The best gaming TVs 2023 can really enhance your entire experience. No matter what type of gamer you are – PC, Xbox, PS, Nintendo – we recommend investing in a decent gaming TV that has next-generation features including HDMI 2.1 and low latency rates!
Things to look out for in the best gaming TVs include the Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) 4K resolution support at 120Hz, in addition to ALLM. If you are primarily a PlayStation gamer, then check out our guide to the best TVs for PS5, as these have slightly different features you’ll want to be looking out for.
If you’re still a bit confused about what you’re looking out for, don’t worry – as you go through this guide, we review each gaming TV in detail, weighing up the features and benefits and other reasons to buy such as price. At the end of this guide you’ll also find more information on shopping for the best gaming TV to suit your needs.
The best gaming TVs 2023: The top 3
Why you can trust T3 Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
The best gaming TV is the Samsung QN95B. This Neo QLED panel is bold, bright, has super-low input lag, and is quite possibly the best TV on the planet.
The best gaming TV for most people is the LG C2. This OLED panel is ideal for gaming and movies, delivering superb black levels, but it's also a dab hand for gaming thanks to low input lag.
The best cheap gaming TV is the Hisense A6G. Not got as much to spend? Hisense's budget entry has plenty of compelling features that will befit gamers without stacks of cash to spend.
The Samsung QN95B is the company's 2022 flagship 4K TV – and it really shows. It uses a latest-gen 'Neo QLED' Mini-LED panel for its backlight, which means extremely bright HDR performance, but small lights with new light-shaping tech mean more fine control of local dimming, so when areas need to go dark, they can go really dark.
This is the closest LED TVs have come to OLED's control of contrast, and when you combine it with the cutting-edge processing and better brightness, it's the most complete image quality package we've seen on a 4K TV so far. And it has a price tag to match, which is why we think the LG C1 is still probably the better choice for most people, balancing cost, performance and price – though in a bright living room, the visibility of the Samsung will cut through the light much better.
For those who demand those most control of their gaming performance, this again is second to none. It has four HDMI ports, which means total ALLM, VRR and 4K 120Hz support. But most interesting of all is the Game Bar, which is a special menu designed just for gaming. Want to make sure that what you're seeing is 120Hz, or that VRR is active? The Game Bar tells you, while also giving you control over the two different Game Mode types: one has a bit more processing to improve the image, and has under 10ms of lag, or you can go extreme with the second mode, which turns off even more processing, and offers a tournament-level 6ms of lag.
The only downside here is no support for Dolby Vision HDR. You won't really mind about the former, because its HDR performance is so good anyway – as we didn't in our five-star Samsung QN95B review. No surprise it's the T3 Awards 2022 winner of Best Gaming TV too.
The LG C2 is the second-down OLED TV in LG's range (the G2 is at the top of its range). It brings more brightness and improved image processing over last year's model for movies, which makes it ideal for gamers who are also movie-lovers and want great image quality with inky dark blacks from this panel type.
The LG Cs certainly has some new gaming tricks up its sleeve. You've got 4K 120Hz, VRR and ALLM on all four HDMI ports, and a great low input lag level, but you can also customise the gaming mode depending on what kind of game you're playing. Set it for the FPS mode and it'll make sure you're getting the best possible response time; set it for RPG and it'll apply more image processing to make things prettier, letting response time creep up just a little in exchange.
Overall, this remains a fantastic TV, as our LG C2 review explains. Image quality is top notch, the smart platform is excellent, and it's hard to beat on features. It's just that right now, you could buy the LG C1 and save enough for one of the best soundbars, and we think a lot of people might prefer that.
You know what you're getting from a Hisense gaming TV: a big, well-specified TV at a price that makes other brand's entry-level models seem awfully underpowered. The A6G is priced aggressively and features both HDR10+ and Dolby Vision HDR, and it also supports the VRR and ALLM aspects of HDMI 2.1 on all three of its HDMI inputs. There's eARC compatibility, integrated Wi-Fi, and USB, Ethernet, CI Card and RF connectors too. There's even composite video if you have old video kit kicking around.
In our review we found the Hisense picture quality sat somewhere between "acceptable for the money" and "really rather impressive". The motion control isn't unnatural, detail enhancement isn't too aggressive and skin tones are very lifelike.
