But how are you supposed to fish out your dream display from a sea of options? What are the features that any gaming TV must have? And most crucially, what is the best TV for gaming? It’s not an easy question to answer. But in this article, we’ve done the difficult research to find the answers for you!
Ready to hook up your console of choice and start playing the hottest titles? Then make sure to join us down below, because we’re going to help you find the perfect TV for just that!
What Are The Best TVs For Gaming?
It would be impossible to declare one TV as the definitive display for avid gamers. There are so many specific features to look out for, and hundreds of extra features only offered by specific models.
However, if you’re looking for the best gaming TVs around, there are a few features that you can keep your eyes open for. Why don’t we go through these features now?
What Features Are Needed For A Gaming TV?
Screen Size
If you’re reading this article now, it’s likely that you’re an avid gamer. And if there’s one thing that’s true about gamers, it’s that they like things large! No doubt, you’ve dreamt of going for the largest TV available. That way, you can truly create the most immersive experience to make your games feel all the more real.
We definitely recommend going large where possible, especially if you have the space! However, when it comes to size, it’s important to maintain your cool and exercise restraint. While it’s great to have a large TV take up your peripheral vision, it can be difficult to maintain full control when you have to keep whipping your head around to follow the action.
A larger TV can certainly help to bring you closer to the heart of the action. But you need to make sure it’s not too big. Unless you want to end up with a neck ache after gaming!
In order to stay at the top of your game, you’ll want to ensure you sit at the perfect distance from your new gaming TV. A distance from which you can make out every corner of the screen with minimal head movement.
But how are you supposed to know this optimal distance before buying your new TV? Easy! Start by taking the diagonal width of the screen, and then multiply it from 1.5 to 2.5 times. This will result in a sum that tells you the optimal amount of space that should rest between you and the screen. Be sure to weigh these measurements against the amount of space in your room. If there’s not enough available floor space to take in the full scope of the screen, then we’d recommend a smaller TV.
Higher Resolutions
Games have never looked better. Long gone are the eras of pixelated or polygonal character models. Not only are graphics improving every year, but so too are the resolutions at which games can be played. When HD gaming was first introduced with the seventh generation of consoles, it totally changed the way we played. Now, our favourite digital worlds look more real than ever. Thankfully, with the introduction of 4K gaming, this sense of realism has only grown much stronger!
If you want to keep up with the mind blowing graphics offered by modern consoles, you’ll want a TV with a greater resolution. Both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S offer 4K gaming right out of the box. So why not take advantage of it? We strongly recommend opting for a 4K TV that can display graphics with the detail they deserve.
Opting for a TV with greater resolution is not only great for making your games look better. It also helps to give you a little extra competitive edge. Having access to a greater pixel count means it’s much easier to make out individual shapes on-screen. In an FPS game, this can truly mean the difference between victory and defeat as you make that final shot against your opponent from across the map!
4K TVs might cost a little more, but they’re more than worth it for the numerous ways they improve the gaming experience.
Do I Need An 8K TV For Gaming?
At this point, you might be wondering whether it’s best to simply go a level higher, and grab an 8K TV. While 8K TVs certainly do offer sharper imagery than 4K TVs, they are not yet an essential purchase.
Though there are plans for 8K gaming to be introduced across the industry, it has yet to happen. Unless you were planning to use an 8K TV to also watch 8K videos on YouTube, it may not be a totally worthy investment!
High Refresh Rate
The world of gaming can move at lightning speed. Victory or defeat can come down to split-second player decisions in the heat of the moment. As such, you’re going to need to make sure that you can keep up with the action. You’ll need a TV that can render every single movement in-game so that you can always remain in control.
To help ensure that your new TV is suited to fast-paced gaming, it’s best to look for a model with a high refresh rate. The refresh rate of a TV is a metric used to determine how quickly the screen can refresh its image from one to the next. The faster the refresh rate, the more times the image can refresh within a single second. Refresh rates are measured in Hertz (Hz). If you want a smoother-looking gaming experience, you should look for a higher number of Hertz!
Higher refresh rates allow your TV to keep up with the fastest of games. If you want to stay on top of every moment while playing, then look for refresh rates over 60Hz!
A higher refresh rate will allow you a much greater sense of immersion and control with your favourite games. You’ll be able to witness every single motion on screen, bridging the gap between you and your favourite characters.
TVs with a refresh rate over 60Hz are great for modern game consoles, as they allow true 60 frames-per-second gaming that creates a buttery smooth experience. There are also numerous TVs with refresh rates well over 120Hz that are great for higher frame rates for those true pro gamers out there!
Variable Refresh Rates
Where possible, we’d also recommend looking for a TV with variable refresh rate technology. Variable refresh rate technology allows a TV to identify the frame rate at which a piece of content is being played. The TV can then take this information, and adjust its refresh rate accordingly. This is great for preventing screen-tearing, an issue that strikes fear in the hearts of gamers across the world!
