BEST GAMING TV: QUICK MENU
Looking for the best gaming TV is the same as hunting for the best TV for movies or streaming. You need to find a TV with fantastic image quality, a budget that's right for you and a size that fits into your living room. But there are also several specific gaming requirements you need to consider as well.
Here at TechRadar, when we're reviewing the best TVs, we're also testing their gaming features, to see which make the best gaming TVs. For example, gaming TVs need to have a low level of input lag, meaning there isn't a delay between you pressing a button and what you see on your screen. We test this ourselves, and look for input lag of under 15ms to suit the majority of gamers, or under 10ms for those who want the absolute best results.
Today's top TVs all have high-end gaming features built-in. Higher-end models, including many of the best OLED TVs, are usually excellent for gaming regardless of which one you choose. If you need to stay within a budget, you might find one in the best TVs under $1000 or the best TVs under £1000. But be careful, some of the cheaper models won't include the 120Hz screen or HDMI 2.1 connectivity that makes the most of the next-gen PS5 or Xbox Series X consoles.
There are lots of exciting TVs coming in 2024 as well and we're particularly excited about the LG B4. Will this be the new hottest gaming TV in 2024? We'll update this guide as soon as we've tested it. In the meantime, take a look at our guide below for our pick of the best gaming TV for all consoles, covering a range of budgets available now. You'll also find out if these displays work particularly well for certain consoles to help you make the best choice to suit your needs.
Written by
Written byMatt Bolton
Managing Editor, EntertainmentMatt is TechRadar's Managing Editor for Entertainment, and he has over a decade of experience in tech publishing, including writing about the latest TVs and soundbars since 2017. He's helped to choose the best gaming TVs you can get, based on their next-gen gaming features, such as 120Hz, picture quality and value for money as well.
The quick list
If you want to quickly find the perfect gaming TV for you, try this list – you can also get a more in-depth write-up of any particular model by clicking the TV link!
Best overall
1. Samsung S90C
The best gaming TV for most people
The Samsung S90C is an OLED TV that's majorly brighter than others at the same price, and has almost every gaming feature going, with four HDMI 2.1 ports. No Dolby Vision gaming, though.
Best PS5 OLED
2. Sony A80L
The best gaming TV for PS5
This a beautiful (though not super-bright) OLED with 'Perfect for PS5' tech, including 4K 120Hz and VRR support, plus a special HDR mode for PS5 unique to Sony TVs.
Best budget
3. Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED
The best cheap gaming TV
It lacks 4K 120Hz support, but it has Dolby Vision gaming, VRR and ALLM for a very cheap price, so is as good as it gets for gaming tech at this price. The picture is impressive, too.
Best cheaper 120Hz TV (US)
5. Hisense U8K
The best budget 120Hz gaming TV (US)
This TV gives you 4K 120Hz support, VRR and stunningly bright images from its mini-LED backlight, for massively cheaper than Samsung or Sony.
Best cheaper 120Hz TV (UK)
6. Samsung Q80C
The best budget 120Hz gaming TV (UK)
This QLED TV has four HDMI 2.1 ports, all with 4K 120Hz support, so it's amazing for gamers on a budget who want lots of flexibility. It's available in the US too.
Best for bright rooms
6. Samsung QN90C
The best TV for lighter rooms
Want to play during the day in a bright room? This TV is brighter than the rest here, looks fantastic, and has four HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 120Hz.
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Best for size options
The best gaming TV for size options
The LG C3 has every gaming feature imaginable, and comes in more sizes than any other TV here, from 42 inches to 83 inches. It's less bright than the Samsung S90C, though.
Best budget OLED
The best cheaper gaming OLED
Want the most budget OLED screen you can buy with 4K 120Hz support? This is it. It's less bright than the LG C3 and only has two 2.1 ports, but still has supreme contrast and performance.
Super-bright OLED
9. Samsung S95C
The brightest OLED TV
This is one of the brightest OLEDs so far, giving you best-in-class HDR, from highlights to deep dark caves. And it's a gaming beast, with four HDMI 2.1 ports.
