Size

Selecting the ideal gaming TV size is influenced by personal preferences and various factors. Despite the common notion that bigger is always better, this isn't entirely accurate for gaming. Here are some factors to consider when determining the right size for your gaming TV.

Take into account the distance between yourself and the TV. If your space is limited or you'll be positioned within half a meter to a meter from the screen, opting for a smaller (32 — 34 inches) or medium-sized panel (up to 44 inches) is advisable. Being very close to a 55-inch screen can lead to discomfort, as it's challenging for your eyes to cover the entire display. This can cause eye strain and hinder your gameplay, making it harder to locate important in-game elements like maps or remaining ammo.

Medium-sized screens, ranging from 40 to 55 inches, are widely favored by console users. They strike a balance between ample size and comfortable viewing, ensuring an enjoyable gaming experience without causing excessive eye fatigue. This size range is optimal for various game genres, including action RPGs like The Witcher 3, fighting games like Mortal Kombat, sports titles like FIFA, and racing games like Forza Horizon.

Sized at 55 inches or beyond, large screens provide an immersive gaming venture. They excel for visually striking, intricately detailed games like Microsoft Flight Simulator. Furthermore, they greatly enhance the experience of typical third-person action games; titles like Horizon Zero Dawn or Red Dead Redemption 2 with activated HDR can momentarily transport you away from gameplay as you watch sunsets or sunrises from atop a mountain.

Popular game consoles

Resolution

There are already 8K TVs on the market, but 4K panels remain the most common option.

Despite some challenges, 4K resolution is steadily gaining dominance in the gaming market and has essentially become the favored choice for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S consoles. This raises the question of whether it's worth the hassle of seeking an affordable Full HD screen or splurging on an 8K one. Our perspective is that both options are unfavorable. Budget-friendly Full HD TVs, often categorized as kitchen choices, tend to offer subpar picture quality, typically have a 60 Hz frame rate, and lack significant FreeSync support.

Regarding 8K, it's a clear case of excessive overkill. While there has been a rise in games that accommodate this resolution, the hardware is not fully prepared for such demands. In fact, some recent console blockbusters, even when played in 4K, have to cap the frame rate at 30 frames per second or decrease post-processing quality. Nonetheless, if you have extra money, there's no harm in considering it.

Matrix types (OLED, QLED, NanoCell, etc.)

In the realm of gaming screen selection, the spotlight falls on three main choices: OLED, QLED, and NanoCell. Each option presents its own set of strengths and weaknesses.

OLED TVs deliver exceptional image clarity, impressive contrast, and deep blacks. The individual pixels on OLED TVs can be completely deactivated, resulting in impeccable black levels. Additionally, they boast rapid response times crucial for gaming to prevent motion blur. Yet, there's a potential concern of "burn-in," where static images can leave lasting marks on the screen. Although contemporary OLED TVs are more resilient to this issue, it's advised to minimize prolonged display of static game interface elements.

OLED TVs

QLED TVs employ quantum dots to elevate brightness and color representation, resulting in vivid and detailed visuals. These TVs avoid the "burn-in" concern and excel in high dynamic range (HDR) gaming. Nevertheless, when compared to OLED, their contrast and black levels are comparatively less extensive.

QLED TVs

NanoCell TVs use nanoparticles to enhance color reproduction and broaden viewing angles. These TVs offer vibrant and precise colors with fine details. NanoCell TVs exhibit swift response times and commendable gaming performance. Yet, they typically present lower contrast and black levels compared to OLED and QLED alternatives.

Nevertheless, it's inaccurate to claim that TVs with conventional panels are unsuitable for gaming purposes. These TVs can be enhanced with features to elevate brightness and contrast, thereby somewhat approaching the quality of OLED, QLED, and NanoCell options.

NanoCell TVs

HDR and Dolby Vision

HDR and Dolby Vision improve picture quality without putting extra strain on the graphics card.

Currently, games are increasingly adopting HDR formats, including the enhanced version HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. These formats enhance graphics quality by offering deeper colors, brighter highlights, and heightened contrasts. The substantial increase in brightness provided by HDR and Dolby Vision contributes to a more realistic experience.

HDR is gaining popularity in gaming, supported by PCs and next-gen consoles like PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. Most new games now provide the choice to activate HDR in settings. Dolby Vision, an advanced HDR format, enhances picture quality further by dynamically adjusting each frame. While some gaming platforms and developers also support Dolby Vision, its utilization is less frequent compared to standard HDR.

