SpecWiseGuide

TVs with HDMI 2.1 and 4K 120Hz: how many ports each one really has

By SMART SC Editorial Team · Updated · How we research

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Every HDMI input takes 4K 120 HzOnly some inputs doHisense2 of 3LG1 of 1Samsung5 of 6Sony0 of 5TCL0 of 3
One square per TV line in our catalogue (18 lines), by brand, from the spec sheets.

Short answer

Every current mid-range and premium TV we checked does 4K at 120 Hz, but the number of HDMI inputs that can take it ranges from two to four. LG’s C5, Samsung’s S90F/S90H, QN90F/QN90H and Q8F and Hisense’s U7 do it on all four inputs (Hisense’s U8 on all three); Sony and TCL do it on two; budget lines like the Sony BRAVIA 3 do none. Two ports is enough for one console plus a soundbar on eARC; three or four lets you connect a PS5, an Xbox and a PC without swapping cables.

Key takeaways

  • 4 of 4 inputs at 4K 120 Hz+: LG C5, Samsung S90F, S90H, QN90F, QN90H, Q8F, Hisense U7. 3 of 3: Hisense U8.
  • 2 of 4: TCL QM6K, QM7K, QM8K, Hisense U6, Sony BRAVIA 5, 7, 8 II and 9 II.
  • 144–165 Hz only matters for a PC; consoles top out at 120 Hz.
  • If one of the fast ports is also the eARC port, a soundbar can share it with nothing else: count ports before buying.

“HDMI 2.1” on a box tells you less than you’d hope: the label covers a menu of optional features, and many TVs have only some of their inputs wired for the fast ones. What you actually want to know is how many inputs take 4K at 120 Hz, and at what maximum refresh rate. Here’s that, line by line, from the manufacturers’ spec sheets.

4K 120 Hz inputs on current TVs

Show
TV lineTypeNative refreshMax VRRHDMI inputs with 4K 120 Hz+Dolby VisionSizes we listCheck price
Hisense U7 (U75QG) 2025Mini LED165 Hz165 Hz4 of 4✓ Yes55″, 65″, 75″, 85″, 100″Amazon
Samsung QN90F 2025Mini LED120 Hz165 Hz4 of 4✕ No55″, 65″, 75″, 85″Amazon
Samsung S90H 2026OLED120 Hz165 Hz4 of 4✕ No55″, 65″, 77″, 83″Amazon
LG C5 2025OLED120 Hz144 Hz4 of 4✓ Yes55″, 65″, 77″, 83″Amazon
Samsung Q8F 2025LED120 Hz144 Hz4 of 4✕ No55″, 65″, 75″, 85″Amazon
Samsung QN90H 2026Mini LED120 Hz144 Hz4 of 4✕ No65″, 75″Amazon
Samsung S90F 2025OLED120 Hz144 Hz4 of 4✕ No55″, 65″, 77″, 83″Amazon
Hisense U8 (U8QG) 2025Mini LED165 Hz165 Hz3 of 3✓ Yes55″, 65″, 75″, 85″, 100″Amazon
Hisense U6 (U65QF) 2025Mini LED144 Hz144 Hz2 of 4✓ Yes55″, 65″, 75″, 85″Amazon
TCL QM6K 2025Mini LED144 Hz144 Hz2 of 4✓ Yes55″, 65″, 75″, 85″, 98″Amazon
TCL QM7K 2025Mini LED144 Hz144 Hz2 of 4✓ Yes55″, 65″, 75″, 85″, 98″Amazon
TCL QM8K 2025Mini LED144 Hz144 Hz2 of 4✓ Yes65″, 85″, 98″Amazon
Sony BRAVIA 5 2025Mini LED120 Hz120 Hz2 of 4✓ Yes55″, 65″Amazon
Sony BRAVIA 7 2024Mini LED120 Hz120 Hz2 of 4✓ Yes65″Amazon
Sony BRAVIA 8 II 2025QD-OLED120 Hz120 Hz2 of 4✓ Yes55″, 65″Amazon
Sony BRAVIA 9 II 2026RGB LED120 Hz120 Hz2 of 4✓ Yes65″Amazon
Samsung The Frame (LS03F) 2025LED120 Hz144 Hz–✕ No55″, 65″Amazon
Sony BRAVIA 3 2024LED60 Hz60 Hz0 of 4✓ Yes55″, 65″Amazon

Dolby Vision games come only from an Xbox Series X|S, and need a TV that supports Dolby Vision gaming (LG and Hisense list it). “Max VRR” is the highest refresh rate the spec sheet states; above 120 Hz it needs a PC. For TCL’s K-series, the sheets say “4 HDMI” and independent reviews (RTINGS, TechRadar) confirm two are HDMI 2.1.

What the numbers mean

  • 4K 120 Hz is what the PS5 and Xbox Series X output in games that support 120 fps. A TV needs an HDMI input with enough bandwidth: the PS5’s port runs at up to 32 Gbps (it has no Display Stream Compression to fall back on), the Xbox Series X’s at up to 40 Gbps. All the “fast” inputs in the table handle both.
  • 144 Hz and 165 Hz are for PCs. Consoles stop at 120 Hz, so for them a 165 Hz Samsung QN90F and a 120 Hz Sony BRAVIA 8 II are equal on this point.
  • VRR (variable refresh rate) lets the TV follow the game’s frame rate to avoid tearing and stutter. All lines in the table with 4K 120 Hz inputs support it; the PS5 added VRR in a 2022 update, the Xbox has had it since launch.
  • ALLM (auto low latency mode) switches the TV into its game mode when a console starts a game.

