The best 4K TVs for HDR gaming 2022 on PS5, Xbox Series X and PC

Publish date: 2023-03-07

It's never been a better time to buy a 4K HDR TV for gaming, as 2022 TVs are soon to be announced and next-gen games consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are selling in their millions, although demand remains much higher than supply. In the TV space, 4K HDR has become standard on even the cheapest sets and technologies like 120Hz refresh rates, adaptive sync and auto low latency modes have made playing games on a TV better than ever before. What follows are our recommendations for the best gaming TVs in 2022.

When considering a 4K TV for HDR gaming, one of the most important metrics is input latency, which measures how long it takes for your buttons presses to translate into in-game actions. The best 4K HDR TVs offer input latency of around 12ms or less, average models around 20ms, and slower screens react in 30ms or more; generally a difference of about 15ms between two screens is noticeable. However, you'll only accomplish these speeds by engaging gaming modes, which go by different names on different televisions. Auto low latency mode, which we mentioned earlier, automatically activates this mode when it's needed.

As well as input latency, we'll also be looking at how these televisions handle motion, their peak brightness figures, which HDR formats they support and the strength of their built-in smart TV interface. Of course, price is a prime consideration as well. Right now, more expensive OLED sets start at around $1600/£1300 for a 55-inch display while LCD models at the same size can cost less than half of that amount. There are also even cheaper options that provide relatively poor HDR but still deliver a lot of screen for the money.

HDMI 2.1 is another important feature we're looking out for. This standard allows for both 8K 60Hz and 4K 120Hz content, bringing a massive boost to either resolution or responsiveness. HDMI 2.1 is an integral part of both the next-gen consoles and next-gen graphics cards, so it's worth looking for if you're buying a TV - especially a high-end option. We've recently rounded up all the 120fps PS5 and Xbox Series X/S games, including upcoming and back-compat titles.

We also have our recommendations in video form, filmed in February 2020.

Apart from making our TV recommendations, we'll also let you know which features are in the pipeline and what you can expect from gaming TVs over the next year. We'll also give a quick rundown of the four major panel types used in 4K HDR TVs - OLED, QLED, VA and IPS - so you have a basic idea of what their typical strengths and weaknesses are, in case you're considering a TV that isn't on this list.

So these are our top recommendations for gaming-friendly 4K HDR televisions in 2021, including budget, mid-range and high-end options. Use the quick links below to skip ahead, or read on for the full selections. Remember to disable ad blockers to see prices and "where to buy" links.

LG C1 OLED: the best 4K TV for HDR gaming

The best 4K TV for HDR gaming is the LG C1 OLED. LG Display's OLED panels provide incredible contrast, unparalleled pixel response times and gorgeous colour reproduction, and all of that is present and correct on the C1. The TV also supports Black Frame Insertion (BFI) up to 120Hz, an option that boosts the clarity of fast-moving objects, while variable refresh rate support includes HDMI VRR for consoles, plus FreeSync and G-Sync for PC users, so you can expect smooth motion from 40Hz to 120Hz without tearing, judder or excessive input lag.

The C1 has four HDMI 2.1 ports, allowing for 4K 120fps gaming using a single cable on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and current-gen PC graphics cards. Input lag is also extremely low, more akin to a high-end gaming monitor than a traditional 4K TV, making LG's OLEDs a great choice even for competitive gaming.

4K HDR content is where the C1 sing, but the television also handles lower-resolution content with aplomb thanks to excellent upscaling and full OSSC and Framemeister compatibility for retro gaming. LG's webOS software is also arguably the best available, thanks to a responsive interface that includes easy Wiimote-style selection and rapid multitasking.

LG's 2022 models look even more capable than the LG C1 and even include some more display size options, but we'll have to test them for ourselves before we can give them the DF recommendation. In the meantime, it's a great time to pick up a C1 or even CX model at a steep discount - you can reasonably expect to pick up a 65-inch TV released last year for less than a brand new 2022 model, and I know which one I'd rather have.

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Cons

Sony A90J: the best premium 4K TV for HDR gaming

The Sony A90J is a very interesting proposition - an extremely expensive OLED that combines one of LG's new second-generation panels with Sony's excellent motion handling algorithms. The result is a TV that looks gorgeous in motion, with noticeably higher peak brightness than other OLEDs on the market, but there are downsides beyond the significantly higher price. For gaming, there is no VRR support of any kind - not HDMI Forum VRR for consoles, nor FreeSync or G-Sync for computers. This is promised in a future update, but Sony's 2020 models also launched with VRR promised - and it's still yet to arrive a year after launch. Input lag is also slightly higher than it is on the LG C1, although at 16ms for 60Hz content it is still competitive.