Budget models do require some corner cutting, of course. The blacks aren't very deep – the darkest is a very deep grey rather than a true black – and it isn't hugely bright, so you don't get the impressive levels of contrast you'll find in more expensive sets. It's not brilliant at upscaling but it's very good with full HD 1080p and 4K content. If you're looking for a 4K gaming TV that won't break the bank, you should definitely have Hisense on your shortlist.
Best gaming TVs 2023: The best of the rest
The Samsung Q80A brings the rich colours and bright HDR of QLED at a more affordable price than some of its TV stablemates, but still includes the HDMI 2.1 feature we expect from a gaming TV.
The 50-inch model is the one that really brings the best price, being smaller, though it should be noted that this size includes weaker speakers than the others – the bigger sizes have Object Tracking Sound+ positional audio thanks to speakers around the edges of the screen.
However, all models feature an HDMI 2.1 port, with support for VRR, 4K 120Hz and ALLM. Just the one, mind you – so this is best for people who are happy with a single next-gen console and just want a great TV to really enjoy it. There are three regular HDMI 2.0 ports for other things, of course.
Image quality is really strong for the price, and the brightness is a match for the best OLED screens, and slightly higher than mid-range or budget OLEDs. Black levels are striking for a mid-range LED TV too – it really punches above its price range.
Throw in Samsung's clever Game Bar too – which makes it easy to tweak settings and check whether you're seeing everything exactly as you planned to – and it's quite the package.
Take a look at our Samsung discount codes to grab a saving on your purchase.
If you're looking for an HDMI 2.1 gaming TV that won't break the bank, this is it – and it's one of the few gaming TVs that's available in a 43-inch variant, which is handy if you don't have the room for a bigger panel.
There's lots to like here including twin HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 120Hz and Variable Refresh Rate, low input lag and surprisingly good built-in speakers. It delivers strong blacks and excellent contrast, and it's very good with fast-moving content.
The heart of this TV is Sony's 4K HDR Processor X1 with Triluminos Pro, which delivers a very wide colour gamut and really impressive colour reproduction. The upsampling is particularly good on 2K images, but it's pretty great on Full HD too.
There are a few negatives here, but they're not dramatic. The viewing angles aren't as wide as most, although that won't be a problem if you're mainly gaming rather than presenting movies to an audience, and one of the HDMI 2.1 ports is also the port for the eARC audio return, so you'll lose one of your ports if you're connecting a soundbar.
If you've read about the Sony X85J elsewhere you might see mention of gaming features that haven't been implemented: when this model shipped some key features including VRR weren't enabled. That's now changed: Sony issued a firmware update in October 2021 to add ALLM, HGiG and VRR to the X85J.
The LG G2 is the brightest OLED TV that LG has made, thanks to a next-gen panel and 'Brightness Booster Max' tech – it hits glorious HDR peaks even in gaming or Filmmaker modes, where less processing is applied. And you still get the infinite black levels that OLED is famed for. As a result, this offers better HDR performance than almost any TV in the world, and LG's excellent processing really makes the most of it when watching movies or TV, even if they're upscaled from HD to 4K.
But that's only part of what gets it a place in this list. The other half is that it's crammed with gaming-friendly features, starting with having four HDMI 2.1 ports, all of which are ready for 4K 120Hz, VRR and ALLM. Couple that with LG's support for both Nvidia G-Sync and AMD Freesync Premium and you've got every gaming feature you could want catered for.
Crucially, input lag is minuscule too – you can play with under 10ms of lag if you want. LG's new Game Optimizer also gives you flexibility over exactly how you want things to work, so you can apply a bit more processing for better looks in games where responsiveness is less vital.
Dolby Vision HDR support means that you'll really make the most of Xbox games that support this option, and there's Dolby Atmos support for 3D audio in compatible games and movies.
There are some downsides. First and foremost: this TV doesn't come with a stand. It's an expensive, premium set, and is made for wallmounting (it comes with an impressive mount arm that holds it totally flush to the wall). You can buy a regular stand or a tall floorstand for it, but factor it into your budget.
And this new OLED panel may still be prone to burn in of interface elements if you leave them on-screen for really long periods unchanged. The new screen should be better for avoiding this, but the potential is still there. Not a problem for most gaming, but some truly hardcore players will need to be wary of it. Finally, though the OLED screen is brighter than before, LED screens can still go brighter, so if you like to play in a strongly living room during the day, you may find this is harder to see clearly than a bright LED model would be.