Two ports or four: who needs what

One console + a soundbar: two fast ports are enough. Put the console on one fast port and the soundbar on the eARC port. Sony’s BRAVIA 5, 7, 8 II and 9 II use HDMI 3 and 4 as their 4K 120 Hz ports; check which one is also eARC on your model before planning cables.

Two consoles, or a console + a PC: you want three or four fast ports, or you’ll be swapping cables or routing one source through an AV receiver. The LG C5, Samsung S90F/S90H, QN90F/QN90H and Q8F, and Hisense U7 have four; the Hisense U8 has three plus a USB-C DisplayPort input for a PC.

Soundbar with HDMI passthrough: some soundbars (and AV receivers) pass 4K 120 Hz through to the TV, freeing a port, but only if they explicitly support 4K 120 Hz passthrough. If not, connect sources to the TV and send audio to the soundbar over eARC.

The 60 Hz exceptions

Not every current TV is a 120 Hz TV:

  • Sony BRAVIA 3: 60 Hz panel; all four inputs are 4K 60 Hz.
  • Samsung Q8F in 50 inches and smaller: 60 Hz (55 inches and up are 120 Hz).
  • Many entry-level TVs from every brand are 60 Hz; their spec sheets list “60Hz” refresh and “4K 60Hz” HDMI.

For TV shows, films and sport, 60 Hz is fine. For console games in 120 fps modes, and for anything with VRR, you need a 120 Hz TV with a fast HDMI input.

Cables and settings

  • Use an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable (48 Gbps certified) for 4K 120 Hz. The ones that come with the PS5 and Xbox Series X qualify.
  • Many TVs ship with the fast mode switched off per input. Look for a setting called something like Input Signal Plus (Samsung), HDMI Deep Colour / 4K 120Hz (LG), Enhanced format (Sony) or HDMI 2.1 mode (TCL, Hisense), and enable it for the console’s input.
  • On the console, enable 120 Hz output and VRR in its video settings.

Which to choose

  • For one PlayStation or Xbox, any line in the table with two fast ports works; pick by picture, size and price. See best TV for PS5.
  • For several consoles and a PC, prefer four fast ports: LG C5, Samsung S90F/S90H, QN90F/QN90H, Q8F or Hisense U7.
  • For PC gaming at 144 Hz+, Samsung’s S90H and QN90F (165 Hz), Hisense’s U8 and U7 (165 Hz), or LG C5, Samsung S90F/QN90H/Q8F and TCL (144 Hz).

More on choosing: best gaming TV.

Frequently asked questions

Which TVs have 4 HDMI 2.1 ports?

Among current lines we checked: LG C5, Samsung S90F, S90H, QN90F, QN90H and Q8F (55 inches and up), and Hisense U7 (U75QG). The Hisense U8 has three HDMI inputs, all HDMI 2.1, plus a USB-C DisplayPort input.

How many HDMI 2.1 ports do I need?

One per 4K 120 Hz source: a PS5, an Xbox Series X and a gaming PC each want one. A soundbar on eARC doesn’t need a 4K 120 Hz port, but on some TVs the eARC port is one of the fast ones. With two fast ports and one console, you’re fine.

What is the difference between 120Hz and 144Hz TVs?

Only PCs can use the extra: the PS5 and Xbox Series X output at most 120 Hz. A 144 Hz or 165 Hz TV gives a PC with a suitable graphics card a slightly smoother picture; for consoles it’s the same as 120 Hz.

Is HDMI 2.1 on a TV always 4K 120 Hz?

No. The HDMI 2.1 label covers optional features, and some TVs advertise HDMI 2.1 for eARC or ALLM on ports that are limited to 4K 60 Hz. Check the spec sheet for ‘4K 120Hz’ (or 144/165 Hz) and which inputs support it.

Do I need an HDMI 2.1 cable?

For 4K 120 Hz, use a cable certified as Ultra High Speed HDMI (48 Gbps). The PS5 and Xbox Series X ship with one.

Sources (21)

  1. Hisense U75QG specifications sheet
  2. Samsung QN90F specifications sheet
  3. Samsung S90H specifications sheet
  4. LG Electronics USA, OLED evo C5 spec sheet (02/2025)
  5. Samsung Q8F specifications sheet
  6. Samsung QN90H specifications sheet
  7. Samsung S90F specifications sheet
  8. Hisense U8QG specifications sheet
  9. Hisense U65QF specifications sheet
  10. TCL QM6K specifications sheet
  11. TCL QM7K specifications sheet
  12. TCL QM8K specifications sheet
  13. Sony BRAVIA 5 specifications sheet (K-65XR50, K-55XR50)
  14. Sony BRAVIA 7 specifications sheet (K-65XR70)
  15. Sony BRAVIA 8 II specifications sheet (K-65XR80M2, K-55XR80M2)
  16. Sony BRAVIA 9 II specifications sheet (K-65XR90M2)
  17. Samsung The Frame (LS03F) specifications sheet
  18. Sony BRAVIA 3 specifications sheet (K-65S30, K-55S30)
  19. RTINGS, What is HDMI 2.1? (PS5 32 Gbps and Xbox Series X 40 Gbps ports)
  20. RTINGS, TCL QM7K review (two HDMI 2.1 ports)
  21. TechRadar, TCL QM8K review (4K 144Hz on two of four HDMI inputs)
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