Elsewhere, Sony has gotten a lot right. Motion handling is superb, as usual, and you get the usual OLED benefits - near-instant pixel response times, perfect blacks, infinite contrast, wide viewing angles and excellent colour reproduction. You also get the usual drawback - the potential for permanent image retention or burn-in, although as with other modern OLEDs this is unlikely if you vary the sort of content you use the TV with (eg you don't watch the same channel for dozens of hours consecutively) and you keep the default safeguards engaged (including features that reduce the brightness of static elements, shift the image by a pixel and refresh the screen when it's turned off).

If you're lucky enough to be working with a large budget, or no budget at all, the Sony A90J makes an excellent case for being the best 4K TV in the world. It only misses out on our top recommendation from some limitations in its gaming toolset (only two HDMI 2.1 ports, slightly higher input lag, no VRR yet) and its high price.

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Samsung QN95A / QN90A Neo: best QLED 4K TV for HDR gaming

The QN95A and QN90A are Samsung's flagship 4K TVs for 2021, incorporating a new 'QLED Neo' screen with Mini LED backlighting. This allows for much better brightness (1400 nits in SDR content and 1800 nits in HDR) and better full array local dimming performance than previous models. As with previous QLED screens, the Neo screens are based around a VA panel which provides excellent contrast (3500:1 without local dimming, 26500:1 with), reasonable viewing angles and truly impressive out-of-the-box colour reproduction. Motion clarity and contrast aren't quite as good as an OLED, but these models can get far brighter than an OLED can and aren't vulnerable to burn-in either. HDR films and games look great here thanks to the colour reproduction and high peak brightness, and there's support for HDR10, HDR10+ and HLG - but no DolbyVision.

For gaming, the QN90A has HDMI 2.1 support, including auto low latency mode (ALLM) and VRR (variable refresh rate), but sadly this is limited to only a single input - so you may wish to opt for the more expensive QN95A, available in the UK and Europe only, which uses the One Connect box with four HDMI 2.1 inputs. Alternatively, you could invest in an HDMI 2.1 receiver such as the if you'd like to keep multiple next-gen consoles or PCs connected. Input lag is low, at around 10ms at 60Hz and 5ms at 120Hz. The Black Frame Insertion (BFI) feature works up to 120Hz to reduce motion blur, which can be great for fast-paced games. As well as HDMI Forum VRR, the QN90A and QN95A also support FreeSync and G-Sync technologies, so it'll work great with PCs with Nvidia or AMD graphics cards.

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Sony X90J: Best mid-range 4K TV for HDR gaming

The Sony X90J is an excellent choice for next-gen gaming, with two HDMI 2.1 ports suitable for gaming at 4K 120Hz on the PS5, Xbox Series X and next-gen PC graphics cards. The X90J distinguishes itself with low input lag (~18ms at 60Hz and ~11ms at 120Hz), excellent contrast (6200:1 with full array local dimming) and strong colour accuracy. As with other VA panels, viewing angles are relatively narrow but peak brightness is more than respectable (520 nits in SDR, around 780 nits in HDR). As this isn't an OLED, there's no chance of burn-in. The X90J runs Google TV, which is responsive to navigate and boasts a deep app library.

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LG Nano85 / Nano86: Best budget 4K 120Hz TV

The LG Nano85 (known as the Nano86 in the UK) is one of the most affordable TVs to support the full HDMI 2.1 specification, with a 4K 120Hz screen, HDMI VRR (variable refresh rate) to smooth out uneven frame-rates and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM). Combined with its low input lag, black frame insertion (BFI) feature and fast pixel response times, the Nano85 is an awesome choice for gaming on consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.

The nano IPS panel here provides wide viewing angles and great colour accuracy, but the downside is worse contrast than more common VA, QLED or OLED screens. That means this TV performs best in bright rooms and in brightly-lit scenes, as dark rooms and dim scenes will appear more grey than black. Its brightness, which is limited to around 400 nits, also means that HDR highlights don't pop as much as they do on brighter displays. Still, the Nano85 is still a great performer at its price point, especially if your focus is gaming.

If your budget allows it, the Nano90 offers a few small advantages over the Nano85/Nano86. It has full array local dimming, which means there's less blooming around bright objects in dark scenes. The screen also gets brighter, has better speakers and offers a faster pixel response time.