Screen tearing occurs when the frame rate of a rendered image clashes with the refresh rate of the output display. For example, you may find that playing a 60fps game on a 120Hz TV results in screen tearing. A variable refresh rate would allow the TV to identify the frame rate of 60, and adjust its refresh rate to a suitable 60Hz.
HDMI Ports
Most gamers aren’t limited to just one or two consoles. If you’re a gamer who loves to build up an entertainment centre, filled with all of the top consoles, then you’ll want a TV with plenty of HDMI ports! Luckily, many TVs, especially much larger models, come equipped with numerous HDMI ports so you can hook up your consoles and switch between them without having to wrestle with wires behind the screen!
When looking at the input ports of your new TV, make sure to look out for HDMI 2.1 support. HDMI 2.1 is a slightly upgraded version of the standard HDMI 2.0 that can help to improve the performance of content across the board. HDMI 2.1 is not only necessary for 8K resolutions but also higher frame rates. If you want to bump up the performance of your games to 120fps, then HDMI 2.1 input is essential.
TVs with HDMI 2.1 support naturally cost a little more, but they’re a fantastic investment. The landscape of gaming is very naturally moving towards greater performance and higher frame rates. As such, a TV with HDMI 2.1 support is great for futureproofing your gaming setup!
HDR Support
Larger screen sizes and greater resolutions are often enough to entice gamers into purchasing a TV. However, if you really want to make the most of both screen size and resolution, we strongly recommend opting for a TV with HDR support. HDR is a technology that allows a television display to render a much wider gamut of colours. This results in on-screen images appearing much richer in detail and contrast. HDR can help to make triple-A titles look even more realistic!
Using HDR with gaming’s hottest titles not only makes your games look better but also helps you to play them better. HDR helps to vastly improve the contrast of a TV screen. This helps you to more easily identify distinct shapes on the screen at a glance. In competitive first-person shooters, being able to identify your enemies from far away can help you to claim victory in mere seconds!
Higher contrast also makes gaming stories all the more impactful. Even the scariest of horror games will become all the more spine-chilling, as you’ll be able to make out small shapes moving around in the dark!
And don’t worry about HDR slowing down your gaming experience. Switching on HDR has no impact on input lag or latency, so you can still remain in total control of every aspect on screen!
Low Input Lag
Gamers need a sense of control. It’s perhaps one of the most important aspects of the gaming experience. Without a good sense of control, a game can easily become unplayable and unsatisfying. To help make your games more responsive and intuitive, you’ll want to look out for a TV with lower input lag.
As a gamer, you’ve likely heard of the dreaded input lag before. It’s that seemingly endless time that exists between a button press on your controller, and the associated response on screen! The quicker the TV can respond to your button presses, the more in control you will feel!
You should try to look out for a TV with a latency of under 40 milliseconds. Even better, if you can aim for a screen with fewer than 15 milliseconds of latency. It might sound like splitting hairs at this point, but those milliseconds can truly lead to a greater gaming experience and a much greater sense of control.
Gaming Modes
There’s nothing worse than a TV that works against you. A truly excellent TV will learn from how you interact with it, and understand how you use it. Popular TV manufacturers have taken notice of the specific needs of gamers, and now include specialised gaming modes within their most popular models. Gaming mode is designed to optimise the performance of the display, reduce latency and create the perfect conditions for gaming.
For a truly intuitive experience, many modern smart TVs will automatically activate gaming mode upon detecting input from a console. This means you don’t even have to touch a single button on your TV remote to activate gaming mode! Modern smart TVs will learn from your consoles to always provide the perfect gaming experience.
Good Sound
When it comes to gaming TVs, it’s only natural to be fixated on all things visual. You want the graphics to look their best, and the frame rate to look buttery smooth. However, there is an often unsung hero of gaming immersion that many people tend to neglect: sound!
If you want to truly break that barrier between the real world and the digital world, a good sound system is a great asset. Luckily, it’s a lot easier than it ever has been to find TVs with great sound capabilities.
If you don’t want to have to fork over extra cash for an external sound system, then we recommend looking for a TV with built-in speakers. Don’t just look for any speakers, though. Take your time to find out some of the sound capabilities of each TV that takes your interest.
In particular, we recommend looking out for object-tracking sound capabilities. Object tracking allows sounds to follow their corresponding actions on screen. Let’s imagine there’s a car going from the right end of the screen to the left. The sound of the car’s engine would follow it across the length of the screen! This helps to really sell the realism of any image on-screen. Object tracking sound also works similarly to surround sound but at a fraction of the price!
Object tracking sound can also help with your in-game situational awareness. So you can identify opponents coming from behind in an instant, and react accordingly.
