The 10 Best TVs For Gamers

Editor's Notes

July 31, 2020:

We're currently at somewhat of a crossroads in terms of gaming displays. Later this year, Microsoft and Sony will release their next-generation consoles, and Nvidia and AMD their newest line of high-end GPUs, and all of these will presumably support the newest HDMI 2.1 standard, which allows for standard variable refresh rate technology, automatic low latency mode, and 4K resolutions at 120 hertz, all without the need for the specialized DisplayPort.

With that in mind, we've focused here on a handful of HDMI 2.1 TVs, and in many ways, this list is pretty close to a rundown of the best 4K TVs available overall. For example, you'd have a hard time arguing against the LG GX as the most advanced model accessible to the general consumer, while the Samsung Q80T is awfully close, performance-wise, especially for an LCD TV.

On the other hand, the TCL R625 represents a significant departure from the usually low-grade TVs the manufacturer offers. Its local dimming and impressive HDR performance value are only rivaled by, interestingly enough, the relatively unknown Hisense H8, at least for the price. Speaking of budget friendliness, the Hisense R6090G is about as good as it gets for something that costs so little.

The Sony X900H is notable because is among the rare Sony models with HDMI 2.1 support, and while the Sony X950H looks better overall, it for some reason will not be provided with the firmware needed to deliver 4K resolutions at 120 hertz. Meanwhile, the Samsung Q70T and LG Nano90 both offer near-premium display qualities although they do lack the premium features of more expensive options.

June 10, 2019:

There's kind of a lot to unpack with the current state of TVs as gaming displays. If you're a console gamer, it's still relatively straightforward. PlayStation 4 users should simply go for the best picture they can afford while keeping HDR compatibility in mind for the PS4 Pro.

Xbox users have another thing to think about, as the Xbox One X has excellent FreeSync variable refresh rate support. All of Samsung's TVs offer this, and so far, that's it. For that matter, a lot of console users will appreciate their Q7C, which is the latest (and probably last) curved QLED TV. Aside from super-expensive gaming monitors, it's just about the only way to get a curved display that works perfectly with the Xbox. Vizio's P-Series Quantum is a good choice for Xbox users because it has great HDR performance and will make the most refined games really

If you're a fan of consoles and planning on investing in either of the next-generation consoles when they arrive in 2020, you should consider something with HDMI 2.1 support. Both Microsoft's Project Scarlett and Sony's currently unnamed flagship device will fature 120-hertz 4K graphics, which requires HDMI 2.1 LG's best TVs, including the W9, E9, C9 as well as the SM9000 and SM9500 all have near-complete compatibility with the as-yet-unfinished standard. Samsung is the only other manufacturer as of now to significantly commit to the new protocol, though only their Q90 supports 120 hertz at 4K, and it is absurdly expensive, so if you don't think you'll need the high refresh rates, it may not be worth it. The Q80 is almost there, but can only do 120 hertz at 1440p, which some people (confusingly) calling 2.5K. If you think you'll be satisfied with 4K at 60 hertz for as long as you have the TV, last year's Q9FN may be your best bet.

PC users have a lot of different options each with ups and downs. All of the above still apply to some degree, although it's probably another year or so until we see graphics cards with HDMI 2.1 built-in, and unfortunately, it's a hardware-based feature that can't be solved with a firmware update. But, those with new enough GPUs should actually be able to take advantage of the 120-hertz refresh rates of Samsung's releases, with a couple prerequisites. One, you'll want to make sure your GPU's drivers are up to date, and use those up-to-date drivers and the included hardware and software managers to tweak your settings. This may take a little while to get figured out the first time. Two, ensure all of your cables are of the highest quality possible -- DP 1.4 or HDMI 2.1 cables are recommended. There is a chance that you'll need an active DisplayPort 1.4-to-HDMI 2.0b adapter. If you want to utilize AMD's FreeSync technology, you might need to have an AMD card. Though Nvidia has unlocked its G-Sync GPU standard to work with FreeSync displays, as of this writing, that cross-functionality is still limited to the DisplayPort output. Nividia may change this in the future, but it's anyone's guess at this point. They also may not, because that would interfere with the mission of their Big Format Gaming Display, which we've highlighted in the Special Honors section.

And everyone should be aware of the dangers of burn-in on OLED screens. While the newer models show decreased risk, it's still something to pay attention to, because most games have some on-screen objects that don't move much and could cause permanent image retention. If you'll be using the TV for more than just gaming, though, you should be just fine.