Introduction
Grabbing the best gaming TV is of paramount importance for playing the latest AAA titles on a big screen. Knowing which is the best is difficult given the plethora of fantastic options on the market.
This is where we jump to assist. Our team of experts review lots of TVs each year that will be great for gaming, and from those reviews we’ve compiled this list of options.
Not every telly for gaming is going to be right for everyone, so we’ve made sure to include a good range of options so you find a set to like. These range from premium OLED options to affordable LCD TVs.
We’ve made sure to focus on the features that matter the most for gaming. These include their compatibility for features used by current-gen consoles such as variable refresh rate, auto low latency modes and high frame rate output. Alongside this come general points about how clear an image is and how vibrant the colours are.
To get the best and most accurate results, our team has used each TV extensively, running tests over several days to gauge their performance, as well as appraise their respective feature sets.
If you’re not after a TV for gaming be sure to check out our selection of the best TVs, best OLED TVs, best cheap TVs and best 4K TVs. And we also have manufacturer-specific lists of the best Samsung TVs, the best LG TVs and the best Panasonic TVs.
How we test
Every TV we review is put through the same set of tests to gauge its picture performance, usability, and smart features.
Tests are carried out over several days and are done by eye but supported with technical measurements. Testing by eye involves an expert watching a wide range of material to understand and determine a TV’s performance in fields such as brightness, contrast, motion processing, colour handling and screen uniformity.
We’ll consider the design of the TV in terms of build quality, study the spec sheets and see if the TV’s connections are up to spec, as well as playing video and audio content to ensure that the set handles playback as it claims. We also take note whether a product’s compatible formats and features are in line with industry trends or not to gauge whether it’s relevant for you.
Comparison to other related and similarly priced products is also important, to see if it’s missing any vital features and whether it impresses as a whole. After all this, we’ll come to a judgement on how the TV performs as a whole.
If you want to learn more, please visit our detailed page about how we test televisions.
- Irrepressible picture quality
- Well-conceived smart features
- Speedy gaming response
- Superb upscaling of lower quality sources
- Premium construction
- Expensive
- Speakers susceptible to bass distortion
- No Dolby Vision
- Spectacular picture quality
- Comprehensive gaming features
- Minimalistic Infinity design
- New smart system isn’t helpful at all
- No Dolby Vision support
- Blooming issues from wide viewing angles
- Great 4K HDR performance
- Improved design
- Comprehensive gaming features
- Better motion skills
- More expensive than C1 initially was
- So-so Atmos sound
- Lots of value
- Dolby Vision and HDR10+
- Fast gaming performance
- Ambilight
- Not too bright
- Not great with dark detail (out of the box)
- Could benefit from more effective picture modes
- Super bright 4K HDR performance
- Fast gaming performance
- Excellent build quality
- Solid app selection
- Proper expensive
- No Dolby Vision/Atmos decoding
- Not the most convincing motion
LG OLED65C2
Best gaming OLED TV
Pros
- Great 4K HDR performance
- Improved design
- Comprehensive gaming features
- Better motion skills
Cons
- More expensive than C1 initially was
- So-so Atmos sound
LG’s C-Series OLED TVs have long been some of the best gaming TVs available, and the OLED65C2 is definitely one of its best yet.
Its HDMI 2.1 support allows it to output at a full 4K 120Hz with compatible games on the PS5 and Xbox Series X. The C2 features handy creature comforts such as VRR (AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync) and ALLM and in terms of input lag, we measured latency at a fast 12.9ms.
As well as offering smooth 120Hz output with no tearing or stuttering, the OLED65C2 also features truly excellent picture quality thanks to its OLED Evo panel that produces incredibly vibrant colours, contrast and perfect blacks that only an OLED can. Features such as Dolby Vision Gaming also help to increase detail in the brightest and darkest parts of the image for a more revealing picture. The Game Optimiser menu helps to customise the LG C2’s performance for whatever game you’re playing, whether it’s adjusting the latency or changing in-game brightness levels.
If that wasn’t enough, the LG OLED65C2 also supports game streaming services such as Nvidia’s GeForce Now and Google Stadia, so you don’t even need a console or PC as long as you’re willing to pay a subscription fee. When it comes to speakers, the OLED65C2 features some crisp and clear audio, complete with spacious Dolby Atmos for extra immersion, which will be of major importance for games for an increasingly cinematic experience. At times, the audio lacked a bit of heft and power, so like most TVs we’d suggest you consider a separate dedicated audio unit.
Reviewer: Kob Monney
Full Review: LG OLED65C2
Samsung QE65QN95B
Best Samsung Gaming 4K TV
Pros
- Spectacular picture quality
- Comprehensive gaming features
- Minimalistic Infinity design
Cons
- New smart system isn’t helpful at all
- No Dolby Vision support
- Blooming issues from wide viewing angles
If it’s some truly spectacular picture quality you’re after, then the Samsung QE65QN95B certainly delivers.
This comes courtesy of its Mini LED backlight that we found offered otherworldly peak brightness. We measured it to be nearly 3000 nits in its Dynamic picture mode (less so in its game mode but still very bright). This goes hand-in-hand with a brilliant HDR performance and vibrant colours helped by improved picture processing for the 2022 TVs.
HDMI 2.1 is supported and the QN95B can pump out 4K/120Hz frame rates for top-tier performance from current-gen gaming consoles. There’s official support for AMD’s FreeSync Premium Pro VRR technology and uncredited support for Nvidia G-Sync, both of which will help PC gamers play with less screen tear and better responsiveness.
We measured input lag to be low for the QN95B, with a recorded time of 10.4ms. You’ll also find a handy Game Dashboard feature that can give you easy access to picture adjustment features and a quick summary of the input signal being received. With Samsung’s Game Motion Plus feature, you can trade the quick latency time for smoother motion and picture enhancements, useful for games that aren’t built around fast reactions.