Many leading consoles also support premium audio formats like Dolby Atmos sound. Want to make the most of crystal clear sound that can surround you from all over? Then we’d recommend a Dolby Atmos-compatible TV.
What Is The Best TV Display Type For Gaming?
When you’re looking around for the perfect gaming TV, you’ll naturally come across a number of display types to consider. Three of the most popular modern display types are OLED, QLED, and LED. But which of these three is the best for gaming? Let’s take a look.
OLED
OLED TVs render images through a complex array of self-illuminating pixels. The special pixels of an OLED TV are able to create perfect contrast and deep black values by turning on and off as needed. This helps to make OLED TVs great for high-res gaming. If you want to play your favourite games with HDR, then an OLED model would be a great shout.
OLED TVs are also able to offer highly competitive response times. OLED TVs are able to near-instantly respond to every single button press! Some models even boast an incredibly speedy 0.1 millisecond response time. If you’re a competitive gamer with no room for error, then an OLED TV should be a no-brainer.
OLED TVs do cost a little bit more. Because of this, we recommend that you make frequent use of any built-in pixel shift functions offered by an OLED TV. Pixel shift is an automatic measure that seeks to prevent the development of screen burn. Screen burn occurs when static elements on-screen, such as gameplay HUDs literally burn into the screen. Using pixel shift keeps individual pixels from overloading, and allows the TV to last a number of extra years!
QLED
Quantum dots are what make QLED TVs tick. Quantum dots are able to recreate far more specific colours than OLED pixels. When quantum dots are electrified, they release light of a certain colour. The more energy received, the more the colour changes. This means that QLED TVs are great for playing fantastic single-player games where visuals are king. Colours will stand out, and environments will appear all the more realistic.
The biggest downside of QLED technology is that more time is needed for the screen to render such rich colours. QLED TVs tend to have input lag that very often exceeds 1 to 2 milliseconds. Again, this might sound like splitting hairs, but these extra milliseconds can make a game feel really sluggish and odd. However, this high latency is likely to only be a sticking point for pro gamers. If you are a casual gamer looking to occasionally play big blockbuster titles, then it may not be quite as much of a concern.
LED
Though LED TVs don’t look quite as snazzy as their OLED and QLED counterparts, they are still incredibly effective and affordable.
LED TVs make for a great middle ground between OLED and QLED TVs, and their affordable price makes them a great option for those who are not quite yet ready to drop thousands of pounds on a more advanced display.
Which Of The Three Is Best?
When it comes to overall gaming TVs, we would argue that OLED TVs are the best option. OLED TVs are incredibly responsive, which makes them great for pro gamers. They also feature fantastic resolutions and support for HDR. This makes them also suitable for casual gamers!
OLED TVs are incredibly responsive and produce vibrant images. They’re great for letting you immerse yourself in games while also staying in total control! If you want an all-round gaming TV, then OLED is the one for you!
OLED TVs may cost a little more, but they’re more than worth the investment. It almost feels as though OLED technology was invented with gaming in mind!
What Gaming Features Do Samsung TVs Have?
Black Equaliser
Ever found yourself totally lost in a horror game? Unable to make out individual shapes in the darkness? It’s a problem that has plagued every gamer at some point or another. And it’s not just relegated to horror games.
Even the most intense action games and FPS titles can be affected by limited visibility in darker areas on the screen. If you’ve ever been bested by an opponent hiding in the shadows of the stage, then you’ll want to make use of a black equaliser on a Samsung TV.
Black equaliser is a post-processing effect done entirely by the TV screen itself. So you don’t need to worry about it slowing down your gameplay! However, it is worth noting that black equaliser will have an overall impact on the entire image. Contrast may be slightly weakened when putting the equaliser too high.
Object Tracking Sound
Object tracking sound is the ultimate sound technology for immersion without having to splash the cash for a surround sound system. Object tracking sound support helps to save plenty of vital floor space within your living room, so it’s great for those with smaller homes.
Samsung TVs actually offer a range of object-tracking sound experiences. From Object Tracking Sound Lite, which features left-to-right speaker arrangements. To Object Tracking Sound Pro, which adds both central and upper speakers to create extra dimensions of sound. Be sure to check the specs of each Samsung TV to find the object-tracking sound experience that’s best for you.
Motion Xcelerator Turbo Pro
Motion Xcelerator Turbo Pro is just one of many proprietary technologies offered in Samsung TVs that give them a competitive edge. Though it’s only found in a specific range of models, it’s worth looking out for.
The technology allows even QLED TVs to operate at 4K resolutions with higher refresh rates. In fact, Motion Xcelerator Turbo Pro can increase the refresh rate upwards of 144Hz!
Samsung Gaming Hub
For more casual gamers, one of the most exciting gaming features offered by Samsung TVs is the Samsung Gaming Hub. Essentially, this platform allows users to stream the hottest Xbox titles directly to the TV, without any need to hook up a console. While you will need access to an Xbox subscription and a compatible controller, this can help you to really declutter your living room space!
