The best gaming TVs in 2023 give you a super-fast response rate, with all the enhanced features and super-crisp picture and audio quality to truly level-up your gaming experience.
4K is standard in gaming TVs these days, but you can also get your hands on 8K definition too, if you want to go that step further.
We've picked out the best of the best, and detailed all the specs, including response time and what outlets are available with each model.
From Samsung to Sony and LG, we've included some of the big names plus some other brands that are making their way to the top of the market.
Whatever your needs and budget, there's something to suit everyone, and if you can't find what you're looking for here, we also have in-depth guides to the best best TVs overall, or the best OLED TVs - so you're sure to find something that's right for you.
The best gaming TVs: ranked
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The Samsung QN95B is the company's 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.
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.
The Samsung QN90A is the company's flagship 4K TV for 2021 and boy does it show. It uses the brand new 'Neo QLED' Mini-LED panel for its backlight, which means extremely bright HDR performance, but small lights mean more fine control of local dimming, so when areas need to go dark, then 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 CX is still probably the better choice for most people, balancing cost, performance and price.
However, for those who demand the 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 9.3ms 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, or Dolby Atmos sound decoding. You won't really mind about the former, because its HDR performance is so good anyway. The latter has yet to make a big impact on gaming, though the set can pass Atmos audio out to a compatible soundbar, so it's not a dealbreaker. Nothing about this TV is – even that high price.
LG's cheapest OLED TV of 2020 will be a smash hit with gaming fans, and rightly so. It offers excellent image quality thanks to its OLED screen, and all of the technical features and gaming prowess of the LG C9, but for hundreds less.
When it comes to VRR support, ALLM and 4K at 120Hz from every HDMI port, the LG BX is exactly as well equipped as the LG CX (above). That goes for its great smart TV platform, and support for Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, meaning it's ready for the more advanced HDR that Xbox games can offer it.
The reason it's cheaper than the LG CX is that the image quality isn't quite as strong. It's a little less bright, for a start – no problem if you place it somewhere where you control the light well, but it just means it'll be a little harder to see and more washed out in bright sunlight, say. It also means its HDR performance isn't quite as dazzling.
The image processing is slightly less clever too, but is still really strong overall – we're talking a step down from LG's most advanced, flagship processing to its second-best, rather than a sudden drop to budget TV quality.
With a latency looking to be comfortably under 20ms (we're still working on our testing), this is the complete package for gaming.
The difference between the LG CX and LG BX is the kind of thing that image quality nerds pick up, but for most people won't matter at all. So given how strong the images from this TV are overall, and what a great price it is for a 55-inch or 65-inch OLED TV, it'll be a huge hit with PS5 and Xbox buyers, and rightly so.
There is one thing to note, which is that as an OLED, it's technically susceptible to burn-in. But LG's dimming tech is again employed to reduce it, and it shouldn't be a problem for normal users.
Read our full LG BX review
Samsung's 2020 Q80T TV has basically every bit of software technology the brand currently offers, but with a QLED panel that's not quite as high-end as in the company's top-tier 4K screen (the Samsung Q95T), or its flagship 8K TV (the Samsung Q950TS). And that's all good with us – it makes it a fantastic balance for gaming.
You've got support for loads of features that the PS5 and Xbox Series X will work with, including Auto Low-Latency Mode (ALLM), Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and 120Hz playback. These make it future-proofed for the next console generation.
But one of the real keys to its success is its astoundingly low levels of lag – when fully optimized, it responds in just 8.7ms, which is incredible for a TV. Even with just the TVs auto Game mode on (which is what most people will use), lag is still a respectable 19.7ms, and that still packs in lots of image improvements, so it's ideal for anything where instant response is less important. For Assassin's Creed Valhalla and its big sweeping landscapes, it's going to look just amazing.
That's partly thanks to this being a QLED, with all of QLED's standard strengths: it's intensely colorful, and it's bright in ways that produce dazzling HDR, with localized dimming of the backlight helping to enrich dark scenes. It doesn't have as many dimming zones as the Q90R (and isn't as bright), so when you have bright and dark next to each other there can be some blooming. And it means it's not as good for nuance in darker games as an OLED set would be.
It comes in a wide range of sizes, from 55 inches right up to a giant 85-inch gaming super-screen. There is also a more bedroom/office-friendly 49-inch model, but it doesn't include 120Hz or VRR, so while it's a great TV, it's not as strong for gaming.
It doesn't support Dolby Vision HDR, however, which is disappointing when the Xbox Series X has now been confirmed as the first console to support Dolby Vision for more dynamic HDR that can be tuned for different scenes.
Read our full Samsung Q80T review
Most of the TVs here cover the really important new console features – 120Hz support and Variable Refresh Rate, in particular – but there's one feature we haven't discussed as much: 8K support. That's because neither console maker has said what their 8K support will be yet, only that there will be some.
