Best 4K TVs For Gaming : 10 Best Gaming TVs comparison

A gaming TV? Sorry? It is what it is: not every gamer is born for the competition. There are enough players among us who also use the best hobby of all for relaxation. And nothing is more comfortable than playing a game and lounging on the sofa.

Since couch gaming on normal gaming monitors is rather uncomfortable, we have selected the Best 4K TVs For Gaming for you today. However, this is not a technical gaming TV test but a comprehensive comparison.

So if you’re looking for a TV to play on (i.e. the best TVs for PS4 & Xbox One ), you’ve come to the right place.

THE Best 4K TVs For Gaming AT A GLANCE

In general, the Best 4K TVs For Gaming have low input lag and fast response times. They also support different input signals, which is ideal for gaming. Exciting gaming functions such as variable refresh rate, optional motion interpolation with low input delay, or optional black frame insertion are available in more models. Below you will find the best gaming TVs currently available!

• TCL 43DP602 | Best affordable gaming TV under $300
• Hisense H55BE7 | Best affordable gaming TV under $400
• LG UK6300 | Best small 4K gaming TV with the lowest input lag
• Samsung RU7179 | Best gaming TV under $500
• Samsung Q6FN | Best gaming TV under $800
• Samsung Q70R | Best 4K Free-Sync Gaming TV
• Sony X900F | Best under 1000 Dollars
• LG B8 OLED | Best 4K OLED gaming TV
• LG C9 OLED | High-end upgrade to the LG B8

THE Best 4K TVs For Gaming IN DETAIL

First, we would like to introduce you to the best TVs for gaming in detail. We scoured all the tests and comparisons on the internet for you and finally found these models. Here you can find all the important key data, information, and a rating for each TV.

1.TCL 43DP602

Technical specifications

• Technology: LED LCD
• Resolution: 4K UHD
• HDR: HRD 10
• Sizes: 43-65 inches
• Inputs: 3xHDMI 2.0, 2xUSB2.0, LAN
• WiFi: yes
• Input lag: not specified
• Style: Flat only

Description

If you are really short on cash, the TCL 43DP602 gives you a great budget gaming TV that also has smart functions.

HDR support, 4K resolution, HDR-10, WiFi, micro-dimming, and more for less than 300$ – you really can’t complain about that. Image and sound quality are also praiseworthy here, especially flawless for this price range! Thanks to HDR and Dolby Vision, you can enjoy 4K gaming.

You can also hang the part on the wall using the wall bracket. So if you are looking for a good entry-level device, then you can grab it here.

2. Hisense H55BE7

Technical specifications

• Technology: LED VA
• Resolution: 4K UHD
• HDR: HDR 10, HLG
• Sizes: 43-65 inches
• Inputs: 3xHDMI 2.0, 2xUSB2.0, LAN
• WiFi: yes
• Input lag: 50ms
• Style: flat, metatarsal, or sideways

Description

The best budget 55-inch 4K gaming TV is the Hisense H55BE7. It’s a great TV with impressive picture quality and great gaming performance. Thanks to the fast response time in gaming mode, there are razor-sharp movements on the screen, and the low input delay guarantees a very responsive gaming experience.

Thanks to an excellent contrast ratio and local dimming support, a deep black is displayed in a dark room. The BE70 can also get very bright and has a great color gamut. Most common input formats are supported, but unfortunately only at 60Hz, despite the 120Hz panel.

Unfortunately, like most VA panel televisions, the image loses accuracy when viewed from the side. The evenness of gray shades also needs improvement, although it is hardly noticeable in normal use.

Overall, this is an impressive gaming TV that offers great performance and gaming experience in most uses. At a price, you can’t go wrong anyway – so if you’re looking for a larger 4K TV for less than 500$, then grab it.

3.LG UK6300

Technical specifications

• Technology: LED
• Resolution: 4K UHD
• HDR: HRD 10 Pro, HLG
• Sizes: 43-65 inches
• Inputs: 3xHDMI 2.0, 2xUSB2.0, LAN
• WiFi: yes
• Input lag: 11.2 ms
• Style: Flat only

Description

If input lag or delay time is your biggest enemy when gaming, then the LG UK6300 43-inch 4K TV is your strongest ally.

