The release of the Xbox Series and PlayStation 5 consoles introduced high refresh rate and VRR gaming to the mainstream. To take advantage of these features, you’ll need a new gaming TV that has HDMI 2.1, VRR support and a refresh rate of at least 120Hz. Below is our list of the best gaming TVs that you can buy right now, from premium OLEDs to budget-friendly LED TVs.
Best Gaming TV Comparison Chart
LG C2
Best 4K TV for gaming
The LG C2 is our pick for the best TV for gaming. It comes with many minor improvements over its predecessor, the LG C1, including a brighter panel (except for the 42 and 48 inch models) and better processing. You can expect excellent picture quality from this OLED panel with deep blacks and a wide dynamic range. Although it doesn’t get as bright as the QD-OLED TVs from Samsung, the LG C2 still gets bright enough for HDR gaming.
As for its gaming features, it comes with almost everything that you’ll need or want. It has a refresh rate of 120Hz and supports AMD Freesync and NVIDIA G-Sync for tear-free and responsive gaming. The input lag is very low at 6ms, which is the lowest out of all the TVs on this list. Furthermore, it supports Dolby Vision gaming for Xbox Series X owners, and it has four HDMI 2.1 ports, so you can connect multiple gaming consoles and your PC to it.
You can get the LG C2 in various sizes—42, 48, 55, 65, 77 and 83 inches. The 42-inch model is ideal for PC gamers, while the rest are excellent for living room gaming setups, dedicated gaming rooms and home theater rooms.
Samsung S95B
Best QD-OLED TV for gaming
Neck and neck with the LG C2 is the Samsung S95B. In fact, it provides better image quality, but it loses out in some key areas, namely, the price and size options. The Samsung S95B is only available in 55-inch and 65-inch variants, so there’s not a lot of options for people that want smaller or bigger screens. However, if you are looking for either a 55-inch or 65-inch TV, then the Samsung S95B might just be the best TV for you, as long as you don’t mind its price.
Samsung’s QD-OLED is superior to the OLED panel used by LG in terms of peak brightness. It can get brighter, and thus, perform better in both brightly lit and dark rooms. It offers the best picture quality out of all the TVs on this list. It has excellent HDR performance with deep blacks, but it doesn’t support Dolby Vision gaming.
As for its gaming features, it has a refresh rate of 120Hz, VRR support (Freesync and G-Sync), four HDMI 2.1 ports and 10ms input lag.
Samsung QN90B
Best QLED TV for gaming
OLED TVs are definitely the best when it comes to picture quality, but one big issue with them is the chance of getting burn-in. The chance of burn-in happening to an OLED TV is very small, but it’s still there. If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of babying your TV, then going with a QLED TV might be the best option for you.
Enter the Samsung QN90B. It’s a bit pricey for the panel that it has, but it’s undeniably one of the most reliable gaming TVs in the market. It has a refresh rate of 120Hz, VRR support (both Freesync and G-Sync), four HDMI 2.1 ports and 11ms input lag. These gaming features ensure that you’ll get the best out of your PS5, Xbox or PC.
The biggest drawback to choosing the Samsung QN90B over the LG C2 or the Samsung S95B is the downgrade in picture quality. Picture quality is still excellent, but when compared side-by-side with the aforementioned OLED TVs, you’ll notice that it’s not as dynamic and its colors are not as vivid.
Hisense U8H
Best budget gaming TV
You don’t have to spend big bucks to get an excellent gaming TV. If you are budget-conscious, but you still want to enjoy high refresh rate gaming with VRR support, the Hisense U8H is our top pick. It has a refresh rate of 120Hz and it supports AMD Freesync so you can enjoy tear-free gaming whether on Xbox, PS5 or PC. Input lag is low as well, at <16ms. However, it only has two HDMI 2.1 ports, so you’ll be limited in the number of consoles/PC you can connect to it.
Picture quality on the Hisense U8H is quite good. It’s not as good as the TVs above, but for the price, it’s more than good enough. That said, while it does support HDR, the dynamic range is not as good as some of the more expensive TVs. You can get the Hisense U8H in 55-inch, 65-inch and 75-inch variants.
Verdict
For the best gaming experience, go with the LG C2 or the Samsung S95B.
LG C2
Best 4K TV for gaming
Samsung S95B
Best QD-OLED gaming TV
The biggest reason why we chose the LG C2 as the best gaming TV over the Samsung S95B is its price. It’s cheaper by a couple of hundred dollars, which is a substantial amount for a lot of people. Both TVs have a refresh rate of 120Hz, support VRR and they have four HDMI 2.1 ports each. Also, they have very low input lag. The LG C2 supports Dolby Vision gaming and it comes with more size options.
The Samsung S95B shines when it comes to picture quality. The only other TVs that can match it are those from Sony that use the same QD-OLED panels. However, those Sony TVs are lacking in gaming features.
Rounding out the list are the Samsung QN90B and the Hisense U8H. The Samsung QN90B is a good alternative to consider if you prefer a QLED panel over OLED, and the Hisense U8H is the best budget gaming TV that still has a 120Hz refresh rate and VRR support.
FAQs
You can go with either the LG C2 or the Samsung S95B and pair it with the PS5 for an excellent gaming experience.
The 42-inch LG C2 is currently the best gaming TV for PC gaming. It’s just the right size for a gaming desk.
The LG C2 is the best gaming TV for Xbox Series X due to its Dolby Vision gaming support. If you don’t particularly care about Dolby Vision gaming, then you can also go with the Samsung S95B.
It depends on your preferences, but generally, OLED TVs are better than LED TVs due to their faster response time, lower input lag and superior image quality. LED TVs, on the other hand, can get brighter, and they are cheaper.