The speakers offer a serviceable performance for gaming with clear dialogue and good placement of effects. That performance is encouraged by Dolby Atmos support, which works well alongside the Object Tracking Sound (OTS) speakers that offer a detailed presentation with a nice width to it. At times though, we found the sound a little hemmed compared to the picture quality on offer, but pair this telly with a great soundbar, and you’ll have an all-conquering gaming setup.
Reviewer: John Archer
Full review: Samsung QE65QN95B
Samsung QE65QN900A
Best 8K gaming TV
Pros
- Irrepressible picture quality
- Well-conceived smart features
- Speedy gaming response
- Superb upscaling of lower quality sources
- Premium construction
Cons
- Expensive
- Speakers susceptible to bass distortion
- No Dolby Vision
For those who want to play their games in 8K, the Samsung QE65QN900A is one of the stronger high-end options available.
It’s an LCD LED TV that boasts incredible detail and truly impressive contrast, with OLED-esque deep blacks combined with high brightness that averaged around 2000 nits from out tests, offer vibrant and accurate colours.
There are all the usual gaming-related features with fast input times we measured at 10.1ms, and with VRR enabled that can be brought down to almost zero. Gamers should take note of the four HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K/120Hz support that puts the QN900A ahead of the LG 75QNED99 8K TV which lacks some of those high-end big features.
The bezels that frame the screen are super thing thanks to the Infinity Screen design, ensuring the whole screen is taken up by what you’re playing. AMD FreeSync VRR will ensure a fast, responsive and improved picture performance with compatible games on a PC, while there’s uncertified Nvidia G-Sync gaming possible too, so while you could play G-Sync games on this 8K TV, the performance won’t be optimised for it.
Other gaming related functions include Game Bar, which is like the Game Optimiser on the LG C2 that gives gamers quick access to settings at the bottom of the screen. Game Motion Plus improves image quality at a hit to latency for games that don’t require fast twitch response (like an RPG), while there’s more in store for gamers in the Super UltraWide Game View mode that stretches PC games to a 21:9 or 32:9 aspect ratio that mirrors the type of performance you get from Samsung’s curved Odyssey Neo screens.
Reviewer: Kob Monney
Full Review: Samsung QE65QN900A
Samsung QE65QN94A
Best affordable 65-inch gaming TV
Pros
- Super bright 4K HDR performance
- Fast gaming performance
- Excellent build quality
- Solid app selection
Cons
- Proper expensive
- No Dolby Vision/Atmos decoding
- Not the most convincing motion
The Samsung QE65QN94A is a brilliant choice for those wanting the powers of a 4K panel with the brightness of a Mini LED backlight at a price that won’t burst the piggy bank too much.
We found its picture quality to be outstanding with incredible vibrancy from the Mini LED panel and some of the punchiest HDR colours from an LCD TV. These colours also extend to offer some marvellous contrast with near OLED-quality black levels, aside from some minor instances of blooming. The brightness of the screen will help as you can use this in both dark and bright room conditions, with the ant-glare screen there to ensure no distractions from reflective light sources when you’re gaming.
The gaming performance is great as we recorded input lag 9.4ms, which is slightly better than the newer QN95B Mini LED. There is also support for both ALLM and VRR, although unlike the QN95B, these features are only supported on one HDMI port, so you’ll need to make a choice as to what device you plug in. Game Dashboard offers quick access to gaming-related features that you can change on the fly, while like the rest of Samsung’s TVs there’s AMD FreeSync Premium Pro to stop stutter and improve picture fidelity.
Samsung has expanded the feature set for PC users with the Super UltraWide game view that shows games in 21:9 or 32:9 ratios to mimic an ultrawide monitor. It’s a niche feature that hardcore gamers looking for the best set-up may find themselves using.
Speakers here are impactful, which will be rather useful in games, the soundstage feels wide and free from harshness. There isn’t any support for Dolby Atmos here though as you’ll find on the latest QN95B TV.
Reviewer: Kob Monney
Full review: Samsung QE65QN94A
Philips 58PUS8506
Best affordable gaming TV
Pros
- Lots of value
- Dolby Vision and HDR10+
- Fast gaming performance
- Ambilight
Cons
- Not too bright
- Not great with dark detail (out of the box)
- Could benefit from more effective picture modes
The Philips 58PUS8506 is a solid mid-range option that packs some high-end features into a more affordable telly.
This includes a raft of gaming features that include low input lag compared the LG OLED and Samsung Mini LED that feature on this list, as we measured at be 10.6ms at 1080p resolution. There are no HDMI 2.1 ports so this wouldn’t be a TV for those interested in playing high-spec gaming features such as 4K/120Hz, though there is HDMI VRR to eliminate screen tearing for a smoother gaming performance.
In addition the picture quality is pretty good for the price with Philips’ usual vivid colours and a relatively good HDR performance, although darker areas of an image can look a tad crushed.
In a general sense, the 58PUS8506 is also quite a sleek looking television with thinner bezels than its predecessor with a swivel stand that features a set of LEDs that pair up with Philips’ Ambilight system that offers up some interesting backlighting for your television when you’re playing games.
Reviewer: Kob Monney
Full Review: Philips 58PUS8506
FAQs
LG’s OLEDs are the official choice for Xbox consoles. LG’s OLEDs also support Dolby Vision, but we’re still waiting to hear whether the TVs will be able to support Dolby Vision for gaming at 4K/120. If so, then they’d be an even greater partner for the Series X.
At the moment the best gaming TV comes down to a choice between LG and Samsung. The LG C2 have complete VRR support (Nvidia & AMD), plus 4K/120Hz and Dolby Vision Gaming for improved picture performance.
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