With a speedy time of 11.2 milliseconds, the LG UK6300 is one of the fastest gaming TVs you can buy right now. Also, the LG impresses with a wide color range of 99.8 percent and precise color fidelity. Although the compact LCD TV is small, it still offers 4K resolution, good HDR support, solid audio, and a full Smart TV experience for less than $ 400.

But for the price and the compact size, you will have to forego a bit of functionality if you are only looking for speed because the 60 Hz display supports HDR for most media, but not for games. With the 3 HDMI connections, you might feel restricted if you try to connect several game consoles in addition to a Blu-Ray player or a cable box connected to HDMI.

Nevertheless, you get a great overall package for under 400$.

4. Samsung RU7179

Technical specifications

• Technology: LED VA
• Resolution: 4K UHD
• HDR: HRD 10+, HLG
• Sizes: 43-75 inches
• Inputs: 4xHDMI 2.0, 2xUSB2.0, LAN
• WiFi: yes
• Input lag: 19ms
• Style: Flat only

Description

If you are looking for a cheap TV with good contrast and a good Smart TV operating system, then the Samsung RU7179 is the right choice for you. This Samsung offers excellent price-performance, especially for larger customs areas, compared with competing products.

The Samsung RU7179 is very suitable as a gaming television due to its low input lag. This means you won’t have any problems with streaks or anything else, even with high-speed games. Unfortunately, you have to compromise somewhere with the RU7179, and that is the equipment here (you have to do without features such as PVR or Smart Remote). However, this is a gaming TV for less than 500$, so you can accept that.

This model’s main problem is clearly the VA-LED panel, which is notorious for its poor viewing angle stability. So if you often sit to the side in front of your TV, choose a different model with an IPS or OLED panel.

5. Samsung Q60R

Technical specifications

• Technology: QLED
• Resolution: 4K UHD
• HDR: HDR10, HLG
• Sizes: 43-82 inches
• Inputs: 4xHDMI 2.0, 2xUSB2.0, LAN
• WiFi: yes
• Input lag: 16ms
• Style: Flat only

Description

With this, we have arrived in the “middle class.” If you’re looking for a mid-range premium 4K TV that offers great gaming performance, look no further.

Because the Samsung Q60R QLED TV is our price-performance recommendation for gaming TVs, the 4K television offers an overall excellent picture quality, deep black tones, and a large color spectrum. Also, there is excellent movement handling and a very low input delay. This makes the Q60R ideal for games or quick action films.

Like the rest of Samsung’s QLED range, the Q60R also supports FreeSync and has an optional low-latency motion interpolation function. Unfortunately, when viewed at an angle, the picture deteriorates, there is no local dimming function, and it does not get bright enough in HDR.

However, in the gaming sector, it has everything we want: Short delay times (16.3 milliseconds), an impressive refresh rate of 120 Hz, many HDMI connections, and good HDR support. It even has automatic game console recognition that automatically activates game mode as soon as you turn on the console.

So if you are looking for the best mid-range TV for gaming, this is it.

6. Samsung Q6FN

Technical specifications

• Technology: LED
• Resolution: 4K UHD
• HDR: HDR 10, HLG, HDR10 +
• Sizes: 49-82 inches
• Inputs: 4xHDMI 2.0, 2xUSB2.0, LAN
• WiFi: yes
• Input lag: 15ms
• Style: Flat only

Description

The Samsung Q6FN is currently one of the price-performance tips and top LED models among gaming TVs. So if you are looking for an alternative to the Samsung Q70R (the part is unfortunately still costly), the Samsung Q6FN is the perfect choice if you cannot do anything with the cheaper brother Q60R.

Although the Q6FN is not quite as versatile as the Q70R due to the poor viewing angles and reflection handling, it still has an even better input delay and excellent response times. Also, Samsung’s TVs have recently started to support AMD’s Freesync technology and ensure that your games look their best. Also, it is almost 300$ cheaper and, therefore, still middle class.