The best gaming TVs in 2024
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The best gaming TV for most people
The best gaming TV for most people
Specifications
Available sizes: 55, 65, 77-inches
Measured input lag: 9.2ms
Refresh rate: 144Hz
VRR support: HDMI forum, FreeSync
HDMI ports (HDMI 2.1): 4 (4)
Reasons to buy
+Brighter than almost all OLED TVs
+Excellent gaming features
+Four HDMI 2.1 ports
Reasons to avoid
-Still less bright than mini-LED
-No Dolby Vision gaming
The Samsung S90C is our pick as the best gaming TV for most people because it packs in just about every gaming feature you could need, with a next-gen OLED screen that's brighter than the likes of the LG C3 or Sony A80L (both lower in this list), and yet for a very similar price to those TVs. It's simply incredible value – in fact, it's also number 1 in our overall best TVs guide – and we were blown away by its actual picture quality in our review, saying "the longer I watched the S90C, the more I became aware of just how much cleaner, more natural and generally more refined its pictures were."
When it comes to gaming features, you've got four HDMI 2.1 ports, all supporting 4K 120Hz from consoles (or 4K 144Hz for PC games), and variable refresh rates. Samsung's gaming menus let you tweak how responsive it is and which features you want to use, which is great for tinkerers. We measured input lag at under 10ms, so it's as responsive as TVs get.
Lots of TVs here offer all this, though – what sets the S90C apart is its bright QD-OLED screen. It's about 30% brighter than the LG C3, and you can really see this – clouds pop in the sky, colors are richer, and it's generally more visible over reflections in a bright room. That's while still delivering inky OLED black tones, of course, and you'll benefit from these in both movies and games. It's a fantastic-looking TV.
It's also got better built-in sound than the LG C3. The only downsides to it are that it doesn't include Dolby Vision support (so, no DV gaming from Xbox Series X), there's no G-Sync for PC gaming, and that it only comes in three sizes. But we think that for the majority of people who aren't bothered by any of those, it's the best choice today.
Read the full Samsung S90C review
Best gaming TV for PS5
The best gaming TV with 'Perfect for PS5' features
Specifications
Available sizes: 55, 65, 77, 83-inches
Measured input lag: 16.5ms
Refresh rate: 120Hz
VRR: HDMI forum
HDMI ports (HDMI 2.1): 4 (2)
Reasons to buy
+Deep blacks and rich, accurate colors
+Full HDMI 2.1 features, plus PS5 Tone Mapping
Reasons to avoid
-Not as bright as other high-end TVs
-Only two HDMI 2.1 ports
This is Sony's mid-range OLED TV, offering a less advanced screen than the likes of the Samsung S95C further down this list (or the S90C above, actually), but packing in Sony's best image processing and – crucially for us – gaming features.
You've got 4K 120Hz and VRR support over two HDMI 2.1 ports, though the latency of 16.5ms is not the best here by any means. This is part of Sony's Perfect for PS5 TV line-up, which means it includes Auto HDR Tone Mapping support with the console. This means the PS5 adjusts its HDR output to match the exact capabilities of the screen, so you always get the best-looking image.
And it's doesn't rely on its gaming features to get by. We were very impressed with the image quality in our tests, going as far to say in our review: "The Sony A80L might not benefit from next-gen OLED technologies and brightness, but its stellar appreciation for the finer things in AV life means it’s still hard to resist". That includes not just picture quality, but also the sound – Sony's Acoustic Surface tech is very impressive, and means you may be able to avoid getting a soundbar.
It doesn't go as bright as Samsung S90C, or the mini-LED TVs here, but it does offer an infinite contrast ratio – it's capable of 'true blacks', by which we mean we measured it at 0 nits when it was supposed to show blackness. Absolutely nothing. That's very impressive, and makes it great for atmospheric games or movies in HDR.
If you've got a PS5 in particular and want an OLED that gets that absolute best out of it without paying a super-premium price, this is an excellent choice.
Read the full Sony A80L review
The best cheap gaming TV
The best cheap gaming TV, if you can live without 120Hz
Specifications
Available sizes: 43, 50, 55, 65-inch sizes (US and UK), 75-inch (US only)
Measured input lag: 10.4ms
Refresh rate: 60Hz
VRR: HDMI forum
HDMI ports: 4
Reasons to buy
+Good gaming features
+Low input lag
+Impressive visuals for the price
Reasons to avoid
-No 120Hz support
-Average black levels
-Lower brightness levels
The Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED may not be the first TV that springs to mind when thinking of a gaming TV, but if you're a tight budget, it should be on your list. It packs solid gaming performance, good features, and an impressive picture into a very cheap price.
