Best Gaming TV 2022: 4K, 120hz, 8K, and More Top Picks
Standout TVs to take your gaming to the next level!
When it comes to finding the best gaming TV there are a few features you’ll want to factor into your search, especially if you’re looking for something to pair with your PS5 or Xbox Series X.
First off, depending on your console, you’ll either want an HDMI 2.0 TV or an HDMI 2.1 TV. The main difference here is that HDMI 2.0 TVs ‘tend’ to have a max refresh rate of 60Hz as a rule of thumb, although there are some exceptions to the rule. For ‘old-gen’ consoles like PS4, Xbox One, or even Nintendo Switch, these TVs more than do the job for 60Hz gaming.
HDMI 2.1 TVs are typically 4K (with more 8K TVs on the way) and have refresh rates of 120Hz and in many cases some gamer-orientated features such as ALLM and VRR, or Auto Low Latency Mode and Variable Refresh Rate. These are the TVs you’ll want to go for if you’re playing on next-gen consoles if you want to play at 4K, 120Hz.
One of the advantages of going for a TV over let’s say any of the best HDR gaming monitors, is that you’ll have access to OLED (and now QD-OLED) technology. What that means is inky blacks, super high peak brightness, and vivid colour – all of which add up to a seriously impressive looking gaming experience.
We’ve selected what we think are the best gaming TVs on the market today, based on specs, general reviews, and features they offer that we think make them stand out from the crowd, plus, we’ve also highlighted some upcoming sets that you may want to keep an eye out for in the near future.
Let’s get to it!
Best Gaming TV
- LG OLED42C24LA
- LG OLED48C14LB
- Samsung QE55QN90AATXXU
- Sony X90J BRAVIA XR
- Samsung QE75QN900A
- SAMSUNG QLED Q60T Series
Best Recently Released Gaming TV – LG OLED42C24LA
Brand: LG | Size: 42″ | Refresh Rate: 120hz | Resolution: 4K | Panel: OLED Evo | Ports: HDMI 2.1 x 4, USB 2.0 x 3 | Other Features: VRR, ALLM, Nvidia GSync, Dolby Vision, HDR 10, Filmmaker Mode
The brand new LG C2 series of OLED TVs look to be some of the best gaming TVs out there, especially given it’s now available in a 42 inch configuration, namely the LG OLED42C24LA.
It utilises LG’s all-new OLED Evo panel that looks to be brighter than the older C1s which should also offer some incredible contrast with perfect blacks, as well as featuring a newer Alpha a9 Gen5 processor for snappier performance.
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As for gaming power, you’ll be getting a 0.1ms response time for some ultra low latency gaming, as well as some handy gaming-related creature comforts such as VRR in the form of both Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync and ALLM, or Auto Low Latency Mode.
The LG C2 OLED42C24LA should also feature a modicum of ports, ranging from a convenient aerial port to four HDMI 2.1 outputs, so you can connect up next-gen gaming consoles and experience the power of a 4K resolution at 120Hz to offer the best gaming experience possible.
Best Gaming TV All Rounder – LG OLED48C14LB
Brand: LG | Size: 48″ | Refresh Rate: 120hz | Resolution: 4K | Panel: OLED | Ports: HDMI 2.1 x 4, USB 2.0 x 3 | Other Features: VRR, ALLM, Nvidia GSync, Dolby Vision, HDR 10
The LG C1 series remains one of the most popular choices for both gaming and everyday usage, thanks to its impressive gaming features and fantastic picture quality, and this LG OLED48C14LB looks like a great all-rounder.
For gaming, while you may not be getting latency as low as some of the best gaming monitors, you are going to get something very responsive that will be more than able to handle even the fastest-paced games.
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This is an OLED panel, so you’re getting self-illuminating pixels here. What that means is that the blacks are actually switched off pixels, giving you exceptional contrast that helps to add a sense of realism to your games.
The size that we’ve selected is, what we think, the best size for most people, and the most affordable too, but the C1 series goes much bigger if you’ve got the budget.
Certainly one of the best TVs for PS5 and Xbox Series X in our eyes.
