs.
When a VRR-compatible TV receives a video signal at around 30FPS, it lowers its refresh rate to match. When the frame rate climbs up, so too will the refresh rate.
This is particularly important for gaming. Games without locked frame rates can occasionally gain and drop frames depending on what’s happening in-game. Variable refresh rate technology ensures that your refresh rate and frame rates are always totally aligned, no matter how much they shift!
Can You Increase A TV’s Refresh Rate?
If you already have a TV that you use for gaming, you might wonder if it’s possible to upgrade its refresh rate. Unfortunately, the quick answer is no. There are no simple hardware or firmware updates that will allow your TV to achieve a higher refresh rate.
If you wanted to upgrade an existing TV to achieve a higher refresh rate, then you would need to pay for an expensive procedure. The TV’s hardware would need to be entirely upgraded. In the long run, the cost of upgrading a TV would simply be more than the cost of a brand-new TV with a higher refresh rate built in!
Low Input Lag
We’ve mentioned input lag a few times throughout this guide. Suffice it to say, it cannot be understated just how important it is to consider. With higher input lag, your games will feel sluggish. You’ll also find your connection to your favourite digital worlds being severed. When your TV takes so long to respond to your inputs, you’ll feel a complete disconnect from your in-game character!
We recommend taking your time to carefully consider the response times of any TVs you look at on the market. Response times can differ massively from model to model. And it’s always best to aim for the fastest TVs you can find.
For optimal gaming performance it’s always best to opt for a TV with low input lag. When input lag is low, you’ll feel more in tune with your in-game avatar.
With lower input lag, you’ll feel much more like you’re in the driving seat, and in total control of your in-game avatars!
Can You Improve A TV’s Response Time?
In some cases, it’s actually possible to enhance your TV’s responsiveness. As we mentioned in our earlier section about 8K upscaling, post-processing effects carried out by the TV are often to blame for higher input lag. As such, you can actually improve your TV’s responsiveness by ensuring that all post-processing effects are switched off while playing!
This will mean there are fewer steps delaying your console’s video signal from reaching the screen.
HDMI 2.1 Input
In order to enjoy 4K resolutions and high frame rates, a HDMI 2.1 connection will be crucial. HDMI 2.1 cables boast a much faster transfer speed. This means that they can carry video signals for much higher resolutions and frame rates.
Luckily, you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a modern TV with HDMI 2.1 inputs. In fact, you’d actually have a harder time finding a new TV that didn’t offer support for the high-speed cable.
The reason we bring up HDMI 2.1 support is to incentivise you to pick up a TV with multiple HDMI 2.1 ports. If you have more than one games console, and perhaps an additional set-top box, then you’ll want a TV that will allow you to hook all of them up. The industry standard is around 4 HDMI input ports, so most TVs will allow you to hook up 4 different video sources to your TV. This saves you the hassle of having to constantly swap cables around every time you switch consoles!
HDMI 2.1 is an updated version of the standard HDMI cable. It’s essential for enjoying PS5 and Xbox Series X games at 4K or at 120FPS! You won’t be able to use just any old cable!
If you only have one console or HDMI input to worry about, then you might be able to save a little more money by choosing a smaller model.
HDR Compatibility
HDMI 2.1 cables are also able to support HDR video signals. The PS5 and Xbox Series X both support HDR output, so if you want to make the most of this, you’ll need an HDR TV and an HDMI 2.1 cable!
HDR essentially allows your TV to produce a much wider array of colours, while also creating a wider range of brightness levels. This can lead to much greater fidelity from your games. So that they look more real and far more inviting.
Again, you’d have a much harder time finding a modern TV that didn’t support HDR video signals. But if you want your games to look their best, it’s worth ensuring your new TV supports it!
Gaming Modes
Gaming mode is a toggleable mode that automatically disables your TV’s post-processing effects. We mentioned above that disabling post-processing results in much faster response times, and improved gaming performance.
Gaming mode is incredibly useful because it will automatically disable all post-processing effects in one go. This saves you from scrolling through options menus just to optimise your TV’s gaming performance.
Gaming mode is a feature totally worth looking out for. Turning it on quickly deactivates all post-processing effects on your TV. This results in much faster response times and smooth play.
Some TVs are also able to identify an input signal coming from a console. This allows the TV to automatically activate gaming mode for better performance. Your gaming TV can quite literally improve its own performance.
How Do You Activate Gaming Mode On A TV?
Different gaming modes are often listed under different names depending on the model of the TV. Regardless, activating gaming mode is incredibly simple. Most smart TVs allow you to toggle it off and on through just a few button presses. When you’ve grabbed a TV, it’s worth checking its user manual to see how to activate gaming mode.
As we mentioned, some smart TVs are actually able to activate gaming mode by themselves!
Price
Let’s finish up here with arguably one of the most important considerations. As you’re searching through the market, be sure to make note of your budget. This will help to ensure you don’t spend too much. Just make sure to be flexible. Sometimes, that dream TV may cost just £100 more than you expected!
To find a fair price, it’s worth noting what kind of features you’re looking for in your dream TV. If you only need a simple display, with no bells and whistles, then you can save a lot more money by opting for a simple model.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Should You Look For When Choosing A Gaming TV?
There are quite a few individual things that you should look out for in the perfect gaming TV. However, to put it simply, you should look for features that improve the performance of the TV. A good gaming TV should allow your games to look amazing and feel amazing. High refresh rates and resolutions, paired with low input lag make for great gaming TVs!
Is OLED Or LED Better For Gaming?
Both OLED and LED displays are perfect for gaming. OLED displays are incredibly responsive and have great refresh rates that support 120FPS gaming. These displays can also create strong contrast for sharper images. LED displays, on the other hand, are great budget options with strong brightness levels! Your choice between the two simply depends on your needs!
What Is Better 8K Or 4K OLED?
On a purely technical level, 8K OLED TVs are better than 4K OLED TVs. 8K OLED TVs have higher resolutions. However, it’s worth noting that there is more 4K content available to take advantage of a 4K display. Thus, neither 4K or 8K is the best option for an OLED display. It simply depends on what you plan to watch, and how much you are willing to spend!
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