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TCL R635 Mini LED: Best budget 4K TV for HDR gaming (USA)

The new TCL R635 is an excellent choice for 4K HDR gaming, thanks to its Mini-LED backlight, 120Hz QLED panel and support for some HDMI 2.1 features, including variable refresh rate support from 48 to 120Hz and auto low latency mode (ALLM). These features make it a surprisingly future-proof choice given its low price, and it should support 1080p or 1440p 120fps gameplay in HDR on PS5 and Xbox Series X. Input lag is low in the THX-certified game mode too. Finally, contrast is excellent, as you'd hope from a VA-based panel.

This TV's lower price point is only really evident in its viewing angles, which result in colour shifts if you're sitting even slightly off-centre. Motion handling is solid though, with the option for black frame insertion, while colour accuracy is also strong for its price point. Overall, this is a super strong choice for the US audience - we only wish it was available in Europe!

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Samsung TU8000: Best budget 4K TV for HDR gaming (UK)

The Samsung TU8000 can't compare to the budget options available to the American market, but it's about as good as it gets for the UK. Input lag is extremely low in game mode (~10ms), and there's an ALLM mode feature that ensures this is enabled automatically when you're in-game, which is convenient. There's also a Black Frame Insertion feature to improve motion clarity, although it's not the best one we've seen. Unfortunately, 120fps gaming and variable refresh rates aren't supported here, so if you want these features then we suggest looking at our mid-range pick instead.

Contrast is a strong point of the TU8000, with deep blacks that allow for an impressive contrast ratio of 6500:1. Unfortunately maximum brightness is relatively low at around 300 nits, making this a poorer choice for bright rooms. The HDR10+ and HLG standards are both supported, so you're only really missing out DolbyVision when it comes to popular HDR formats. Viewing angles aren't great, a common stumbling block for VA panel TVs like the TU8000, but things have improved slightly from last year's RU7100.

For the price, the TU8000 is a competitive choice. However, we do suggest keeping an eye for deals on TVs like 2019's Samsung Q60R or the 2020 Q70T and Q80T, which have more gaming features like 120Hz and FreeSync support.

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LG 27GP950: Best monitor for PS5 / Xbox Series X

If you're looking for a smaller display, especially to use with a PC as well as next-gen consoles, the LG 27GP950 is ideal. This is the first monitor to arrive with HDMI 2.1 support, allowing up to 4K 120Hz on PS5 or Xbox Series X, and also supports DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC, allowing for 4K 160Hz over a single cable on PCs with modern graphics cards. The 27GP950 monitor uses LG's Fast IPS panel to great effect, offering excellent motion handling alongside wide viewing angles and accurate colour reproduction. The monitor's peak brightness in excess of 600 nits, allowing it to garner a DisplayHDR 600 certification and giving HDR highlights some real impact. Input lag is extremely low, as you'd expect from a monitor that performs less processing than the average TV. Fairly obviously the 27GP950 can't be used by itself to pick up terrestrial TV broadcasts, but you could easily plug in a set top box via HDMI if you did want to watch TV on it. All this considered, this is an excellent monitor and thanks to HDMI 2.1, one that makes equally as much sense for console players as those on PC.

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Is it a good time to buy?

As we mentioned in the intro, it's a great time to upgrade to a new TV, as major HDR standards have emerged and best-in-class OLED TVs have become more affordable than ever. 2021 model year televisions are now being discounted as 2022 TVs are soon to be announced, so this is a good window to snag a bargain!

The current global human malware epidemic has made finding TVs at a good price tricky. While some regions have been harder hit than others, pricing and availability has become much more variable worldwide. Therefore, if our recommendations aren't in stock or seem unreasonably expensive, it may be best to wait a little to while until things calm down. That said, if a big TV is just what you need to get you through the crisis, then paying a small premium may still be worthwhile!

One of the most important techs you'll want to look out for is the inclusion of HDMI 2.1, a new standard that includes support for higher resolutions at higher frame-rates than ever before, including 8K 60Hz and 4K 120Hz support. As well as more raw data throughput, the new standard also includes features designed for gamers, like automatic low latency mode (ALLM), which automatically engages a game mode when a game is launched. Another important one is HDMI Forum variable refresh rate (VRR), which removes judder and makes small frame-rate drops less noticeable, without the heavy input lag penalty of traditional v-sync. Some TVs support parts of these standard with HDMI 2.0b ports, eg TVs with 60Hz panels may support VRR, ALLM and eARC without needing to support a 4K 120Hz connection. In general though, if you're considering a four figure TV, HDMI 2.1 support should be a given.