We recorded an excellent input lag time of 10.4ms when in Game mode, and the Amazon Omni QLED handles fast motion well, especially with first-person shooters such as Battlefield V. Although it may not have 120Hz support, gaming still feels smooth on the Omni QLED with variable refresh rate gaming and ALLM also supported.
Graphics also look impressive on the Omni QLED, with vivid colors and great detail within the picture. Black levels leave a bit to be desired, but the Omni QLED also supports Dolby Vision gaming; something you don't often find on a TV at this price level, so Xbox Series X gamers can make the most of the HDR capabilities it has.
Not just for gaming, the Omni QLED also does an excellent job with movies and TV shows as well. Contrast levels are decent, 4K HDR looks particularly good on it and it still maintains a natural-looking image, despite being a budget TV; faces especially had great looking textures and depth to them.
You can't get 4K 120Hz support at this kind of price, but this has all the other big gaming tech you could need, so those with a tight budget looking to give their PS5 or Xbox Series X a solid TV to connect with should seriously consider this.
Read our full Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED review
The best budget 120Hz gaming TV in the US
The best gaming TV with 4K 120Hz for a lower price in the US
Specifications
Available sizes: 55, 65, 75, and 85-inches
Measured input lag: 13ms
Refresh rate: 144Hz
VRR: HDMI forum, FreeSync
HDMI ports (HDMI 2.1): 4 (2)
Reasons to buy
+4K 120Hz, VRR and Dolby Vision gaming
+Mini-LED brightness for a low price
Reasons to avoid
-Contrast fades when off-center
-Only two HDMI 2.1 ports
The price on this mini-LED TV is just astounding, considering how well-specced it is. For massively less than a mini-LED from the likes of Sony or Samsung, you get big brightness and impressive contrast – all backed by great gaming features, including 4K 120Hz Dolby Vision gaming, which not even all high-end TVs support, let alone more affordable ones.
In our review, we said "its mini-LED tech delivers the high brightness viewers expect, while its local dimming offers the deep black shadows movie fans love", which applies to gaming too, of course. Compared to higher-end mini-LED TVs, you get a little more light leaking from bright areas to dark ones, and the contrast doesn't look as good if you're watching at an angle, but these are common in cheaper TVs, and the performance punches well above its US price, overall.
We measured the input lag at 13ms, which is pretty average, and fine for the vast majority of gamers. Only having two HDMI 2.1 ports may be annoying for anyone with multiple consoles, but it's normal on TVs that aren't Samsung or LG (and is normal on some of their TVs too…).
If your goal is to have the most gaming features and best picture quality for a reasonable price, this TV is what you need. It's actually available in the UK too, but it's more expensive.
Read the full Hisense U8K review
The best budget 120Hz gaming TV in the UK
The best gaming TV with 4K 120Hz for a lower price in the UK
Specifications
Available sizes: 50, 55, 65, 75 and 85-inches
Measured input lag: 9.7ms
Refresh rate: 120 Hz
VRR: HDMI forum, FreeSync
HDMI ports (HDMI 2.1): 4 (4)
Reasons to buy
+Four HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 120Hz and VRR
+Rich colorful picture for a good price
Reasons to avoid
-No Dolby Vision
-Limited viewing angles
The Samsung Q80C is a fantastic 120Hz gaming TV that not only has a superb bright and colorful picture, but an extensive list of gaming features and a great range of sizes. It's biggest standout factor though is its competitive price. We said in our review that the Q80C is a "masterclass in what it means to be a mid-range TV" and that is definitely the case.
In terms of gaming features, the Q80C is a stacked TV. It features 4K 120Hz support across all four of its HDMI 2.1 ports as well as VRR, ALLM and AMD FreeSync Premium. It also has Samsung's fantastic Game hub for all things gaming including cloud gaming services such as Xbox, Nvidia GeForce Now and more. We measured it at a super low 9.7ms input lag time so games will feel super smooth.