In essence, both formats offer a commendable means of enhancing in-game visuals without imposing a substantial burden on the graphics card. Consequently, when deciding between a TV with or without HDR, we strongly recommend opting for the former. The renowned boat scene from Uncharted 4, for instance, left a lasting impression when Dolby Vision was enabled.

You can read more about these formats in our material.

HDR10+ TVs

Refresh rate

The screen refresh rate, measured in hertz, indicates how frequently the screen can update an image each second. In simpler terms, a higher hertz value results in crisper and more fluid motion of game elements. During active gaming moments, an elevated refresh rate contributes to smoother visuals, enabling players to spot in-game adversaries slightly sooner and accurately hit their targets.

While 60Hz was once the standard for most TVs, the surge in high-Hz monitors has led gaming-focused TV panels to adopt 120Hz as the new norm. This is the preferred choice for gaming, as many indie games and shooters like Fortnite and Titanfall 2 benefit from a 120Hz display. However, it's worth noting that not all games on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X support 120Hz frame rates. Titles such as Horizon, God of War, and Red Dead Redemption 2, which are typically adventure games, remain capped at 30 or 60 fps in 4K resolution, making their appearance unchanged at both 60 and 120Hz.

120Hz TVs

Input lag and ALLM

The inclusion of low latency and ALLM support significantly enhances the gaming experience's fluidity and responsiveness.

Input lag on a TV refers to the delay between pressing a button and seeing the action on screen. A shorter delay results in quicker and smoother in-game movement. Generally, most recent gaming TVs boast an input lag of around 20 — 50 ms, suitable for various modern game genres like fighting, action-adventure, racing, and RPGs. However, for shooters like COD, Battlefield, and CS:GO, models with a response time under 5 ms are preferable.

The concern of input lag is gradually diminishing thanks to the widespread adoption of ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) technology. ALLM is a dedicated game mode that helps reduce signal transmission delay from gaming devices to the TV. This feature is supported on the latest Xbox consoles and was made accessible to PlayStation 5 users through a firmware update (version 22.01-05.50.00) released in the summer of 2022.

TVs with ALLM

FreeSync/G-Sync/VRR and adaptive frame sync

In the realm of gaming monitors, support for FreeSync or G-Sync has become essential. These two rival adaptive sync technologies mitigate visual imperfections like frame tears and stuttering, resulting from disparities between the monitor's refresh rate and the actual FPS in games. These technologies exclusively collaborate with Radeon and NVIDIA graphics cards, making them valuable if you intend to connect the TV to a gaming PC equipped with a compatible graphics adapter. Many TVs offer a counterpart to FreeSync, known as VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), typically requiring the latest HDMI 2.1 interface for implementation. This is particularly advantageous for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X console owners.

HDMI 2.1

The HDMI 2.1 standard encompasses various technologies primarily tailored for gaming and video streaming services. These technologies collectively aim to minimize latency and enhance dynamic visuals. Notably, VRR, Quick Frame Transport, and Quick Media Switching are inherent to the 2.1 protocol, addressing delay, disruptions, and frame interruptions. Additionally, the inclusion of Automatic Low Latency Mode (ALLM) enables seamless automatic switching to low latency mode when engaging in gaming on your console or PC.

Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC) dramatically increases audio throughput and speed while providing compatibility with Dolby Atmos and DTS spatial audio.

Embracing high dynamic range formats like HDR and Dolby Vision expands the spectrum of colors, brightness, and contrast in image presentation. HDR enriches visual content with heightened color depth, lending greater realism and allure to in-game environments.

However, the market is saturated with TVs using the 1.4 interface. While generally sufficient for displaying high-quality content, these TVs often necessitate compromises, such as forgoing HDR, Dolby Vision, high refresh rates, or VRR. Many of these technologies are compatible with earlier HDMI versions, but they cannot be simultaneously activated.

Conclusion

A high-quality TV allows you to achieve a deeper immersion in the gaming world.

Creating an ideal profile for a gaming TV based on this description would result in a 44-55-inch 4K OLED screen boasting a 120 Hz refresh rate, HDMI 2.1 compatibility, minimal input lag (5 — 10 ms), and ample brightness for HDR content display. Such an option seamlessly harmonizes with both gaming PCs and current/previous generation consoles. Those looking for more budget-friendly choices might explore conventional non-OLED panels with HDMI 2.0, 120 Hz refresh rate, and an input lag under 20 ms. While gameplay is possible on any TV, even an older CRT model, adhering to contemporary standards fosters a more immersive experience.