Best QLED Gaming TV – Samsung QE55QN90AATXXU
Brand: Samsung | Screen Size: 55″ | Resolution: 4K | Refresh Rate: 120hz | HDR: HDR10+ | Panel Type: QLED | Ports: 4 x HDMI 2.1 | Other Features: VRR, ALLM
Another great option for gaming comes in the form of the Samsung QE55QN90AATXXU, which provides an alternative to OLED displays on the market.
Unlike OLED technology, Samsung’s QLED tech is typically characterised by having higher peak brightness as the pixels are not self-illuminating. Which one you go for is entirely up to you, but those who are using their TV in a very well-lit room may want to lean more towards higher brightness.
There’s also some argument to be made that the higher the brightness, the more vivid the colour, so if that’s important to you, then QLED TVs could be a great call.
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For gaming, you’re getting many of the same features as the LG C1, as this TV supports ALLM modes and VRR. These both work to make your gaming experience feel more responsive and look visually smoother, making it a solid option for playing at 4K at 120hz.
Overall, we think this Samsung TV is well worth looking into.
Best Gaming TV Sony – Sony X90J 4K TV
Brand: Sony | Screen Size: 50″ | Resolution: 4K | Refresh Rate: 120hz | Ports: 4 (2x HDMI 2.1) | Other Features: ALLM, VRR Coming Soon
Sony themselves were quick to announce TVs that were ‘PS5 ready’, and while features like VRR are heading our way with future updates, TVs like this Sony X90J certainly fit the bill for the most part.
You can game in 4K, 120hz on this TV, which again is great for next-gen consoles, but it also boasts an impressive array of features that enhance everyday viewing and usage too.
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One of which comes under ‘XR Picture’, which includes intelligent motion processing that makes any fast-moving content appear much smoother. The processor can even recreate texture intelligently, meaning that you don’t lose out when films and shows are upscaled.
Another solid option for gamers.
Best 8K Gaming TV – Samsung QE75QN900A
Brand: Samsung | Screen Size: 75″ | Resolution: 8K | Refresh Rate: 120hz | Panel Type: QLED, Mini LED | Ports: 4 x HDMI 2.1 | Other Features: VRR, ALLM, HDR 10
Getting an 8K TV specifically for gaming at the moment is very much future-proofing. 8K is coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X, but we could still be looking at a fairly long wait until it becomes mainstream.
That being said, this Samsung QE75QN900A does offer 120hz, 4K gaming in the meantime on a massive scale, and you should be able to enjoy at least some non-gaming 8K content in the near future too.
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As with many of the TVs on this list, it also features VRR, ALLM, and HDR 10, all of which is like the perfect storm for immersive and fluid gaming.
Another big hitter from Samsung, and worth considering if the budget is there and you fancy planning ahead.
Best Affordable Gaming TV – SAMSUNG 43-inch Class QLED Q60T Series
Brand: Samsung | Screen Size: 43″ | Refresh Rate: 60hz | HDR: HDR 10+ | Other Features: Alexa built in
There are many 60hz, 4K TVs to go for if you’re on the hunt for something for PS4, Xbox One, or other older gen consoles, but this affordable QLED Q60T 43″ TV ticks a lot of the boxes and looks to be a popular choice even now.
While you may not be getting some of the features typically associated with HDMI 2.1 TVs, this display should be more for most gamers, especially if you’re more on the casual side vs competitive.
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Thanks to its Quantum Dot Technology, this TV boasts 100% colour volume, meaning that you should enjoy true-to-life colours at any level of brightness.
Add that to HDR 10+ and you’ve got a real winner for the price in our books.
Best Upcoming Gaming TVs
There have been a lot of announcements already this year, especially following CES 2022. Here are the TVs you’ll want to keep an eye out for, especially if you want something great for gaming.
Sony Bravia XR-A95K
Another powerhouse from Sony, the Bravia XR-A95K is said to be heading our way soon and it packs a new QD-OLED panel for eye-watering brightness and enhanced contrast.
This will be one to watch, but it will likely be quite pricey! We’ll keep you posted when we hear more.
Samsung QD-OLED TVs
Samsung stole the show at CES 2022, with their new panel tech, QD-OLED, so expect to see them hit the shelves sometime this year.