The Q80C's picture is brighter than we expected, at 929 nits peak brightness, colorful but with subtle touches and has deeper black levels than anticipated. Couple that with its fantastic 4K sharpness and detail, and the Q80C will really get the best out of your games. In our review, we said "the Q80C delivers as good a gaming experience as we’ve had on such an affordable screen".
Yes, it's not the most fully kitted out gaming TV, with a lack of Dolby Vision and all the top VRR features, but for its price – for a 55-inch size it costs $899 / £749 – this is a well-featured TV with a fantastic picture that will really level up your gaming experience.
Read the full Samsung Q80C review
The best gaming TV for lighter rooms
The best gaming TV for high-brightness gaming
Specifications
Available sizes: 43, 50, 55, 65, 75 and 85-inches
Measured input lag: 9.8ms
Refresh rate: 144Hz
VRR support: HDMI forum, FreeSync, G-Sync
ALLM: Yes
HDMI ports (HDMI 2.1): 4 (4)
Reasons to buy
+Bright and lavishly colorful images
+Four HDMI 2.1 inputs
+Very low lag
Reasons to avoid
-Contrast isn't as good as OLED
-No Dolby Vision
If you're looking for a bright TV that doesn't get lost in reflections even if you're watching it during the day in a sunlit room, allow us to introduce the Samsung QN90C. The Hisense U8K we mentioned earlier in this guide is nearly as bright, but this is slightly brighter still – and is also available in more sizes. It's a mini-LED display that delivers incredible brightness, it has an exceptionally low input lag for a TV of this size and it delivers impressive HDR, albeit with the usual Samsung omission of Dolby Vision.
With HDMI 2.1 support across all four HDMI inputs, compatibility with 4K 120Hz and support for ALLM, VRR and FreeSync Premium Pro, the QN90C is equipped to make the most of any next-gen console, although it lacks Dolby Vision gaming. And when you add in the popping brightness, assured motion tracking and mile-wide color palette already discussed, it shines above the rest. Mostly, anyhow. Game mode is fantastically fast but you do lose a little of the contrast and a slight increase in white-tone blooming, so when it comes to precise contrast, OLED TVs have an edge over it.
This is a spectacular TV for all kinds of entertainment. Contrast is superb for an LED TV for movies, and it's a very bright panel with a wide and convincing color range. The image processing doesn't produce strange results with CGI as some processors do, and the panel has great wide viewing angles.
You can get even more brightness from the Samsung QN95C, but in fewer sizes – if you want to beat reflections even in smaller sizes, this is the TV to get.
Read the full Samsung QN90C review
The best gaming TV for size options
The best gaming TV for top performance in lots of sizes
Specifications
Available sizes: 42, 48, 55, 65, 77 and 83-inches
Measured input lag: 6ms
Refresh rate: 120Hz
VRR support: HDMI forum, FreeSync, G-Sync
HDMI ports (HDMI 2.1): 4 (4)
Reasons to buy
+4K 120Hz Dolby Vision gaming
+Four HDMI 2.1 ports
Reasons to avoid
-Not especially bright
-Audio quality is average
The LG C3 is an excellent TV that has a good claim to be at the top of this list, in fact, but in our opinion the Samsung S90C is the better-value buy if you want a 55- to 77- inch model, thanks to its much brighter screen and superior built-in speakers. However, the LG C3 offers more sizes than almost anything else in this list, from 42 inches all the way up to 83 inches – and it does that while offering absolutely top-tier gaming features, and superb image quality overall.
During our testing, we were extremely impressed by the 4K OLED display, which delivers wonderful black levels and range, albeit without getting the extra pop and vibrancy of the S90C. The lack of brightness isn't a problem in controlled lighting, but is an issue in bright rooms – that's why we recommended the Samsung QN90C just above this one, which comes in very similar sizes, but if you don't need the brightness, the LG has it just beat for features and image quality.
For gamers there's so much to love here, including FreeSync, G-Sync and standard VRR right out of the box. With a native 120Hz refresh rate and HDMI 2.1, PS5 and Xbox Series X owners can get the maximum resolution and frame rate from their new hardware, including 120Hz Dolby Vision gaming support from the Xbox. Also appreciated is the astoundingly low input lag – it's as good as you can get. And it has four HDMI 2.1 ports on all models, even the smaller ones.