Display types

With the death of plasma displays, there are two major display types used in modern displays: LCD and OLED, with LCD representing the lower and mid-range of the market and OLED the high-end. LCD displays can be broken down further too, into IPS, VA and QLED displays. Here's what you need to know about each one, in order from cheapest to most expensive.

IPS: These monitors provide good viewing angles and improved colour accuracy compared to monitors using VA panels. However, some IPS panels, particularly older ones, can suffer from slower response times, making them worse for fast-paced games. Another potential issue is 'IPS glow', where the monitor's backlight is visible in dark scenes.

VA: A type of monitor panel which tends to occupy a middle-ground between IPS and cheap TN displays in many respects. These panels generally offer the best contrast, backed with good response times and colour reproduction. However, viewing angles and colour gamut may be limited compared to IPS and OLED.

QLED: This confusingly-named panel type from Samsung is essentially a VA panel that has been upgraded with quantum dots, allowing the monitors to produce slightly wider viewing angles than standard VA panels, plus higher brightness levels and wider colour gamuts. However, as is typical for a VA display, motion handling can be subpar.

OLED: This high-end display tech uses organic light-emitting diodes which produce what is arguably the best picture. Contrast is a strong suit, as individual pixels can be turned off completely to create a true black, rather than the very dark grey that other monitor types can produce. Viewing angles are also impressive, ensuring the picture from a 45-degree angle looks as good as the screen viewed dead-on. HDR is also well catered for, thanks to the ability to see extremely light and dark areas side-by-side. However, OLED can be expensive, its brightness can't compete with traditional LCDs and motion handling can be poor on some models. Image retention or burn-in is also a concern, although real-life OLED burn-in tests that have been running non-stop for several years show that image retention is unlikely to occur through normal use, even when gaming.

Common terms

Resolution: How many pixels are on screen, given as horizontal x vertical. 1920x1080 (1080p) and 3840x2160 (4K) are the most common resolutions for both TVs and monitors. The higher the resolution, the crisper and more detailed a game tends to look.

Refresh rate: How many times the screen updates per second, given in Hz. Standard TVs refresh at 60Hz, while more modern TVs can achieve 120Hz at some resolutions. For 4K at 120Hz, a TV needs to support the HDMI 2.1 standard. The higher the refresh rate, the more fluid a game will feel.

Response time: This stat typically measures how fast a pixel can turn from grey to white and then back to grey again. The best displays sport pixel response time figures of less than 4ms, with TN and fast IPS panels offering a quoted 1ms GtG and VA and regular IPS screens likely to achieve higher figures. OLED displays can achieve near-instant response times. Low response times help to eliminate distracting smears in fast-paced scenes. Note that response time is distinct from input lag, which refers to the delay between an input (like pressing a button) and seeing the effect of the input on-screen.

Contrast ratio: Simply the ratio between the brightness of a display when it is displaying perfect black versus perfect white. Around 1000:1 is typical for an IPS display, a VA display can hit 3000:1 or higher and an OLED has technically infinite contrast, as its organic LEDs can switch off entirely to create a completely dark image. High contrast ratio screens look particularly good in dark rooms, as blacks will appear properly black rather than dark grey. When a high contrast display also has high peak brightness levels (eg 600 nits and up), HDR content will look punchier too.

HDMI VRR, G-Sync and FreeSync: These terms refer to adaptive sync technology, designed to eliminate ugly screen-tearing and judder while adding less input lag than traditional v-sync. G-Sync is Nvidia's implementation and FreeSync is the AMD alternative, while HDMI VRR is a slightly more neutral standard implemented by the HDMI Forum with HDMI 2.0b and HDMI 2.1. A TV can support one, some or all of these standards.

HDR: High Dynamic Range allows for greater contrast between the lightest and darkest parts of an image, as well as a wider colour gamut. There are various video formats that go beyond vanilla HDR10, including DolbyVision, DisplayHDR 400/600/1000/1400 and HLG. Some videos will only be offered in a certain format, while others may be available in multiple formats. Choosing a TV that supports at least one of these formats mean you're more likely to see HDR content as intended when streaming video or playing Blu-Rays.

Got a question we didn't cover?

Please ask us in the comments below or reach out to me on Twitter @wsjudd.

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