Best gaming TV: how to choose by platform, ports and refresh rate

Gaming TVs are sold on headline numbers (Hz, nits, “HDMI 2.1”), but the right one depends mostly on what you connect and how many. We compared every current line in our catalogue on the specs games use, from the manufacturers’ sheets.

How we chose: from spec-sheet facts (4K 120 Hz inputs and their count, maximum refresh and VRR, Dolby Vision for Xbox, panel type, anti-reflection) and the platform you play on. We don’t lab-test TVs; for input lag and motion measurements, see the independent lab results linked in the sources.

Start with your setup

The specs, line by line

Our picks

Four 4K inputs at up to 144 Hz with VRR, Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync compatibility listed on the sheet, ALLM and HGIG, Dolby Vision gaming for Xbox, and OLED’s near-instant pixel response (LG quotes under 0.1 ms). It’s the complete package for a mixed console-and-PC setup, best in a dim to moderately lit room.

Samsung’s 2026 OLED takes 4K at up to 165 Hz on all four inputs, the highest refresh in our catalogue alongside the QN90F and Hisense’s U7 and U8, and adds Samsung’s Glare Free anti-reflection to an OLED. No Dolby Vision (HDR10+ instead), which matters only to Xbox players who want Dolby Vision games.

Four HDMI 2.1 inputs, a native 165 Hz panel, Mini LED with local dimming, an anti-glare panel, and both Dolby Vision (including Dolby Vision gaming) and HDR10+. On paper, no other line in our catalogue offers this much gaming spec at its price, especially in 75–100 inches.

The U8 has three HDMI 2.1 inputs plus a USB-C DisplayPort input, rare on a TV, for connecting a PC or laptop directly, and Hisense quotes up to 5,000 nits peak brightness on its Mini-LED Pro backlight.

Mini LED and a 144 Hz panel at a budget price, with two HDMI 2.1 inputs: right for one console plus a soundbar. TCL’s Game Accelerator mode trades resolution for a higher refresh rate when a PC is connected.

What research says: lag before Hz

It’s tempting to buy by the biggest refresh number. NVIDIA’s researchers tested what actually improves aiming. In a 2019 SIGGRAPH Asia study, cutting latency clearly improved how quickly players hit targets, while refresh rates above 60 Hz had relatively minor effects once their latency benefit was removed. Higher refresh helped most when targets moved unpredictably. A companion Journal of Vision study found performance improving from 60 to 120 to 240 Hz on some tasks. For a TV this means:

1. Use game mode (or ALLM, which switches it automatically): it removes most processing delay.
2. 4K 120 Hz with VRR is the big step for consoles; 144–165 Hz is a smaller gain, for PCs only.
3. Check measured input lag from an independent lab for the exact model; spec sheets don’t list it.

More on refresh in 120 Hz vs 144 Hz TVs.

OLED or Mini LED for gaming?

• OLED (LG C5, Samsung S90F/S90H, Sony BRAVIA 8 II): fastest pixel response, perfect blacks, wide viewing angles. Less peak brightness, and static HUDs over very long sessions carry some burn-in risk, which current models mitigate.
• Mini LED (Samsung QN90F/QN90H, Hisense U6/U7/U8, TCL QM6K/QM7K/QM8K, Sony BRAVIA 5 and 7): brighter, better in sunny rooms, no burn-in. Some blooming (halos) around bright objects on dark backgrounds.

Setup tips

• Use the TV’s 4K 120 Hz inputs for consoles and PC; turn on each input’s enhanced HDMI mode.
• Enable game mode (or let ALLM switch it), VRR, and the console’s 120 Hz output.
• Use HGIG (where offered) and the console’s HDR calibration for accurate HDR in games.
• For audio, a soundbar on eARC keeps your fast inputs free; see our Samsung and LG soundbar guides.

PlayStation-specific advice: best TV for PS5.