In short, QD-OLED fuses the panel tech of QLED and OLED – the QD in QD-OLED stands for ‘Quantum Dot’, the same as it does in QLED. What this TV should therefore combine is the brilliant contrast offered up by OLEDs combined with the powerful brightness of QLED tech to produce an amazing viewing experience.
Boasting up to 2000 peak nit brightness, these are seriously impressive TVs that will make any game look stunning.
Frequently Asked Questions
When it comes to finding the best gaming TV, there are a number of questions that pop up time and time again, and we’re here to help! Here are some of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to buying a great TV for gaming.
What type of TV is best for gaming?
We’d say 4K would be the best to go for to start with, especially if you’re playing on PS5 or Xbox Series X. 4K also allows you to have a big TV without losing image quality.
In terms of panel type, both OLED and QLED have their own advantages, so you can’t go too wrong with either. Mini LED displays are also a good way to go for increased contrast and reducing ‘blooming’.
As for refresh rates, you’ll want to stick at 60hz and above for gaming, or 120hz for PS5 and Xbox Series X.
Do you need a 4K TV for PS5?
Officially, no. Sony says that the PS5 can support resolutions of 720p upwards to 108p, 1080i, and of course, 4K.
However, we’d say that in order to get the best gaming experience on a TV with a PS5, then opting for a 4K TV will allow you to experience a world in more detail with a sharper picture and better resolution.
How do you know if a TV is good for gaming?
In short, it’s a case of looking out for specific features a TV should have that make it good for gaming.
For instance, you’ll want a TV that can handle high refresh rates (most likely 120Hz thanks to HDMI 2.1 connectivity), as well as one with a good response time for low input lag.
Moreover, many of the best gaming TVs also feature handy comforts such as VRR (with either Nvidia G-Sync or AMD FreeSync) and ALLM which both optimise your TV’s output for gaming and eliminate screen tearing.
They may also utilise handy features such as HDR to offer up more vibrant colours in conjunction with their respective panel tech, which can definitely make a TV quite a formidable choice for PC and console gaming alike.
Is LED or OLED better for gaming?
We’d say OLED would probably win here, but it depends on your budget. LED TVs are still great and come in at a lot cheaper than OLED displays.
OLED TVs provide higher contrast and more vivid colour than LED TVs, which does make them great for more cinematic gaming experiences.
Is 55 inch TV too big for gaming?
No, in fact, it’s great for immersion. The only thing it’s not good for is competitive first-person shooters, as most competitive players take advantage of smaller gaming monitors so they can see all the action right in front of them.
If you went bigger than 55″ you may find that some image quality reduces at 4K, due to the laws of pixel density.
Think of a low res jpeg being enlarged until you can see the pixels, and you’ll get an idea of the concept!
What size TV should I get for gaming?
This is of course depends on your personal preference and what type of gaming you’re going to be using it for.
For consoles, anything up to 55 inches should provide you with some amazing immersion, whilst for PCs, we’d say to go for something a little bit smaller, or you could choose to opt for one of the best gaming monitors instead.
Moreover, if you’re planning on playing competitive FPS titles for instance, then you may want to go for a smaller display so you can stay focused in on the action, but this is of course down to personal choice.
If you head for a 48-inch panel as a convenient mid-range, you certainly won’t go wrong.
What type of TV goes with PS5?
Anything which is HDMI 2.1 or HDMI 2.0 for that matter. Many TVs are compatible with PS5, but to get 4K, 120hz you’ll want to go for an HDMI 2.1 set.
Be careful, as some TVs say they are 120hz, but they are actually HDMI 2.0. The 120Hz may refer to 120 motion rate, which would be an intelligent upscaling of framerates rather than ‘true 120hz’.
The best way to be sure is to get something that is HDMI 2.1. Even then, some HDMI 2.1 displays have been noted as being ‘Fake HDMI 2.1‘ which refers to a display that states it’s HDMI 2.1 but doesn’t have features most typically associated with it such as VRR and ALLM, or in other words, Variable Refresh Rate and Auto Low Latency Mode.
This is because of the older HDMI 2.0 now being a sub-standard of HDMI 2.1, so all displays can be referred to as that, regardless of whether they have its typical feature set. Just be sure to check the features out so you know you’ve got the right panel.