While we don't have every detail surrounding the PS5 and Xbox Series X, what we can say for sure is that they're going to look better on one of the best gaming TVs than a first-gen HD flatscreen - due to their native 4K support.Best TV for Gaming?If you're a gamer, you probably want a TV that supports 4K HDR with a low-latency gaming mode, good black levels and high levels of brightness.
For all that you want the Samsung Q70R TV - listed below in our #1 spot - and available at Best Buy, Amazon, Walmart, and Currys.Why should you be on the hunt for the best TVs for gaming? And what makes a TV better for gaming than, say, watching a movie? It all comes down to 4K resolution, High Dynamic Range (HDR) support, and lower input lag thanks to new Auto Low-Latency Modes and support for video sync technologylike AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync.
If you plan on hooking up your PC to your TV, you'll want one or both of these technologies.If this is your first time buying a TV, we'll help walk you through all the key specs you need to know about and we'll recommend a few of our favorite TVs that we use at home as our primary screens for the PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.
Best TVs for gaming at a glanceSamsung Q70R QLED TVLG B9 OLEDSony Bravia X950G / XG95Samsung RU8000 SeriesLG UM7300 SeriesEven more reasons to upgrade your gaming TVIf you're looking for one of the best TVs for gaming, it's important to find out what a TV actually needs to be able to do to unlock its full gaming potential.
For starters, the most basic requirement is 4K.Resolution revolution: The Xbox One S outputs all of its games in 4K, which is achieved via surprisingly good built-in upscaling.The PS4 Pro outputs games in 4K too, using a mix of upscaling and in-game enhancement.The Xbox One X, meanwhile, has been designed with enough power to drive more games than ever before with native, game engine-integrated 4K support.
Yes, you can still get non-4K Xbox One and PS4 consoles, and the Nintendo Switch isnt interested in 4K either.
And yes, non-4K games will have to be upscaled by a 4K TV, so wont be totally pure.However, upscaling is remarkably good on the best 4K TVs now, and can be done without adding significant delay to the time it takes a TV to render pictures.4K resolution can be transformative, especially on big screens.
And basically 4K is just the way everything is going now (both in the gaming and video worlds), so not being set up for it with your new TV just doesnt make sense.Change your range: Sitting right alongside 4K in todays video world is high dynamic range (HDR) technology.
This delivers pictures with a much wider light range than the standard dynamic range pictures weve been living with for decades in a bid to get the pictures were seeing on our screens looking closer to the way our eyes see the real world.The Xbox One S supports HDR on some of its games, and via some of its streaming apps.
The same situation applies for both the PS4 and PS4 Pro, and naturally the Xbox One X will deliver HDR too.
Most people would say that HDR done well delivers more impact than 4K, especially on small screens.The only problem is that HDR puts a lot of pressure on a TV, since it demands both much more brightness than SDR, and better contrast so that the extra brightness and deeper blacks can potentially share the screen simultaneously.
In fact, HDR done badly can look worse than SDR done decently well; something to think about if youre considering buying a very cheap TV.Let there be light! One of the most important elements of a good HDR performance is brightness.
Many movies and games target 1000 nits or so for their brightest elements, so if you have a TV less bright than that it wont unlock HDRs full potential.
Especially in a video game environment, where graphics can be more stark in contrast terms than real life tends to be.Its perfectly possible for TVs to deliver great HDR pictures without reaching 1000 nits and more of brightness.
This is particularly true with OLED screens, for instance.
But the darker a screen, the harder its processing is going to have to work to try and figure out how to resolve picture information in HDR areas above its capabilities.Lag? Lame! If youre a really serious gamer - especially when it comes to reaction-based online games - you need to care about input lag: The time it takes for a particular TV to render image data received at its inputs.
Obviously youre looking for low numbers if you dont want to be shot in the face by an opponent your TV hasnt even shown yet!Again, manufacturers dont tend to provide input lag figures in their provided specifications.
However, we generally measure input lag on the TVs we test.
Also, Ive provided the input lag measurements for all of our recommended TVs.Roger that over and out: Sound design has always played an integral part in a great gaming experience.
Its getting taken to another level these days, though, with the arrival of surround sound gaming.
In fact, the Xbox One S and Xbox One X consoles even support Dolby Atmos: Dolbys most advanced sound system yet, which introduces a height channel and object based precision to the soundstage.With impressively good timing, LG is about to roll out support for Dolby Atmos over HDMI to its 2017 OLED TVs (some of which ship with integrated sound bars) any moment now.
Also, while integrated Atmos support isnt found elsewhere yet, this year has seen a surge in TVs featuring really powerful sound systems.
So unless youre thinking of investing in an external sound system, it will certainly pay you to have sound as well as picture quality in mind when you buy your gaming TV.Things to pay attention to are whether speakers are facing forwards (as this will almost always give you a more direct, clean sound); rated power output; whether theres a dedicated bass speaker (often found on a TVs rear); built-in soundbars; and the number of individual speakers used.More interested in TV specs than gaming? Check out the best TVs 2020: the 8 best flatscreen televisions from the past yearThe best gaming TVs of 2020OK, now that the essential buying advice done and you're an AV expert, lets now pick out our selection of the best gaming TVs you can currently buy, taking in a combination of price and sheer quality.Samsung Q70R QLED TV SeriesImage Credit: Samsung (Image credit: Samsung)1.
