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Can you believe the history of video gaming goes back to 1958? Some readers might remember Pong or at least the first Super Mario games. Today, you have so many consoles and titles, but the leaders in the market are PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Whether it’s Grand Theft Auto, Halo, or other titles, the fun never stops with gaming consoles.
Apart from offering fantastic gameplay, next-gen gaming guarantees a fantastic visual experience. But if you want to utilize the consoles’ full potential, you need the best TV. This guide describes the top TVs you can use for both streaming services like Sling TV and playing games on PS5 and Xbox!
Our pick for the best TV for PS5 and Xbox: LG OLED C2 Series
LG uses the latest OLED technology, and its C2 series of TVs are available in six different sizes. From 52 inches for compact rooms to 83 inches for large areas, you’ll love the available selection in the LG OLED C2 Series. It has everything that a gaming TV should have, including 4K resolution support and a 120Hz refresh rate. You get a power cable, remote and batteries, and some bundles even include a subwoofer for premium sound quality.
Why LG OLED C2 Series – Top Features
LG Game Optimizer mode. Gaming fans will appreciate this mode, which offers VRR with FreeSync Premium and NVIDIA G-SYNC options. Thanks to that, it manages all game adjustments to deliver an optimal experience.
A9 Gens AI Processor 4K. LG designed it exclusively for this series. Its goal is to adjust the sound and picture quality of the content you are watching. So, it’ll change the settings for gaming and streaming live TV channels available on fuboTV and other platforms.
Ultimate home theater experience. The Filmmaker mode tempts you into the action and delivers the director’s idea 100%. It’s great when you decide to take a break from games and watch some movies on Hulu.
Best with a QLED display – Samsung Class Neo QLED 4K QN90B
Samsung makes top-quality TVs, and their QN90B model is among the best ones using QLED technology. It has multiple HDMI inputs, wi-fi, Bluetooth connectivity, and a 120Hz refresh rate. It supports 4K, but it’s the Quantum HDR 32x that’s the most impressive feature. It allows a huge color range for a realistic portrayal and perfect display of any game you play.
It’s worth noting that Samsung offers three months of Xbox Game Pass and a controller for this console. Gaming fans will appreciate the gift, especially if they use a Microsoft console. Some other noting features include anti-glare to support all viewing angles and a realistic 3D sound enabled by Dolby Atmos.
Best for Roku users – Roku TV
Roku TV is a smart TV that runs the native Roku OS. If you love this streaming media player and appreciate what it offers, this TV can be the upgrade you need. You can use it to access streaming services and watch most channels mentioned in our TV guide. It’s also suitable for gaming as it has an Automatic Game Console Configuration feature. Auto low latency, VRR, and FreeSync are all part of the package.
Depending on the model you select, the features and sizes vary. It’s vital that Roku partners with many famous TV manufacturers. You can get Roku TV models made by TCL, Sharp, Philips, and eight other brands.
What features do you want in a gaming TV?
The basics when assessing each TV include size, screen type and resolution, design, etc. But apart from these characteristics, there are specific features a gaming TV should have. These include the following:
Input lag. If you are a passionate gamer, you’ve surely experienced pressing the button to perform an action and waiting for the character to execute that action. That’s known as an input lag. You should keep it as minimal as possible, so you need a TV with maximum responsiveness. Another benefit could be using new consoles, such as PS5 and Xbox Series X. According to some sources, next-gen devices have decreased input latency compared to previous units.
Gaming mode on the TV. The idea is to reduce visual improvements used when watching movies on HBO Max or other content and minimize the input lag. Responsiveness is a priority in gaming, and that’s what you get in the Game mode. Please note some TVs display this as ALLM. It’s short for Auto Low Latency Mode, but it’s essentially what you need for gaming.
HDMI VRR. It sounds complicated, but this is a variable refresh rate. For starters, most new 4K TVs have a 60Hz refresh rate. That means they can display 60 images each second. But if the console isn’t ready to deliver it, that’s where VRR comes in. The feature allows the TV to wait for the console to send the new image instead of displaying a corrupted one.
What is the best TV size for gaming?