If you want a TV that future-proofs you for this (on top of 120Hz, VRR and ALLM) then, the Samsung Q800T is the TV to pick. It starts from the not-unrealistic size of 65 inches, at a not unrealistic price – though it's definitely at the 'premium' end of the market.
Before we even get to the resolution, it's a beautiful-looking TV. It's one of Samsung's brightest panels, and that makes it real bright – for HDR that really dazzles, it's very hard to beat Samsung's high-end QLED sets. The brightness comes from a direct backlight, and this also has a lot of local dimming zones, which really helps it with black levels too – it's not quite as assured as OLED, but it's closer than almost any other LCD set. If you want a TV that really shows off a game's dramatic HDR vistas, this is among the best.
The 7680x4320 display is just astoundingly detailed, and for movies and TV, Samsung's Quantum AI processor does an amazing just of upscaling beyond 4K – things really look more detailed than any 4K TV can manage, even if it's not native 8K content (which it won't be, because there isn't any).
However, the 8K processing doesn't apply to games (it would add too much lag), so you're still looking at 4K when playing, really. Very good-looking 4K, but still. The 8K side of things is a promise that there might be something amazing to come from Sony and Microsoft in the future, so it's up to you whether you want to get ahead of that. This TV won't disappoint, either way.
For more information, read our full Samsung Q800T review. Or, discover more great 8K models in our Best 8K TVs.
After you've spent $500 for a next-gen console, you might not have much cash left to spend on a bigger TV that can take advantage of all the features the PS5 or Xbox Series X will bring. That’s what makes the TCL 6-Series so appealing: For around $900 for the 65-inch model, you get tech that you usually find only in sets that cost twice as much.
The 6-Series is the first to receive THX Certified Game Mode, which means it delivers fast responsiveness and excellent overall color along with ALLM and VRR – those key ingredients to getting the most of a PS5 or Xbox Series X. While it doesn’t have the lowest lag time on this list, its respectable 21.5ms should be quick enough for most players.
It’s also just a great TV for watching shows and movies. This QLED screen uses mini-LED backlighting to create great contrast, and it has high color accuracy. It’s a really vibrant screen overall. It runs Roku as its smart OS, so you’ll have access to most of the apps you want and it’s super easy to use. Probably the worst thing about it is the sound, so you’ll probably want to get yourself one of the best soundbars to make the audio live up to the picture (though maybe you'll just be using a headset anyway)
What type of TV is best for gaming?
Let's start with the simple and obvious thing: we want our TVs to look great on current consoles as well as performing well with regular HD and 4K HDR sources.
We want TVs that really make the most of the color and lighting in HDR games – what's the point of incredible vistas and artsy locales if you don't get the full effect?
But we're also looking to balance that image quality, which often takes a lot of processing to achieve, with response times. The more work a TV does to spruce up an image, the longer it takes – the console sends the frame over to the TV, but there's a delay while the processing happens – this is known as 'lag' or 'latency'.
The problem is that you can only respond to things happening in the game when you see them on-screen, and if the TV is adding lag, you're responding slightly late. This isn't much of an issue in some games, but in fast-paced action games, it means you're literally responding slowly.
Most TVs have a 'Game' mode that cuts back on processing to minimize lag, so we measure the lag using devices such as the industry-standard Leo Bodnar video input lag sensor, which measures latency at a median 1080p/60 signal. This calculates the delay between a video signal passing from input to display. The lower the latency figure, the better. As a rule of thumb, 30ms or less can be considered a solid performance for consumer TVs, but our sets do much better than that.
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 standardized 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 – 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 appears in half the time); the other is that everything on-screen looks 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.
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 off.
In order to keep things in sync, games have usually locked their output to 30 or 60 frames per second, because this will reliably stay in sync with a TV. But this causes restrictions on how much graphical wizardry can be put into the game, because these frame rates are inflexible. With VRR, the console and TV can stay in sync even if the frame rate needs to (for example) dip a little below 60fps so that an especially graphically impressive scene can happen. Everything will still look smooth and correct, but games can have more flexibility.
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 video at 120fps over HDMI. Note that the TV doesn't need to support VRR to qualify, but based on what we're seeing in early PS5 games, VRR is definitely preferable to have. 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.
- The best 32-inch TVs – perfect for bedrooms and offices
- The best 43-inch TVs – great entry-level 4K sets
- The best 48- to 50-inch TVs – beautiful mid-size 4K TV sets
- The best 55-inch TVs – premium TVs that still fit most living rooms
- The best 65-inch TVs – beautiful big-screen TVs
- The best 75-inch TVs – giant 4K and 8K TVs packed with features