Like the rest of the Samsung QLED series, the Q6FN is great in terms of color accuracy, which of course, comes into its own when gaming. However, if you want the graphically best possible HDR gaming experience, the Q7FN *, Q8FN *, and Q9FN * all offer a slightly better result but are generally not worth the extra cash. The Q6FN has a much better price-performance!

7. Samsung Q70R

Technical specifications

• Technology: QLED VA
• Resolution: 4K UHD
• HDR: HDR10, DV, HLG
• Inputs: 4xHDMI 2.0, 3xUSB2.0, LAN
• WiFi: yes
• Input lag: 15ms
• Sizes: 49-82 inches

Description

The Samsung Q70R is a great 4K QLED TV with impressive picture quality. Thanks to the high native contrast ratio and the good local dimming support, it can deliver deep, even black tones in a dark room.

It is also bright enough in SDR and thus avoids glare in a bright room. Also, there is a wide color gamut and a great HDR peak brightness. This allows you to enjoy HDR content to the fullest with vivid colors and a razor-sharp image.

Unfortunately, the television has poor viewing angles, as is to be expected for a VA panel. Nevertheless, it has excellent movement handling, and the image looks razor-sharp, thanks to the speedy response time. The Q70R reacts very quickly thanks to the very low input delay and supports FreeSync for tear-free gaming.

So if you have a little more budget to spare, you’re guaranteed to be happy with the Q70R.

8. Sony X900F

Technical specifications

• Technology: LED
• Resolution: 4K UHD
• HDR: HDR10, HLG
• Dolby Vision: Yes
• Inputs: 4xHDMI, 3xUSB2.0, LAN
• WiFi: yes
• Input lag: 24-40ms
• Sizes: 55-85 inches

Description

The Sony X900F is a great 4K TV with impressive picture quality, especially in dark rooms. Due to the high native contrast ratio and local dimming support, you can see all details regardless of whether in dark or light scenes. Also, the television impresses with HDR performance, as it can produce bright, vivid images.

But the X900F is also very suitable for gaming. The input delay is not the slightest, but it is still good enough for all games. The input lag is low enough on 1440p and 4K but slightly higher on 1080p at 40ms. If you play in dark rooms, you will have friends with a good contrast ratio and the black tones’ uniformity, but unfortunately, the picture from the side is not ideal.

9. LG B8 OLED

Technical specifications

• Technology: OLED
• Resolution: 4K UHD
• HDR: HDR 10+, HLG
• Inputs: 4xHDMI, 3xUSB2.0, LAN
• WiFi: yes
• Input lag: 21ms
• Sizes: 55, 65 inches

Description

LG’s B8 is currently the best OLED gaming TV out there. Why? It has an almost instantaneous response time that delivers crystal clear movement with barely noticeable blurring on fast-moving objects. The LG B8 can score a lot when it comes to fast racing or sports games.

Thanks to the very low input delay, it feels very responsive when gaming and delivers excellent image quality. There are also perfect black tones, wide viewing angles, and an excellent, wide color range. The handling of reflections and the maximum brightness are also remarkable. Thus, LG B8 OLED is a versatile gaming television that is suitable for almost any environment.

Unfortunately, like all OLEDs, this television has the option of temporary image storage or even permanent burn-in. This is caused by cumulative long exposure to static images and can be a problem as most games have it. However, with mixed-use (gaming and watching movies), this is not a problem for most of you.

Overall, the B8 is an excellent 4K TV that will please even competitive gamers. Simply the Best 4K TVs For Gaming at the moment, but outrageously expensive.

10. LG OLED C9

Technical specifications

• Technology: OLED
• Resolution: 4K UHD
• HDR: HDR 10, HLG
• Sizes: 55-77 inches
• Inputs: 4xHDMI 2.0, 3xUSB2.0, LAN, HDMI 2.1
• WiFi: yes
• Input lag: 13.5 ms
• Style: Flat only

Description

Is the LG B8 not expensive enough for you? If you’re looking for a TV that’s a bit more future-proof than the LG B8 OLED, then check out the LG C9 OLED. It supports all of the latest TV technologies, including HDMI 2.1, eARC, and the variable refresh rate of the HDMI Forum.

