Best 4K 120 Hz TV [120Hz HDMI 2.1 TV Review & Buying Guide]
If you are on this page, it is because you are looking for the Best 4k 120Hz HDMI 2.1 TV to play the latest consoles from Sony and Microsoft. We will present a selection of the best TV with 4K Hdmi 2.1 to enjoy your SP5 X Series or Xbox. Why the best? Because for the moment, at the end of 2020 / beginning of 2021, there isn’t really a huge choice, and therefore you have here the best at “reasonable” prices. With this selection, we also avoid the pitfalls of the 2.1 models, which are at 60hz. In short, no need to run left or right on the web to find the right HDMI TV.
What Are The Best HDMI 2.1 TV at 120 Hz?
These are the Best 4K 120 Hz TV.
- LG 55C9 OLED
- Sony XBR-65X900H
- LG CX OLED 55CX6 OLED
- LG 55NANO85UNA
- SAMSUNG 75-inch Class QLED Q90T Series
Best 4K 120 Hz TV: Our selection
For the moment, we have noted a limited number of TVs with HDMI 2.1. Often in native 100 Hz, this does not prevent the panel from displaying 120 Hz with the HDMI. If you have other references to suggest or even feedback on the products presented, do not hesitate to leave your messages in the comments.
1. LG 55C9 OLED | Best 4K 120 Hz TV
This LG 4K Oled TV offers a 55 ″ diagonal and compatibility with all HDR technologies. What differentiates it from other models is its new processor, which offers better sound quality and visuals. This television is also ultra-connected, whether in wifi, Bluetooth, and of course, all smartTV and Miracast options. It offers a response time of 1ms and a maximum display delay of 12.9ms with Nvidia’s G-Sync. Many consider it to be one of the top picks in its class. On the other hand, it is an OLED so beware of the marking if you play for several hours with static elements on the screen.
2. Sony XBR-65X900H
Often referred to as the X900H, this range of Sony 4k TVs boasts the “Perfect For Playstation” stamp. We offer 2 models here that differ in the size of the panels with 65 or 55 inches. You have native 100 Hz but also 2 HDMI 2.1 sockets in addition to the classic 2.0. Image and sound level is simply perfect at this level with Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision.
3. LG CX OLED 55CX6 OLED
LG offers a range of OLED TV4K, which offers an HFR (High Frame Rate) up to 120 images per second and, of course, all the technologies that go hand in hand with the 4 HDMI 2.1 sockets (VRR, ALLM). This screen also supports G-Sync / FreeSync functions, which allows full compatibility if you connect a gamer pc to it.
4.LG 55NANO85UNA
This 4k TV offers 2 HDMI 2.1 and a basic scanning frequency of 100 Hz. This model offers everything you need to take advantage of VRR and ALLM technologies to guarantee the best gaming experience. It is, of course, compatible with HDR10 and Dolby Vision. However, this NanoCell does not include HDR10 +.
5. SAMSUNG 75-inch Class QLED Q90T Series
Samsung offers a native 75-inch 100Hz Qled TV4k equipped with 1 HDMI 2.1 and 3 HDMI 2.0. Samsung TVs are FreeSunc compatible and optimized for games on PS5 or Xbox Series X with its HDMI 2.1 socket, which offers all the classic benefits of this standard (HFR, VRR, ALLM). This model takes into account HDR10 and 10+. On the other hand, it does not include Dolby Vision.
How to choose your 4K Hdmi 2.1 120 Hz TV?
Well you need at least a 2.1 hdmi socket. Thank you goodbye !
No, I’m kidding. It’s not as obvious because there are 4K 60Hz TVs with HDMI 2.1. Be careful because, depending on the brand, it will be possible to upgrade your screen to 120 Hz. At least Sony seems to promise on some of its TVs! For the others, you will have to make sure that your panel is at 100/120 Hz to have compatibility in terms of HFR and ALLM! The VRR should not pose a problem at this level… What did you not understand anything? So let’s do a little popularization, don’t worry, it’s going to be okay. After a little reading, you should know the minimum you need to know to enjoy your new next-gen console fully.
Let’s first come back to the 4K definition in both senses of the word!
