The 5 Best Gaming TVs
Whether you're a console junkie or a PC gamer tired of your monitor, when it comes to serious gaming, a dinky screen just isn't going to cut it. Luckily, developments in recent years have driven prices down, so you can buy a cutting-edge HDR beast for less than you might imagine. Here, we've selected our five favorite picks for those on the hunt for a new TV for gaming. In establishing our criteria, we took multiple factors into account, including picture quality, input lag, cost value, and screen size.
Sony Bravia X900F
If Looks Could Kill
It’s simple. The X900F performs spectacularly in every aspect that matters to a gamer. Its colors are vibrant, but not unnatural. Its response time is swift, its motion handling is deft, and its input lag is low. As a 4k HDR unit, its picture quality is exquisite, especially for the price it is sold at. And thanks to its contrast ratio, it’s also a great low-light TV for those of us who like gaming in the dark. Furthermore, the darn thing is sleek, perhaps moreso than any other comparable model on the market. This is a machine with both style and substance.
Pros:
- Installation is a breeze
- Stays cool with extended use
- Compatible with Alexa
- Built-in speakers are pretty decent
Cons:
- Limited viewing-angle range
- Long boot-up time
- Android UI is a bit shabby
Samsung RU8000
One Man's Trash Is Another Man's Treasure
The Samsung RU8000 is a TV that seems to be specially made for gamers. Sure, it has its flaws, but these aren’t so relevant to gaming. Of course, nobody uses a TV only for gaming. But if you are primarily seeking out a unit that’ll serve as your gaming TV, this one is perfect. Especially considering the low cost.
The RU8000’s input lag is phenomenally low, so the gaming experience is lightning fast. The image is responsive, crisp, and defined, with a nice blend of colors and an impressive balance of contrast thanks to the TV’s deep black hues. It handles HDR games well, too, although its brightness falls a bit short of our expectations. But all-in-all, smart features like auto low-latency, Real Game Enhancer with FreeSync variable refresh rate, and OneRemote make this a solid choice.
Pros:
- Deep blacks provide rich contrast
- 4 HDMI/ 2 USB ports
- 5500:1 contrast ratio
Cons:
- Poor image when viewed at an angle
- Local dimming is lacking
- Native OS sometimes includes advertisements
- 49″ models and smaller lack features like FreeSync
LG C9 Series
Forward-Looking
And here, folks, we have the holy grail of gaming televisions. The LG C9 OLED comes at a premium price, and with good reason. Few OLED units on the market can claim such pristine image quality and efficient motion handling. Add to the brew a slew of smart features that’ll make this TV age gracefully, as it’ll be perfectly engineered to sync with future consoles, PC gaming cards, and smart technologies. As far as input lag goes, this touts a 13.4ms response at 60 Hz, and once HDMI 2.1 devices hit the market en masse, this beast will allow it to run 4k @ 120 Hz. Simply put, this television provides perhaps the best gaming experience money can currently buy, and it won’t go obsolete as new tech usurps the old; rather, it will walk hand-in-hand with that tech into the future.
Pros:
- Auto low-latency mode
- Remote is large and intuitive
- Purchase includes 1 year of Disney Plus for free
- Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos
- Compatible with Nvidia G-Sync
Cons:
- Seriously, it’s expensive
- May suffer from burn-in
Samsung Q60R
Ol' Reliable
If you’re unwilling to splurge on a high-end OLED unit, Samsung’s Q60R presents an attractive alternative with its popular QLED model. It’s also available in a variety of sizes sizes from as small as 43″ all the way up to 82″. This one is a bit lacking in color vibrancy and contrast richness, but this isn’t a big deal if you’re using it primarily for gaming.
What you should be concerned with is a television’s input lag, as this can make a noticeable difference in gameplay. Sure, input lag is measured in microseconds, so you might think, is it really a big deal? Yes. It is. That split second you lose due to your TV’s lag can be a make-or-break, life-or-death difference – in the virtual world, that is. The Q60R’s input lag is measured at 14ms. Typically, anything beneath 15ms is considered excellent to the point where you’ll notice a difference in your gameplay. So, to summarize, not the most beautiful display, but fantastic in terms of responsiveness.
Pros:
- 4k UHD and AI upscaling
- Supports FreeSync variable refresh rate
- Also works well as a PC monitor
Cons:
- Mediocre brightness
- Smaller models are quite affordable
TCL R625
Saving Never Felt So Good
Here’s a model you likely haven’t heard much about. Why? Well, it’s not one of the big boys, and it doesn’t hang out at the yacht club – that’s why. Sometimes brand recognition (or lack thereof, in this case) sells a product better than its specs. But in the R625’s case, its specs are worth considering, especially if you’re on a budget.
If somebody told you that you could buy a 65-inch, 4k UHD QLED smart television with Dolby Vision HDR for $799, would that intrigue you? When we first stumbled upon this one, we thought it might be too good to be true, or that the quality of its components would be poor, but that’s not the case. It’s quite well-made and reliable to boot. But more importantly, this one touts an astonishing 11ms input lag, which beats out even the most expensive units on our list.
Pros:
- 5000:1 contrast gets a thumbs up
- Brightness is impressive
Cons:
- Doesn’t support FreeSync
- Only available to Americans
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is input lag, and why does it matter?
Input lag, also known as input latency, is a measure of how long it takes for a signal being generated by a source (like a console) to be displayed on your television’s screen. In an ideal world, this would happen instantaneously, but as of now, this is not possible. Why does it matter? Well, it’s simple: the lower the input lag, the quicker your in-game actions translate to the screen. And the quicker they translate to the screen, the faster you can respond. If you have a 5ms edge over a competitor, you’re essentially living 5ms in the future, relative to his/her in-game perspective. This gives you an obvious competitive advantage, even if it’s only by a few microseconds.
What are the most important attributes of a gaming TV?
First are foremost, input lag. As we mentioned, a split-second advantage can make the difference between victory or defeat, life or virtual death. But aside from input lag, there are a few other factors that you’ll want to pay attention to. Those factors include motion handling, color & contrast, brightness, resolution (obviously), and the actual type of panel that the television utilizes. Different panels have unique attributes, so you’ll want to be sure you understand what you’re buying before you buy it.
About the Author
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With the constantly shifting landscape in the world of technology, GameRevolution seeks to provide gamers and tech-enthusiasts with the information they need to select the right products for their needs. Since 1996, our experts have used their knowledge on all the latest gadgets – everything from headphones to standing desks – to help millions of people navigate specs and answer common questions.