However, the C9 is a lot more expensive than our other OLED LG recommendation. Also, most of these technologies are currently not doing much. Still, they make this model a future-proof alternative, so you can be up and running immediately when these technologies become important. Simultaneously, the OLED C9 from LG offers many new functions without affecting the image quality or anything else. The C9 looks very similar to the B8 and works almost identically.

So if you have an unlimited budget and want the latest and greatest gaming TV, then the LG C9 is your future-proof choice. Otherwise, LG B8 does an excellent job and costs a lot less.

CONCLUSION

Of course, all gaming TVs we have presented to you here are recommendable, but can we also choose a “winner” in different categories? We have drawn a summary and summarize:

Best affordable gaming TV

There are only a few models in the lower price range, and it isn’t easy to find good gaming TVs here. The Hisense model wins the race here, as it is simply outrageously cheap at around $400 for a 55 “television at the time of this comparison. Of course, there are compromises in image quality. Still, perfection is also not the requirement with this television Recommendation for bargain hunters as an entry-level model in the 4K gaming TV world.

Best midrange gaming TV – price performance

It gets more difficult here because there is a lot to choose from. We’d say the Samsung Q60R stands out here. You get top image quality, HDR support, and a low input lag make it a perfect choice for us gamers. And all for less than 700$.

Best OLED high-end gaming TV

If we had to award a title for the “best high-end gaming TV” at the moment, the LG OLED B8 comes into question. Because the B8 is simply a great 4K OLED TV with excellent picture quality. Here you get everything: Perfect black tones (excellent for dark rooms), rich colors, and your picture remains accurate even when viewed from an angle (perfect for everyone with a wide sofa). Of course, the B8 is also perfect for HDR content, as it can produce very bright and saturated details. Motion handling and input lag are also excellent, making the LG B8 perfect for TV gamers and PC users. If you want to try your hand at OLED TVs, do it with the B8.

PURCHASE ADVICE: HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT GAMING TV

Since you now know which models are currently the best on the market, we would like to explain what you have to pay attention to before buying and how you can find the right gaming TV for YOU. We’ll also explain a few common terms that you will often encounter when looking for the best gaming TV.

Because: Every TV manufacturer invents at least 5 terms a year with which he can make the market even more confusing. That’s why we unpacked the machete and made our way through the marketing jungle. We have also listed the most important terms important for you as a gamer in our purchase advice.

Quick Tips for Buying a Great 4K Gaming TV

Maybe that’s a bit like the TLDR section of our buying guide. Here are the best quick tips on Best 4K TVs For Gaming:

• Gaming mode is a must: In addition to 4K resolution, all of our gaming TV recommendations offer special game modes in which speed has priority over finely tuned image processing. This saves milliseconds between rendering an image and displaying it on the television.
• The shorter the delay time, the better: The models above were selected because they have shorter delay times (input lags) than other televisions to achieve above-average responsiveness. When you press a key, the action is immediately displayed on the screen.
• Bigger is not always better: If you buy a gaming TV that is too big, it can be suboptimal for your gaming experience—more on this in the next section.
• 4K is more important than HDR, but both are great: all of our top picks are 4K resolution, but support for high dynamic range (HDR) content varies by TV and console. So make sure your TV is compatible with the functions of your console. Not using HDR is also a great way to save a few bucks.
• Pay attention to the frame rates: While the current Xbox One X and PS4 Pro game consoles deliver top performance with 60 frames per second, future systems will have higher requirements (PS5 or Xbox Scarlett). Current generation games are best suited for a TV with a 60 Hz refresh rate. However, 120 Hz displays could be better suited for gaming in the years to come. So if you want to “take precautions,” get a TV with a 120Hz refresh rate.
• You don’t have to spend more than the console price to get a good gaming TV: We know that console games can be expensive enough, and not everyone wants to spend a fortune on a premium 4K TV. That’s why we’ve included low-cost options under $400 that still deliver a good performance.