Read our full five-star LG G2 review if you want the detailed run-down of why this TV gets such a strong recommendation from us.
This one's a generation older, but it's still a cracker. The Sony X90J is the most competitive for delivering really special image quality for the lowest price, while still including HDMI 2.1 features. That's especially true at the huge 75-inch size – if you want to see the full quality of PS5 and Xbox Series X on a BIG screen, this is the way to do it.
The selling point here is really bright and punchy HDR performance, thanks to its full array backlight. Local dimming means it handles contrast well too, though isn't a patch on the OLED sets (or the Mini-LED Samsung QN95A) for dark area detail. But it's still absolutely at the top of the pile for similarly priced LED TVs. That said, it's more prone to reflections than a lot of sets here, which can interfere with making those bright images look as good as they could. Its image quality also degrades a bit when not viewed straight on – more so than other sets here – which isn't a problem for gaming, but if it'll also pull family movie viewing duty, it's a bit of a shame.
The other selling point is gaming performance of course, and you get 4K 120Hz support over two of its four HDMI ports, along with decent input lag times (though Samsung sets do it better). VRR is promised to come in an update, just like is still promised for the XH90. We presume it'll come whenever the PS5 gets it.
For other viewing duties, the processing on the X90J is just excellent – Sony's handling of motion and upscaling from lower resolutions to 4K remains class-leading – as our full Sony X90J review attests! It's often available for pretty much the same price as the Samsung Q80A, so here's our Sony X90J vs Sony Q80A feature comparison. We've also got a guide to how it compares to Sony's next model up, so check out our Sony X95J vs Sony X90J article for that.
A generation older and one step down in the range, the Samsung QN85A is the most affordable model with the next-gen Mini-LED panel, which provides stunning brightness and more precise local dimming than regular LED tech is capable of. Compared to the newer QN95B, there are fewer dimming zones here, so there's a bit more blooming from light areas to dark, but the overall effect for HDR is stuff just absolutely amazing.
You've got HDMI 2.1 support with 4K 120Hz, VRR and ALLM all on board, and it's easy to see and tweak your settings thanks to Samsung's useful Game Bar interface, which lets you customise which game-friendly features are turned on.
With extremely low input lag, this makes it a real winner for gaming overall, and it's a fantastic TV for regular viewing too, as our full Samsung QN85A review says. The only issues are that it doesn't come in a smaller size than 55 inches, and that it doesn't support Dolby Vision HDR, which is now starting to roll out in games on Xbox.
Offering universal HDR (HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision and HDR10+) support, along with all the connected apps you might want to watch when thumbs are aching, and most importantly, a blisteringly fast gaming performance, Panasonic’s HX800 LED LCD is one of the best-value TVs for gamers right now, as long as you don't mind giving up VRR and 4K at 120Hz support.
Panasonic has long made much of its cinematic credentials, enlisting the help of noted Hollywood colourist Stefan Sonnenfeld to fine tune colour performance, as well as perfecting its HCX image processor to replicate the performance of Hollywood Studios (as best it can on a budget). But it turns out this screen has some serious gaming chops as well.
We measured a sharp 10.2ms response time in its dedicated Game mode, which is a terrific performance for a large-screen TV. The good news is HDR games also look really good, although unsurprisingly the more expensive TVs outperform it.
That said, you could buy a 58-inch HX800 and the PS5 together for the price of the fancier TVs, and still have some change left over for a takeaway. Our full Panasonic HX800 review gives you all the details on why this set impresses us so much for its price.
A 4K TV with Dolby Vision support, wide colour gamut and well-stocked smart platform with Amazon Alexa support, for little more than chump change? Surely this Hisense looks too good to be true?
Well, the shocking news is that this budget buster could actually prove to be a bargain display for gamers too…
That’s because this set is more premium than the price tag indicates. It offers a trio of 4K HDMI inputs, and looks great with native 4K HDR sources, partly thanks to Dolby Vision support, ready for games on Xbox that use it.
The brightness isn't as strong as the other sets here, which is no surprise for the price – every other TV here offers a big upgrade for contrast control and rich HDR. But for the price, we've very few faults to find in this set.