If you're looking for a gaming OLED that's either small or huge, this should be top of your list. In the middle, that's where the Samsung S90C edges this one out.
Read the full LG C3 review
The cheapest gaming OLED TV
The best gaming TV for cheaper OLED thrills with 4K 120Hz support
Specifications
Available sizes: 55, 65 and 77-inches
Measured input lag: 9.2ms
Refresh rate: 120Hz
VRR: HDMI forum, FreeSync, G-Sync
HDMI ports (HDMI 2.1): 4 (2)
Reasons to buy
+Great OLED contrast and response times
+Full HDMI 2.1 support, plus G-Sync and FreeSync
Reasons to avoid
-The least-bright OLED here
-Two HDMI 2.1 ports rather than four
If you want the perfect contrast and rapid response times of OLED, but for a lower price than the LG C3 or Samsung S90C, this is your option. You're getting a lower-brightness screen than either of those, and two HDMI 2.1 ports instead of four – but all the essentials are here.
OLED's famous contrast still looks excellent, and there's support for 4K 120Hz gaming with VRR using the regular HDMI kind (for the PS5 or Xbox), AMD FreeSync (for PCs or Xbox), or Nvidia G-Sync. LG's gaming menu makes it easy to tweak settings as needed to and you can even choose a preset depending on game genre.
Response time is very low at 9.2ms with Boost turned on, and it'll auto switch to gaming mode when it detects you've fired up a console.
For movies and TV, it's great there too – it has a less advanced image processor than the C3, but it's still great for a mid-range TV. Vivid colors, deep black levels and excellent motion handling make the B3 a winner when it comes to picture quality. The audio isn't that impressive, but we can live with that, especially if using a gaming headset.
With reductions happening all the time, as expected from LG, the B3 is now priced very competitively against the LG C3, offering very similar performance and features for a cheaper price.
Read our full LG B3 review
The best OLED gaming TV for brightness
The best OLED gaming TV for bright rooms
Specifications
Available sizes: 55, 65 and 77-inches
Measured input lag: 9.2ms
Refresh rate: 144Hz
VRR: HDMI forum, FreeSync, G-Sync
HDMI ports (HDMI 2.1): 4 (4)
Reasons to buy
+Four full-featured HDMI 2.1 ports
+The best contrast of any TV here
Reasons to avoid
-No Dolby Vision support
-Very expensive
Samsung's QD-OLED TV combines the famous self-emissive properties of OLED with the brightness and color range potential of QLED, delivering superb picture quality and exceptional brightness – around 70% brighter than the LG C3, and 20% brighter than the Samsung S90C – with better blacks and contrast than non-OLED displays. In our review, we said that with a bit of tweaking it provides a combination of brightness, black depth, contrast and color that we just haven’t seen before on a home TV. It's something truly special. We should note that the LG G3 OLED actually beats this TV for peak HDR brightness in small areas on the screen (though only by a hair) – but this TV has notably higher full-screen brightness than the G3 in our testing, which is why rate it as better for gaming.
There are four HDMI ports that all support 4K at 120Hz, variable refresh rate and automatic low latency mode switching features now available to Xbox Series X, PS5 and PC gamers with the latest premium Nvidia and AMD graphics cards. The built-in sound system is very impressive for such a slim set, with Dolby Atmos and Samsung's Object Tracking tech for positional audio.
There's no Dolby Vision gaming support for the Xbox, but the HDR is so good you probably won't really mind. The only issue is that it's very expensive, which is why we rate the S90C as being more suitable for most people – but if your budget stretches to it, and you want something with the high brightness to break through the light of bright rooms, it's fantastic.
Read the full Samsung S95C review
How to choose the best gaming TV
How to choose the best gaming TV
There are a few key things to consider when you're choosing the best gaming TV for you.
Game Mode and low latency: Latency is the time between when an image is sent by the console and when it actually shows up on the screen. Modern TVs do a lot of clever processing to images to make them look better, but this takes time, which means there's a delay between you pressing a button on a controller and seeing the result – that's not ideal in a fast-paced game. All TVs now have a Game Mode, or something with a similar name, which reduces the processing, meaning lower latency.