What size should my gaming TV be?

Probably the most important question first: How big should my gaming TV actually be? Isn’t it bigger, always better? It’s not that simple. But science helps us as always :-).

o4g tip

Good to know

The optimal viewing angle depends on your distance from the TV

The official Society of Motion Pictures and Television Engineers (SMPT) recommends sitting at a distance of at least 30 degrees from your field of view. This will give you the ultimate gaming experience.

The “minimum angle” works fine for most purposes. Sitting within 30 ° of the horizontal field of view should be comfortable for most of you (for gaming & movies).

But what does that mean for the size of my gaming TV? The following table shows you the optimal inch size of a gaming TV depending on your sitting distance (depending on how your gaming room is set up).

Optimal seat spacing depending on the TV size

YOU USUALLY SIT SO FAR AWAY FROM YOUR TV	YOU SHOULD GET THE FOLLOWING SIZE
0.6 – 1.5m	32 “
1.6 – 1.7m	40 “
1.8 – 2.0m	43 “
2.1 – 2.2m	50 “
2.3 – 2.5m	55 “
2.6 – 2.74m	60 “
2.74 – 2.89m	65 “
2.9 – 3.2m	70 “
from 3.2m	75 “

Briefly about the table (which, by the way, is based on the tool from rtings.com, really brilliant work): Of course, these are all only “optimal” values ​​at which you would have the best 30 ° viewing angle. Logically, bigger TVs also cost more money. So think carefully about how much budget you have and how big your gaming room really is. You have to decide whether you need a 75-inch television for gaming, but for the sake of completeness, we have given it anyway ;-). It could definitely not be cheap.

By the way: The distances associated with the TV inch sizes are also the recommended seat distance for gaming so that you have an optimal 30 ° viewing angle. Means: If you already have a 50-inch machine standing around, crouch around 2.1 m away in front of it.

Note : You can sit a little closer in front of any good 4K TV, the above distances are only guidelines.

Full HD or 4K TV – which resolution?

As you have probably already noticed, we only have 4K UHD TVs in our gaming TV comparison. Mainly because you can hardly get good 1080p televisions these days, and 4K is becoming more and more the standard.

Still, some of you will still have a 1080p TV at home and are thinking about getting a 4K TV. First, note the following:

Good to know

When is it worth upgrading from 1080p TVs to 4K TVs?

Upgrading from 1080p to 4K is NOT worth it if you are more than six feet away from a 50 “TV because your eyes will not be able to tell the difference.

Ultra HD only makes sense if you have a huge TV and want to sit a little closer to it (for gaming). You also need native 4K content to really see the difference.

Ergo: If you already have a great 1080p TV, think twice about whether you need an upgrade!

No question about it, an upgrade is definitely worthwhile for the smaller TV models, as the following video shows (attention: you need a 4K monitor to see the differences):

The following table summarizes all the important differences between full HD (1080p) and UHD (4K) TVs for you:

PROPERTY	4K TV	1080P TELEVISION
resolution	3840×2160	1920×1080
Available sizes	Very good	Good in the past, limited today
General availability	Very good	Limited
Available native content	Average, but increasing	Very good
Inch sizes	40 “-100” +	32 “-55”
Who should get one?	Anyone who buys a new TV and has a little more budget	If you generally sit further away and can only afford a small TV

So you can see again here: 4K televisions are more and more worthwhile. We’d rather invest a few Dollars more than buy a refurbished 1080p TV. Nevertheless, a 4K television and real 4K content alone are not enough reasons. If you sit too far away from your TV (the distance depends on the TV’s size), you will not see all the details in the picture.

Means: If you sit too far away from a 4K TV, the picture looks the same as on a TV with a lower resolution.

“Even if you’re not interested in 4K TVs (for example, because you’re always sitting far away from your TV anyway, or don’t have 4K content to enjoy), you still have to buy a 4K TV for better picture quality.