But we don’t just want to watch TV – and this Hisense remains up to the gaming job, too. Low input lag means it's great for pretty any gaming type, but no next-gen features are supported. Again, that's no surprise given the price, and we don't mind – we just want to make sure you're aware. Check out our full Hisense A7500F review for more on this set.
What to look for in the best gaming TVs
Many of the best TVs overall, from budget sets to flagship OLED TVs, can be great for console gaming, but if you use the wrong picture preset while gaming on these TVs, things will start to feel off immediately. That's because the image processing that all TVs rely on makes a gigantic difference when it comes to 'input lag' – that’s the time between when you push a button on your controller and when you see the results on-screen.
What all the best gaming TVs have is an excellent Game mode. Simply put, a Game mode deactivates a lot of the picture processing used when you're watching movies or TV, because these features really slow down response time. By disabling them, you can gain valuable microseconds, which in turn plays to your advantage in fast-moving games. The difference doesn't sound like much, but it is – it makes games seem sluggish, and is really a problem in things that are fast-moving, or that require precision.
You've probably already worked out the price to pay when engaging low-latency Game mode: turning off some picture processing means image quality suffers. Potentially, things can look less sharp, there’s more obvious noise and banding, and contrast can also take a hit. So we're looking for TVs that still deliver great-looking pictures, balancing low latency still with a bit of processing.
A feature to help make sure that you're not suffering unnecessarily from lag is built into next-gen consoles. It's called Auto Low-Latency Mode (ALLM), and the idea is that it's a standardised signal the console can send that TVs can receive, and know they need to switch into a gaming-friendly mode that reduces latency. The crucial part is that it's all platform agnostic – as long as your console and TV both support it, it all happens seamlessly even if they're from different manufacturers.
One of the most exciting new features of the next consoles is that they can output video in 4K at up to 120 frames per second (4K 120Hz) – current-gen consoles offer 60 frames per second maximum. Higher frame rates mean two things: one is that you see the games responding to your inputs twice as fast (because a new frame is created in half the time); the other is that everything on-screen should look extra clear even in motion, because you're seeing its movement happen in smaller increments. Basically, for games that support this (which won't be all, by any means), you'll be able to react more quickly and accurately to action, and motion will look much smoother and more realistic. Here's our full 120Hz gaming explainer, if you want more details.
Related is another key next-gen feature: Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), which is designed to help keep games looking smooth in balance with visual quality. The idea here is to sync how quickly your console generates a new frame with how often your TV is expecting to show a new frame – if the two aren't in lock, you can end up with what's called 'screen tearing', where you see a half-finished frame, making everything look weird. It's a big deal – our VRR explainer will tell you exactly how it works, if you want to dig in further.
These three technologies (ALLM, 4K 120Hz, VRR) are all supported by HDMI 2.1, which is the new generation of the venerable connection. HDMI 2.1 uses the same connection type as previous HDMI ports, so everything is backwards compatible – but its big upgrades are supports these new technologies, as well as 8K. Our HDMI 2.1 explainer can tell you everything you need to know about the new standard. Sadly, you won't find HDMI 2.1 on on many of the best TVs under £1000, and none of the best TVs under £500, which is why our top picks here are fairly premium. However,
You might also have seen that Sony is advertising some of its TVs as 'Ready for PlayStation 5'. To qualify, TVs need to have a really low response time – under 7.2 milliseconds – and support 4K 120Hz over HDMI. Note that the TV doesn't need to support VRR to quality. Also, right now, the TVs need to be made by Sony – we don't know if Sony will allow others to get this branding, but we wouldn't bet on it, so don't be surprised not to see this advertised on other sets. It doesn't mean they're not still perfect for the new PS5 features, though.
- The best 32-inch TVs (opens in new tab) – perfect for bedrooms and offices
- The best 43-inch TVs (opens in new tab) – great entry-level 4K sets
- The best 48- to 50-inch TVs (opens in new tab) – beautiful mid-size 4K TV sets
- The best 55-inch TVs (opens in new tab) – premium TVs that still fit most living rooms
- The best 65-inch TVs (opens in new tab) – beautiful big-screen TVs
- The best 75-inch TVs (opens in new tab) – giant 4K and 8K TVs packed with features