HDMI 2.1: The latest and greatest HDMI connector tech, which includes support for ALLM, 4K 120Hz, and VRR.
ALLM: Auto Low Latency Mode is a newer feature where consoles can tell the TV to switch into Game Mode automatically – you won't have to set it with a remote.
4K 120Hz: This means a TV can refresh its screen up to 120 times per second, while still displaying at 4K resolution. Cheaper TVs are more likely to refresh at 60 times per second. You may also find some mid-range 4K TVs that refresh at 120Hz, but don't include HDMI 2.1, so they can only show Full HD resolution at 120Hz, or 4K at 60Hz.
VRR: Variable Refresh Rate is a feature that means the TV will synchonize the speed at which is refreshes the screen with whatever the current framerate of your game is. This means games don't have to stay locked to 30, 60 or 120fps to avoid screen tearing, which means they can offering better graphics. There are three types of VRR: HDMI forum; FreeSync and G-Sync.
HDMI forum VRR: This is supported by both the PS5 and Xbox Series X, and is an official part of the HDMI 2.1 spec. Most TVs with HDMI 2.1 support it.
AMD FreeSync: This is supported by the Xbox Series X and AMD graphics cards on PC. It's pretty common to find on TVs, including on some without HDMI 2.1.
Nvidia G-Sync: This is supported by Nvidia graphics cards on PC, but not by consoles. It's pretty rare to find on TVs, too, but it does happen.
What new gaming TVs are coming in 2024?
A lot of companies including LG, Samsung, TCL, Hisense and more have been quick off the mark, announcing their new TV lineups early in 2024, the majority of which were unveiled at CES 2024.
For new gaming TVs, there have been some exciting new sets revealed that should shake up our best gaming TV picks above in a major way.
For starters, the new LG B4 will be bringing 4x HDMI 2.1 ports and a new 48-inch size for smaller spaces. Could this be the best gaming TV of 2024? We're excited to find out when we finally get a hands-on with this new model.
Another notable new model that we think will be big for gaming is the LG C4 which not only introduces 144Hz support, but also improved brightness (LG claims over 1,000 nits) which could make games shine. There's also the LG G4, which again promises that improved brightness and has 144Hz compatibility as well.
Samsung announced its two new QD-OLED models, the Samsung S95D and Samsung S90D, which carry over a lot of the next-gen gaming features of their predecessors, the Samsung S95C and S90C respectively, that we look for. The most exciting development is the S95D's anti-reflection tech which would make gaming on an OLED in a brighter room a reality.
Other brands such as Hisense announced its TV lineup and so did TCL and both included a range of mini-LED models, that feature 144Hz refresh rate and Dolby Vision gaming and won't carry as high a price tag as sets from LG and Samsung. On the UK side, Panasonic's 2024 range and Philips' 2024 lineup (especially its OLEDs) feature a lot the same next-gen gaming features as the newly announced models from LG and Samsung, including 144Hz refresh rate.
Is a TV good for PC gaming?
We've established that gaming TVs are fantastic companions for your games consoles, but what if you play on PC? There's certainly an appeal in playing graphically intensive PC games on a big screen, but how does that play out in practice?
While a gaming TV can certainly substitute for a PC gaming monitor, you'll need to make sure your PC can handle the resolution. 4K screens are naturally more taxing on your PC's resources due to them offering much higher image quality.
If your PC is up to scratch, you'll get a smooth experience at 4K on a bigger screen. If not, you may have to switch your game to a lower resolution like 1440p or 1080p, in which case your gaming TV might not be able to handle the upscaling needed very well. This will result in a blurrier than intended image thanks to the size of the TV compared to a monitor.
It's a double-edged sword, then, and almost entirely dependant on how powerful your PC is. If you've got the high-end parts to make it happen, then PC gaming on a TV can produce wonderful results. If it's not quite there, then you're better off playing on a smaller monitor able to output a sharper, cleaner image.
How much is a gaming TV?
TVs suited for gaming vary wildly in price, depending on a wide number of factors. 4K TVs are incredibly common these days, and can be bought for as little as $300 / £300 / AU$450. Of course, you're getting very basic features with a TV at this price, with a size of around 43 inches, and almost certainly lacking 4K 120Hz support, and variable refresh rates.