Besides, 49- inches like the Samsung MU6199 are now available on Amazon * for less than 500$. Buying a 1080p television is no longer worthwhile. “

Flat or curved gaming TV?

Are curved TVs even worthwhile for gaming? Curved televisions are not as popular today as they were a few years ago because it was still claimed that these things are revolutionary, so they are still sold more expensive.

The main selling point of curved TVs? A curved screen is said to have a more natural shape, which makes better use of our eyes’ peripheral vision. This should enable curved TVs to provide a more immersive experience, as our field of vision is used, and the viewing angle is enlarged.

PROPERTYFLATCURVEDViewing angleWellWellImmersionWellA little betterReflectionsNormal, a little “stronger”Stretched, less glarecostsFull price rangeMostly premium modelsAvailabilityVery goodRarely, limitedWho should get one?Most of youIf you like the curved look

All nonsense? Well, that your gaming experience on a curved TV is a bit more immersive, we could still agree. Better viewing angle? No, not true. Means: The differences between Flat and Curved are not relevant for gaming.

o4g tip

Good to know

TLDR: Are curved TVs worthwhile?

There is a small difference in the picture between curved TVs and flat-screen televisions, but this is not very large and can only be seen from extreme angles or close up.

If you like curved TVs’ aesthetics and don’t care about the higher price, treat yourself to one. However, if you expect an improvement over flat-screen TVs in terms of picture quality, you will definitely be disappointed.

LED vs. QLED vs. OLED – which is the best?

The headline may be a little confusing. Two technologies, in particular, stand out in today’s market: LED and OLED. QLED is just a name from Samsung for its new LED panels. But let’s start at the beginning.

LED TV

LED stands for “Light Emitting Diode” or “light-emitting diode.” LED televisions to work based on liquid crystal display technology (LCD), which is illuminated by LEDs. This technology has been used for years to produce flat-screen televisions and is, therefore, the more affordable option.

OLED TV

The “O” in OLED stands for organic, as the pixels here are made of organic material. The specialty here is that each pixel can be switched on and off individually. In contrast to LED technology, in which even a black image must remain illuminated, OLED can display the “color” black simply by switching off pixels. This gives you an infinite contrast and, thus, an extraordinary picture.

However, OLED has two serious problems. This technology is still relatively young, making it particularly expensive and only possible if you can afford it. The organic material also leads to technical difficulties that have not yet been completely resolved: so-called burn-in. If a screen displays the same image over a longer period of time, it will, at some point, burn itself into the pixels and thus be easy to see when something else is actually displayed.

Attention: So, if you are looking for a TV that you can also use as a Windows PC desktop screen (display the desktop for a long time) or are a player in strategy or card games like Hearthstone, you should possibly refrain from buying an OLED screen.

Problems that OLED had a few years ago, such as the short lifespan of organic pixels, have now been eliminated.

We think: Videos say more than a thousand words, especially when comparing OLED vs. LED images. Therefore take a look at the following video:

QLED

As already mentioned, QLED is a marketing term from Samsung. Samsung itself said goodbye to OLED TVs’ production in 2016 and is trying to expand LED ‘technology with QLED so that it becomes equal to OLED technology without taking up its problems. Samsung has succeeded in this to such an extent that they now had a much better color display than LED TVs a few years ago.

However, other manufacturers who still sell their TVs under the LED label have not slept and become more modern. QLED does not automatically mean that this is a better or much less different technology than LED.

HDR – How important is the technology?

The HDR is probably the most important abbreviation that gamers should look out for when buying a 4K monitor/television. This will mean the biggest leap in quality in the future.

(HDR) stands for “High Dynamic Range” and was invented to display more contrasts, more color gamut, and higher brightness. The problem here is that not only the television but also the source must have this technology.