Your first consideration might be that you go for the largest TV possible. However, this depends on the placement. There’s no point in buying a huge 85-inch TV if you’ll be sitting close to it. That’ll make it hard to see what’s happening in the corners and won’t maximize the gaming experience.
So, the best TV size for playing PlayStation 5 and Xbox depends on the location. But if we are talking about standard room setups, displays that go from 43 to 55 inches are the best selection. They are big enough to portray 4K and show all the graphics at full power. But they aren’t too big, so you’ll see the entire screen when sitting several feet away.
If you are on a budget, you can go for a 32-inch screen. The odds are it won’t support 4K, but only 1080p. While it doesn’t get the most out of graphics, you can still enjoy gaming consoles.
What screen type is best for Xbox Series X and PS5?
The fact you have so many screen types available might be confusing. Here is a quick overview of four major options available on the market:
LCD. Liquid crystal display was a huge innovation when it appeared. The technology goes back to the 1980s, but it was in 1998 when LCD TVs producing HD pictures became available. Today, you won’t find that many models available.
LED. These TVs use the “light-emitting diode” technology. Sony was the pioneer in this industry, and these TVs featured a noticeably better color standard and contrast.
OLED. It only took a few years for LED TVs to implement the organic light-emitting diode technology. These devices are the most popular today, and market leaders are Sony and Samsung. The specific of OLD TVs is that there’s no black light, so you get the sharpest possible display from all angles. It’s why they are the most expensive in the market.
QLED. It’s another popular option and one more affordable than OLED. The abbreviation stands for quantum dot light-emitting diode. TCL and Samsung make QLED screens, which are more affordable than OLED displays. QLED doesn’t provide the same image sharpness during dark scenes as OLED, but it’s better when working with brighter shades.
Ultimately, QLED and OLED are the best choices for gaming, including consoles like PlayStation 5 and Xbox. These platforms are the top industry standard, and they work with high resolutions.
Is a 4K TV necessary for Xbox Series X and PS5?
No, it’s not mandatory to have a 4K TV for gaming purposes. You can enjoy all the latest games in smaller resolutions. But if you have a next-gen console, such as Xbox Series X and PS5, we’d strongly recommend going for a 4K TV and a large screen.
PlayStation and Xbox games will work on most TVs. Even if you use the 1080p resolution, most titles will look fantastic. The graphics would be amazing because the developers did a great job. But if you want to get the most out of the visual experience, you should get a 4K TV.
4K resolution has become the industry gaming standard. If you acquire new consoles or intend to play new titles, you’ll get the best possible frame rate and image quality. That includes HDR technology for fantastic color contrasts. If you care about visual performance, 4K is the way to get the most from it.
Do 4K TVs support 120Hz?
120Hz actually means the refresh rate is 120 times per second. It’s the newest capability applied in the TV industry. You’ll find it in HDMI2.1 ports, but most 4K TVs don’t have this capability. At this point, the majority operates at 60Hz.
As time passes, we are certain that the manufacturers will adopt 120Hz more. At this point, you only have a limited selection of 4K TVs with a 120Hz refresh rate. This parameter is important for professional gamers. But if you play for fun, the odds are you won’t notice much difference. 60Hz will more than do the trick for an optimal gaming experience.
Our takeaway – top consoles require a top TV
If you are investing in next-gen consoles like PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, you need a top-quality TV. It’s the only way to use the maximum from the gaming consoles. You want to go with QLED or OLED displays, and don’t forget the special gaming-related features.
And you can’t go wrong with picking a TV from a reputable brand. It’ll ensure you can use it for gaming but also for watching shows and movies on your favorite services like Disney+. Ultimately, it also depends on your preference and budget. Assess the features and find a unit that meets your expectations – that’ll ensure you get a TV that will serve you for years!
Aneeca Younas
Aneeca Younas is a graduated journalist with years of experience writing in different niches based in Oakland, CA. She is a huge movie fan that also enjoys watching sports. That's why she spends hours daily using various streaming services. Over the years, Aneeca profiled herself as an expert in cable-free and VOD platforms.