But these features can be found on TVs that aren't too expensive, often available for under $800 / £900 / AU$1,200 in smaller sizes. If you want gaming feature for next-gen consoles, you need to assume you'll pay something starting in that region.
Do I need an 8K gaming TV?
The short answer? No.
While 8K games are absolutely on the horizon, and the PS5 / Xbox Series X console come with this capability baked-in, there's no immediate need to get an 8K TV for gaming. Gaming devs are still getting to grips with 4K performance, and in general other picture specifications like a high frame rate (60fps, 120fps) are going to be more important in the coming years.
In 2025, maybe it'll be a different answer, but for now we think the 4K gaming TVs listed above will do you just fine.
How we test the best gaming TVs
When we test the best gaming TVs, we’re mainly looking at gaming performance and related features that enhance gaming. For these tests, we apply the same criteria used in our reviews such as picture and audio quality based on objective and subjective tests.
For gaming TVs, we use a gaming console (mainly an Xbox Series X although this can vary based on the reviewer) to test motion performance with graphics, analyzing latency and response time. We put the TV in its Game Mode during these tests to keep it consistent across each model and to maximize the gaming experience.
We also look for features such as VRR and 120Hz refresh rate to test their effectiveness. Not all the best gaming TVs have to provide these features, but it’s something we take into consideration during testing. To test latency added by the TV’s processing, we use a Leo Bodnar 4K HDMI Input Lag tester, with that measurement taken in the set’s Game Mode.
We also test picture quality with movies and TV shows, cycling through preset picture modes such as Standard and Movie to determine which is the most accurate. We’ll then play a variety of sources including 4K Blu-ray, 4K and HD streaming, and lower-res formats such as broadcast TV and DVD to evaluate the TV’s upscaling.
Another important area we test is how well a gaming TV handles dark tones, looking particularly at black uniformity (the ability to evenly display black across the screen) and its overall contrast.
We use specialized equipment, including a test pattern generator and colorimeter, to take measurements for our objective tests, with the results recorded in Portrait Displays’ Calman calibration software.
To test a TV’s overall brightness, we use various-sized white windows, including 10% and 100%. A 10% window provides a standardized indication of the peak brightness that can be expected, whereas 100% shows how consistently it can display a bright image such as a colorful video game. These tests also determine how a TV handles screen reflections, which is crucial for daytime gaming.
The color reproduction tests we make with both HDR and SDR sources are important to see how faithfully and accurately a TV can display source material, and they also indicate the maximum color gamut available. We additionally test for grayscale accuracy, looking at how consistently a TV tracks gray tones on the screen from black to white.
We aim to keep conditions consistent across our tests, but it’s worth noting that some writer setups do vary. We always strive, however, to use similar equipment and similar procedures.
The latest updates to this best gaming TVs guide
27 February 2024
Added to the 'How We Test' section with a more in-depth breakdown of how our testing of the TV in this list works.
24 January 2024
Updated the FAQ's section with 'What new gaming TVs are coming in 2024?' discussing some of the latest models we're keeping our eyes on.
15 December 2023
Replaced Samsung Q80B with Samsung Q80C for 'best cheaper 120Hz (UK)' due to stock levels
Read more updates
6 October 2023
Added the Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED as best cheap gaming TV, Hisense U8K and Samsung Q80B became 'best budget 120Hz gaming TV' for US and UK respectively. LG B3 replaced LG B2 for best budget OLED due to stock levels. Swapped Samsung QN85B for Samsung QN90C as best for bright rooms, due to low stock levels, and the Hisense matching the QN85B for brightness.
22 August 2023
Added the Samsung S90C as our new number one recommendation, based on our review and discussion of its merits compared to the LG C3. Added the LG C3 as the best option with a broad range of sizes. Replaced the Sony A80K with the newer Sony A80L.
13 July 2023
Checked all products against our latest reviews.
26 June 2023
Added this 'latest updates' section, to help readers see what recent changes have been made. Checked the products in the list against our latest reviews.
20 April 2023
Changed the structure of the guide to make it easier to find particular models that suit different needs, and to navigate to those models. Added Samsung S95C to the list, and removed some models.
6 March 2023
Updated the list to reflect current TV options, including adding the Samsung QN95B.
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