You currently get HDR in selected films and series from Netflix and Amazon Video, via UHD Bluray discs, as well as in most AAA games of the last 2 years. And because that’s not complicated enough, there are also various HDR standards, the three most common of which we have listed here:

• HDR 10:  HDR10 is the entry-level technology for HDR. The 10 stands for 10 bits – in contrast to the 8 bits with which colors are conventionally represented. HDR10 is the oldest HDR standard and can therefore be found in most devices.
• Dolby Vision: Dolby Vision, DV for short, was developed as a competitor product to HDR and vastly expanded its spectrum. Production companies will also have free access to technology, which means that many films and series will be shown using this standard in the years to come.
• HDR10 +: HDR10 + is qualitatively similar to DV and is a further development of HDR10 to not lose its rank against DV.

PROPERTY	HDR	DOLBY VISION
Bit depth	Well	Very good
Maximum brightness	Very good	Very good
Tone mapping	Varies by manufacturer	Better
TV support	Very good	Highly limited
Available content	Rising rapidly	Limited

Is Dolby Vision Better Than HDR?

Dolby Vision is an extension of HDR, but unfortunately, it is not supported by very few televisions. There is only a small amount of content that can benefit from Dolby Vision. Also, DV gets an equal opponent with HDR10. Ergo: Not really.

HDR as a gamer?

If you are a PC gamer, the probability is very high that you already have an HDR-capable graphics card. Things look a little different on the console market: While the PS4 Pro and Slim and the Xbox One S and X have already implemented HDR10, the PS4 needs a firmware update, and the Xbox One and the Nintendo Switch have to do without HDR entirely.

So if you are looking for a TV that can display current standards, a TV with HDR10 will be sufficient. But if you want to be prepared for future generations, it won’t hurt to arm yourself with DV and HDR10 +.

Response time & input lag

Response time and input lag are not always the same with gaming TVs. We’ll briefly explain the difference!

Input Lag – The most important metric for gamers

When buying your new TV, pay attention to the input lag. While PC monitors are designed to have an input lag of 1-5ms, this is not so important in televisions since ordinary buyers pay attention to other things here. But you are no ordinary buyer. You are gamers.

What does input lag mean? In short: you press a button on the gamepad, and within a fraction of a second, something happens on the screen. This fraction of a second is the input lag, and the longer it is, the more noticeable and uncomfortable the game experience.

Therefore, we have taken care to present you here in the article, mainly televisions that fall into this category and have around 20-30 ms input lag with 4K and HDR.

Response Time – Difficult to find and rarely relevant

Depending on which manufacturer you look at, the term “response time” (sometimes also in German “reaction time”) means either the same as input lag or the response time of the individual pixels. The reaction time affects the blurring of fast-moving objects – ergo very relevant if, for example, you play racing games and watch a lot of sports on your TV.

The problem here is that, especially in the TV sector, many terms are used for marketing purposes, but each manufacturer can mean something different.

Fortunately, the pixels’ response time on TVs that are currently appearing is so short that the eye can hardly see it. If you find manufacturer information and the response time is more than 8-10ms, you have to expect that this will also affect the image quality. In racing games, for example, you would get a blurred picture.

But don’t forget that the input lag is often mentioned under response time and this is in the golden range for values ​​below 30ms.

Input lag & response time: you have to consider that

Input lag: As a rule of thumb for most console games, you should pay attention to an input lag of less than 30ms . If you play shooters competitively, that’s still too high, of course, but then you shouldn’t play it on a TV anyway. In order to keep the input lag as low as possible, be sure to set your TV to the gaming or PC mode around.

Response time: Everything under <8 milliseconds is good here, but you rarely find this value. Anything over 10ms leads to a “motion blur” effect and is relevant for fast games and sports broadcasts.

Frame rate – how much hertz makes sense?

Some of the televisions that we have presented to you can display a resolution of 4K and come with a refresh rate of 120Hz.

The following applies here: Hertz = FPS. This is only important if you also want to connect a fairly well-equipped PC to the TV set in addition to the consoles. Ergo: 60 Hz is completely sufficient for your new gaming television, don’t be dazzled here.

There is currently no console that can display more than 60 FPS, while PCs look completely different. If your PC can run a game at more than 60 FPS, you’ll be able to see it here too. Just keep in mind, as I said, that you need a lot of power under the hood to achieve this quality in some games.