Samsung Q70R QLED TV SeriesSamsung's affordable QLED TV offers the best price-to-performance ratioSpectacular HDR picture qualityPowerful, well-rounded soundCutting-edge gaming featuresLimited viewing anglesWhile we'd really love to recommend Samsung's higher-end Q90R flagship QLED TV as the best gaming TV - it's really not a practical purchase for most gamers on a tighter budget.
What we'd recommend instead is the Samsung Q70R QLED TV that has many of the Q90R's best features at a price more in line with what a gamer would be willing to pay for a new TV.That said, despite sitting lower down in the QLED line-up, the Q70R includes the same comprehensive smart platform, extensive connections, and cutting-edge features found further up the range.
This isnt the flashiest-looking TV that Samsung has ever made, but if your funds are limited the Q70 is a bright, bold and beautiful 4K QLED screen thats worth checking out.Read the review:Samsung Q70R QLED TVSamsung QN55Q70RAFXZA FlatLG B9 OLEDImage Credit: LG (Image credit: LG)2.
LG B9 OLEDIf you want the best black levels, however, you'll need an OLEDLGs cheapest 2019 OLEDRich colors and sharp detailG-Sync SupportLimited peak brightness for HDRWhile the LG B9 OLED doesnt have nearly as much HDR-friendly brightness as Samsung's QLED lineup, its stunning when it comes to the other end of the brightness story, delivering gorgeously rich, deep black colours completely free of the sort of clouding issues that LCD TVs suffer with.
Also, while OLED cant yet go as measurably bright as LCD, the way the darkest pixel in an OLED picture can sit right next to the brightest with no contamination between the two gives the C9 OLED a lovely luminous quality thats particularly effective during dark game settings.Gamers, meanwhile, will be delighted to hear that unlike its previous two predecessors, the B9 OLED no longer dims the picture down heavily when running in its low-latency HDR Game mode.
It also supports 120fps gaming at HD resolutions, full 4:4:4 PC colour, and a superbly low input lag figure of under 20ms.Read the review:LG B9 OLEDLG OLED55C9PUA Alexa Built-inSony Bravia X950G Series Image Credit: Sony (Image credit: Sony)3.
Sony Bravia X950G SeriesGamers won't be disappointed by Sony's mid-range marvelDirect LED with local dimmingExcellent motion handlingPoor sound qualityLackluster black levelsThe Sony X950G - called the Sony XG95 in the UK and X95G in Australia - hits the sweet spot between price and visual performance, offering just enough visual panache to warrant its mid-range price point.While other TVs seem to use their inordinate brightness without discrimination, making most content bright for the sake of brightness, the X950G saves its peak brightness levels for the most intense HDR scenes, making games like Spider-Man on the PS4 Pro look amazing.Short and sweet, it's a brilliant mid-priced 4K TVs that work nicely with Sony's consoles.
Every one of the improvements Sony has introduced over and above last years already excellent X900F series better processing, more brightness, slightly more backlight dimming zones, improved motion performance delivers the goods, resulting in picture quality that humbles many more expensive TVs.Read the full review:Sony BRAVIA X950G / XG95Sony 75" Class 4K UHD LEDSamsung RU8000 SeriesImage Credit: Samsung (Image credit: Samsung)4.
Samsung RU8000 Series (Samsung UN49RU8000)A great budget pick, the RU8000 looks great and makes your games look good, tooCrazy low input lag!Excellent motion handlingLower peak brightnessColor is a bit dullerIf your living room - and budget - can't handle a 65-inch TV, take a look at the truly spectacular RU8000 Series that was made for gamers.
With crazy low input lag of around 6ms with Variable Refresh Rate, this is about as responsive as a TV can be.
It's also great for sports, too, thanks to its above-average motion handling.So why is it lower on our list? It doesn't do the best job upscaling content and it has a lower peak brightness than Samsung's QLED Series, which can all make HDR-compatible games look truly breathtaking.That said, if you're sticking to FPS games or sports games like FIFA and Madden, this is probably the 4K gaming TV for you.Samsung UN49RU8000FXZA Flat(Image credit: Future)LG UM7300 SeriesImage Credit: LG (Image credit: LG)5.
LG UM7300 Series (US only)The LG UM7300 is a basic-but-good 4K gaming TVLow input lagSuper budget TV!Bad black uniformityNo local dimmingIf your gaming TV budget is limited and you haven't found anything on our list yet, LG's basic-but-good UM7300 Series will fill that space on the entertainment center without cleaning out your bank account.Like the Samsung RU8000 Series right above it, the LG UM7300 has an incredible response time of around 15ms as well as support for HDR10 (the HDR that the Xbox One X and PS4 Pro use).It's not going to make your 4K movie collection look great nor will it offer the most expansive smart platform on the market, but if you just need a barebones TV that can make your games look great, this one's for you.LG 43" Class 4K (2160P) UltraBudget Gaming TVs for Your RegionImage Credit: TCL (Image credit: TCL)USA: TCL 6-Series (R617, R615)The best budget 4K TV for gamers with shallow pocketsBright, colorful HDRSupports Dolby VisionLoss of darker detailsLimited motion settingsIf you have deep pockets and a checkbook filled with blank checks, wed tell you to reach deep and shell out for only the best 4K TVs on the market LGs crazy-thinOLED W8or Samsungs ultra-brightQ9FN QLED.