4k is created for cinema based on 4096 by 2160 pixels, but today the standard for 4K is 3840 by 2160 pixels. More basically, we will talk about UHD (Ultra High Definition) or avoid citing the number of pixels each time. We will say 2160p. For 2k, the standard is 1440p, and for Full HD, we are at 1080p.
FYI, 4k corresponds to 4 times Full-HD in terms of pixel density. Or 8,294,400 pixels against 2,073,600. So much for the standard aspect, what must be remembered is that a video adapted to the format will be much sharper.
Scanning or refresh rate
Now let’s talk about rendering and fluidity without turning our brains around. Early 4K televisions allowed a scan or refresh rate of 50/60 Hz (Hertz). Still, this can correspond to the number of images per second that your screen can display in a spirit of popularization. So you can imagine that the faster it is, the more fluid it is.
Now, 100/120 Hz 4k TVs appear on the market with new technologies that accompany image processing at this speed. We will not speak here of pseudo 240 Hz panels, which only simulate additional images to reach this frequency. But we are going to tackle elements well known to pc gamers like latency (input lag).
The input lag
Input lag corresponds to the time between the transmission of information from a peripheral to your screen. For example, you press the button on your controller. The information is sent to the console, which transforms it into an action that you see appear on your screen. When processing the signal to the TV, a delay of the order of a few milliseconds can occur. This can have a huge influence on the game, especially on fps or even combo games.
VRR vs. Tearing
In addition to this, if the refresh rate does not allow you to display your image in time, you will end up with what is called tearing. It is a tearing of the image, often horizontal, which gives an impression of jerkiness during your games’ movements. Technologies exist for this. We find Free-Sync or G-Sync standards on gaming monitors (depending on your AMD or Nvidia graphics card), while on a TV, we will talk about VRR or Variable Refresh. You will gain clarity and fluidity during rapid movements during your games.
The VRR is well taken into account basic in the Next-Gen consoles, but your television must be too. And it is precisely through HDMI 2.1 that you can ensure that VRR is properly taken into account. So as you imagine, you will need a 4K TV in HDMI 2.1 with the compatible 2.1 cables.
HDMI 2.1 and HFR 120 Hz we get there!
As we said earlier, the objective here is not to provide you with too technical information but to see the ins and outs of HDMI 2.1. At first, unlike HDMI 2.0, 2.1 allows the transmission of more data (48 Gbps against 18). To popularize, it is like going from ADSL to fiber. 2.1, therefore, allows signals to be sent with HFR (High Frame Rate). This allows you to have the famous 120 Hz and, therefore, a rendering at 120 fps (frame per second, or image per second). You will, of course, benefit from VRR on the way. But if there were only that, we would stop there, but we are far from having finished.
HDR
HDMI from its 2.0 mount is also HDR or High Dynamic Range. A technology that reprocesses the image or encodes it brings out more brightness on scenes for a more realistic rendering. That is to say, there are several standards, and that the results are not conclusive. We will not dwell on this. The basic HDR10 standard is available to all manufacturers and Dolby Vision (a slightly more advanced proprietary version). For now, the Xbox Series X and the PS5 are HDR10 compatible.
Goodbye to input-lag hello ALLM
You remember the input lag we mentioned earlier? Well, it’s time to get rid of it for good. HDMI 2.1 allows this thanks to ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) technology. This is a signal sent by your console to your TV to reduce the latency on it drastically… that’s it! Lag issue resolved!
One HDMI 2.1 cable to rule them all!
Of course, you will need an HDMI 2.1 cable so that you can put your 2.0 in the drawer. On the other hand, if you are the lucky owner of one of the latest Next Gen consoles from Sony or Microsoft (only on the X series, not the S), you will already have a 2.1 cable provided!
To summarize your HDMI 2.1 cable will allow you to benefit from:
- HFR: High Frame Rate (120 Hz)
- VRR: Variable Refresh Rate
- ALLM: Auto Low Latency Mode
But also from:
- e-ARC: enhanced audio Return Channel, a technology that allows the audio signal to be processed differently.
There are still other technologies, but you have the most important to know when choosing a 4K TV in HDMI 2.1 at 210 Hz.