It is also possible that a television set increases the input lag in the higher Hertz range, as it also has to process a much larger signal. So here you have to decide for yourself what you value more and decide according to your taste.

Gaming mode: Standard on all good gaming TVs

When you open the menu of your TV, you will, in most cases, find the option “Gaming Mode” in the picture settings. Make sure to turn it on for gaming. This is how you make sure that you get the best picture to play with.

There are cases where points like input lag are not as important as software-based image improvements. It can happen in other picture modes that you get a higher input lag than would be comfortable.

A little tip: Every ordinary TV is available online, a settings summary, to obtain the best image. Before you are dissatisfied with the picture and send your new 4K TV back, a quick Google search with keywords such as “Best Picture Settings” or “Optimal picture setting” in combination with the respective product name often helps.

Every now and then televisions are not optimally set in the factory settings and have to be readjusted manually.

Here are the most important gaming TV manufacturers and a brief description of how you can activate gaming mode (on current models) with your remote control :

• Samsung: Menu> System> General and set “Game mode” to ‘On.’
• TCL: Menu> Advanced picture settings> Switch on “Game Mode.”
• Sony: Menu> Picture adjustment and set ‘Picture Mode’ to ‘Game.’
• LG: Menu> Picture and set ‘Picture Mode’ to ‘Game.’
• Panasonic : Menu> Picture> Scroll down until you see “Options / Option Settings”> Select “Game Mode” and switch to “On”

Important: Your console must be connected to the TV via an HDMI cable. Otherwise, you often cannot activate the game mode.

My TV does not have gaming mode – what can I do?

Turn off any additional settings like motion smoothing, dynamic contrast, live colors, dynamic blacks, etc. All of these additional settings make your TV slower and cause input lag.

IPS LED vs. VA LCD

We talked about the differences between OLED and LED, but even if you choose an LED TV, other techniques are still used: IPS ( In-plane Switching ) and VA ( Vertically Aligned ) panels. The differences here can be so great that we have to write a few paragraphs about them briefly. Depending on the area of ​​application, it could be important for some of you.

First of all: neither of the two technologies is better than the other. Here everyone has to decide for themselves which of the advantages of the respective technology they prefer and which disadvantages they can live with. Roughly speaking, one could say:

• VA panel – better contrast & black levels:  If you are sitting in front of the TV, VA is usually the better choice. Also better suited for darker rooms.
• IPS panel – a more stable viewing angle: If you often watch films, sports, or TV series with several people who are not sitting directly in front of the TV. Usually better suited for lighter rooms

Let’s take a look at a few differences between the two panel technologies below.

Viewing angle

The term viewing angle is understood to be the degree from which the image quality decreases. So if you have a slightly smaller room in which several people have to be spread out, the people sitting on the edge may not see the same good picture as the people sitting in the middle.

In such a case, you should rather use an IPS panel, because on average, they have a viewing angle that is almost twice as high (36 °) as VA panels (20 °).

Contrast

The high viewing angle than IPS panels offer comes at a price: the contrast, the most important value for determining the image quality, in the case of IPS panels does not reach the value that VA panels achieve.

If this is in a range of 3000: 1 to 6000: 1 with VA technology, IPS panels tend to move in the range of 1000: 1. The VA panel clearly wins here.

Black level

VA technology also wins when the “color” black is represented. Thanks to the technology of vertically arranged crystals, VA panels can block light much better if they are not addressed. This value also determines the quality of the picture, and here too, the VA panels win.

Reaction time

As you can read in the section on response time, this is the individual pixel response time, not the input lag. If a pixel is addressed on the IPS panel, the respective crystal only needs to rotate to let light through. With the VA panel, on the other hand, the crystal has to move spatially.

As a result, IPS panels have a much shorter response time than VA panels and are more suitable for PCs and consoles.

As you can see, there is no clear winner. IPS panels impress with their shorter response times and a higher viewing angle, while VA panels can offer you better image quality in the form of higher contrast and better black values.

So the decision is entirely up to you.