Just make sure that you have a strong internet connection. Game streaming isn’t quite as satisfying as it sounds when your connection can’t keep up!
What Gaming Features Do LG TVs Have?
Dolby Vision Gaming 4K
Of all video output formats available on the market, one of the absolute best is Dolby Vision. Many LG gaming TVs come with Dolby Vision Gaming 4K support as standard, making them great for those gamers who love to soak up the atmosphere of their games.
As an extension of HDR technology, Dolby Vision Gaming 4K enhances the colour gamut and contrast within an image to make every frame more impactful.
It even works at 120Hz and higher. So your gameplay can look equally as smooth as it is vibrant!
Game Optimiser
Game Optimiser takes the basic principles of a standard TV gaming mode, and takes it even further. Game optimiser allows you to choose display settings that are specifically tailored to specific types of games.
For instance, if you choose “First Person Shooter” mode, then contrast is prioritised, to make it easier to spot enemies from afar. “RPG” mode enhances saturation to make the most fantastical worlds look even more unbelievable!
You can even fine-tune some of the settings to your tastes. Want a little more saturation in the colour? Use the intuitive menu to toggle it up!
Game Dashboard
The trouble with many TVs is that they tend to hide game modes behind a maze of menu screens and options. LG TVs account for this with the inclusion of the game dashboard, which can be accessed with the touch of a button. The dashboard allows players to change their TV settings without interrupting gameplay.
This creates a truly intuitive and seamless gaming experience that helps you to maintain a total sense of control.
What Gaming Features Do Philips TVs Have?
Variable Refresh Rate
Variable refresh rates will help to prevent garish and immersion-breaking screen tearing from ruining your experience. Philips TVs are equipped with intelligent variable refresh rates that can keep up with the smoothest games.
Ambilight
It might look like a superfluous extra on the surface, but Ambilight technology can truly help to make your games shine. If you’ve been around online gaming spaces, you’ve likely seen countless gamers fitting their TVs and computer monitors with LED lights that create an ambience around the screen. With certain Philips TV models, you can access ambient lighting built in!
It might be a small addition, but having that extra ambient light really helps to create the sense that the game screen is endless!
Dolby Atmos
We mentioned earlier just how important sound can be in creating an immersive gaming experience. If you want a simple gaming TV with support for premium audio, then look out for a model with Dolby Atmos sound.
Dolby Atmos Sound is that extra bridge that helps to bring you closer to the action in your favourite games.
What Gaming Features Do TCL TVs Have?
AMD FreeSync
TCL gaming TVs are equipped with AMD FreeSync technology, and it’s easily one of the best performance enhancers we’ve ever experienced in a gaming TV. This licensed technology allows a TCL TV to vary refresh rates as needed, in real-time. It entirely negates screen tearing, to create a seamless gameplay experience.
TCL AiPQ Engine
HDR technology really brings your games to life. Thanks to the TCL AiPQ engine, you can access HDR gaming right out of the gate. This engine is more than just an average HDR program, however. It actually learns from your games, in real-time, to provide the perfect colour and contrast for every moment!
Which TV Is Best For Gaming?
Declaring a single TV model or brand as the absolute best just isn’t possible. There are so many nuanced variables that gamers will want to consider from their dream TV.
There is no single best TV for gaming. Each type of TV offers a very different set of features that can make gaming smoother! Make sure to look out for the features that matter most to you!
However, there are a set number of characteristics and features that you should always be sure to look out for in a gaming TV. We hope this guide has helped to bring you a little closer to that gaming TV you’ve always dreamed of!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Best TV For Gaming?
There is no single TV model that stands out as the best for gaming. However, the best gaming TVs are those that allow maximum control at all times. You’ll want to look out for low input lag, latency and refresh rates. If you want your games to look their best, then look for 4K resolutions and HDR support!
Is LED Or OLED Better For Gaming?
Generally, OLED TVs are slightly better than LED TVs when it comes to gaming. OLED TVs feature incredibly fast refresh rates and low latency. This makes them really intuitive for gamers to use. If you want to totally master your games, then the benefits of an OLED TV should speak for themselves!
Do I Need A 4K TV For PS5?
It’s not required to have a 4K TV to be able to play a PS5. Provided your TV accepts HDMI inputs, you can easily play a PS5 even at 1080p. However, PS5 games are designed to play natively at 4K. If you want your PS5 games to look their best, then a 4K TV is a great investment!
Is OLED Worth The Extra Money In Gaming?
OLED TVs often cost a little more than competing TVs. However, they are fully worth the investment for gaming purposes. OLED TVs are incredibly responsive, and they are able to display even the most intense of games at optimised frame rates. If you want the best for your games, then OLED is the name for you!