But thats not always realistic: for the vast, vast majority of us, our budget to spend on a 4K UHD TV is limited to somewhere under $1,000 and often it's even less than that.To that end, its absolutely fair to say that the TCL 6-Series is the best TV you can possibly get in this price range.
Its performance per dollar is unmatched and its picture quality despite a few minor flaws will truly impress you.Said simply, if theres a better value 4K TV on the market, weve yet to see it.Read the full review:TCL 6-Series (R615, R617)TCL 55R617 55-Inch 4K UltraImage Credit: Panasonic (Image credit: Panasonic)UK: Panasonic GX800 SeriesPansonic's mid-ranger surprises with supremely low input lagSuperior HCX image processingGreat priceHDR limited in Game ModeOnly three HDMI inputsWith the TX-50GX800, Panasonic has taken the 4K HDR market by the scruff of the neck and given it a vigorous shake.
It ushers inDolby VisionHDR, once the preserve of high-end premium screens, into the mainstream, and doesnt discriminate against rival dynamic metadata standardHDR10+either.So what makes this set so great for gamers? Well, input lag measures just 10.2ms in the dedicated Game mode, for starters, and while it doesn't produce the brightest images on the planet, sport-loving gamers will appreciate the truly crisp images brought about the Intelligent Frame Creation (IFC) processing engine.A little more buying advice for the roadIf you want to learn more about shopping for gaming TVs, we've added a bit more info below.
Read on to level up your AV knowledge skill!Bits and B.O.B.s: Connected to the HDR point, you might want to think about your gaming TVs bit depth.
The best HDR experience requires a 10-bit screen able to support 1024 values of each RGB colour - otherwise you will get an inferior colour performance, including, possibly, colour striping where you should see subtle blends.
Most premium HDR TVs these days are 10-bit, but its far from a given at the relatively affordable end of the TV market.The Xbox One S and PS4 consoles automatically assess the bit-depth of your TV and select the optimum HDR video output accordingly.
The Xbox One S even provides a description of your TVs capabilities under 4K TV Details in its Advanced Video Settings menu.
The Xbox One X will presumably do the same.To be clear, its entirely possible for an 8-bit TV to deliver a good HDR colour performance if they have a strong video processing engine.
But 10-bit panels certainly have an immediate advantage.One other point to add here is that some TVs - including high-end Samsung models - actually support 12-bit colour management/processing, even though their panels are only natively 10-bit.
The Xbox One S and presumably Xbox One X both provide Colour Depth boxes in their Video Fidelity settings that let you select the maximum bit performance for your particular TV.Colour purity: Another advanced setting but important thing to consider for the ultimate gaming visuals is chroma subsampling.This video compression term refers to a TVs colour purity, and is usually written in such terms as 4:4:4 and 4:2:0.
These numbers reveal how many pixels colour is sampled from in the top and bottom rows for every two rows of four pixels.
So with 4:2:0, for instance, colour is being sampled from two pixels in the top row and no pixels in the bottom row.From this it follows that the bigger the numbers are, the purer the colour performance will be, as theres less guesstimating of what colours should look like.
The problem is, full 4:4:4 colour support requires a lot of extra image data, and so cannot be handled by the HDMI connections or processing of all TVs.In truth, the differences in picture quality between 4:4:4 and 4:2:2 and even 4:2:0 arent usually enormous.
They can be more pronounced with gaming graphics than video, though, so its worth trying to check what a TV youre thinking of buying can support - even though its not information regularly carried in TV spec lists.
The latest consoles are pretty good at detecting the optimum chroma subsampling a TV can support, automatically adjusting their outputs according.Its something that can cause annoying handshaking issues with some TVs, though, so both the Xbox One S and PS4 Pro now provide subsampling limiter options in their video output menus (Enable 4:2:2 on the Xbox One S, and 2160 YUV4:2:0 on the PS4 Pro).Frame rate handling: Now that the Xbox One X is almost here and promising native 4K resolution games running at 60 frames a second, make sure that whatever TV you buy has the latest specification HDMI sockets.
If it doesnt have at least one HDMI socket built to the v2.0a specification, it wont be able to receive 4K resolution at anything higher than 30 frames a second.Fortunately far more of this years 4K TVs do feature HDMI 2.0a sockets than in previous years, but its still something thats worth double checking - especially if youre buying a particularly cheap TV.The new HDMI 2.1 standard will no doubt become the benchmark for high-end gaming in time, but we're yet to see it really rolled out across commercially-available sets.PUiYqFSTKeUmdKAe6mcWm8.jpg?#