Searching for the best gaming televisions will give you a ton of results, but it's easier to narrow down your options once you know what features to look for. Manufacturers have been trying to improve their TV gaming performance to compete with monitors in recent years. When evaluating how good a TV is for gaming, there are certain criteria to consider.
A TV's refresh rate is one of the most important factors since it's inherently tied to frame rate; if you want to game in 120 fps, you need a TV that supports a 120Hz refresh rate. A high refresh rate also goes hand-in-hand with VRR, as VRR lets the TV dynamically adjust its refresh rate to match the game's frame rate, minimizing, if not eliminating, any screen tearing that can result from the game's frame rate not matching the TV's refresh rate. Input lag is the time it takes for your controller inputs to register on screen, so it's one of the most important aspects for competitive gamers. Input lag is often confused with response time, but they're different. Response time is the time it takes for a pixel to change from one color to the next. TVs with a slow response time leave blurry trails behind fast motion, while TVs with fast response times deliver clear motion. OLEDs are the uncontested best TVs regarding response time, as their pixel transitions are nearly instantaneous.
The overall picture quality is also very important for playing games. You want a TV that's bright enough to play games in a room with the lights on and not be distracted by reflections on your screen. Since many games are available in HDR, you also want a TV that displays a wide range of colors and has the contrast needed to provide deep enough blacks that highlights stand out against dark backgrounds. Through our rigorous testing procedure, we can determine if a TV's picture quality dips while using Game Mode and which TVs simultaneously provide excellent performance and image quality.
Below are our recommendations for the best overall gaming TVs you can buy. Also, check our picks for the best 120Hz TVs, the best PS5 TVs, and the best TVs for Xbox Series X, or you can vote on which ones you want us to buy and test. To learn about the upcoming 2025 models, check out our 2025 TV lineup page.
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Best Gaming TV
Video Games9.4Type OLEDSub-TypeQD-OLEDResolution 4kSizes 42" (WOLED) 48" (WOLED) 55" (QD-OLED) 65" (QD-OLED) 77" (QD-OLED) 83" (WOLED)The Samsung S90D/S90DD OLED is not only the best OLED TV for gaming, it's the best gaming TV overall. It's a feature-packed TV that delivers an incredible gaming experience. Its low input lag and nearly instantaneous response time result in crystal-clear, fluid motion with no distracting blur or ghosting behind fast-moving objects. The TV delivers impressive picture quality thanks to its QD-OLED panel. It delivers incredibly deep blacks and very vibrant colors, making this an impressive TV for gaming in a dark room. HDR gaming on the S90D is amazing, but it doesn't support Dolby Vision for those with an Xbox Series X.
The S90D also looks good in rooms with some lights on, as its high peak brightness allows it to overcome glare. Its viewing angle is incredibly wide, so it's a great choice for playing couch co-op or party games with friends sitting around the TV. All four HDMI inputs support 4k @ 144Hz, so you can take advantage of a PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and a recent PC GPU without compromising motion performance. It also has incredibly low input lag, so you get a responsive experience that's great for competitive PVP games. Just make sure you get one with a QD-OLED panel.
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Best Bright Room Gaming TV
Video Games9.1If you regularly game in a bright room or want a TV that will impress your friends during a well-lit party, the best 4k TV for gaming in a bright room that we've tested is the Sony BRAVIA 9 QLED. It's incredibly bright, so this TV easily overcomes glare, and it can display exceptionally bright highlights in HDR games. Speaking of HDR, it supports Dolby Vision gaming at up to 120Hz, which is great for those with an Xbox Series X|S. You don't get the same inky blacks you get from an OLED like the Samsung S90D/S90DD OLED, but it still displays impressively deep blacks. Unlike the S90D, the TV's viewing angle is pretty narrow, so the image doesn't hold up as well when viewed from the sides of the screen.
The Sony has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth on two of its ports, but one of those ports is also the eARC port, so you're limited if you have both current-gen consoles and a soundbar. It supports up to 4k @ 120Hz and VRR for a nearly tear-free gaming experience, meaning it's fully compatible with modern consoles. Its response time isn't nearly as fast as an OLED, but it's still quick enough for mostly clear motion. The TV's input lag is higher than competing models from other brands, but it's still low enough for a responsive feel.
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Best Upper Mid-Range Gaming TV
Video Games9.4If you want an OLED that is not only great at gaming but can also be an excellent home theater TV, consider the upper mid-range LG C4 OLED. The main difference between this TV and the Samsung S90D/S90DD OLED is the specific type of OLED panel used. Both TVs deliver an incredible dark room experience with inky blacks. However, the QD-OLED panel on some sizes of the S90D allows for brighter and more vibrant colors. The C4 partly makes up for it by being more versatile, as it has better image processing, supports Dolby Vision, and can passthrough DTS audio formats. Like the S90D, it's also bright enough for a pleasant gaming experience in a room with some lights on.
It delivers incredible gaming performance with a nearly instantaneous response time, resulting in crystal-clear motion with no distracting blur behind fast-moving objects. It's also packed with gaming features, including full HDMI 2.1 bandwidth support on all four inputs for up to 4k @ 144Hz gaming with VRR, which means you can simultaneously take full advantage of the Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and a powerful PC.
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Best Mid-Range Gaming TV
Video Games9.4The LG B4 OLED is the best 4k TV for gaming in the mid-range category that we've tested. It's truly an awesome TV, with only a few drawbacks compared to the more expensive LG C4 OLED. It has most of the same features as the C4, although the B4 doesn't support 144Hz and is dimmer in HDR overall. However, while using the Game Optimizer picture mode, the TV isn't any noticeably dimmer than the C4 is in that mode, which is great. Like the C4, it delivers outstanding picture quality, with its near-infinite contrast ratio delivering inky blacks at the same time as bright highlights, making it look outstanding in a dark room. It even gets bright enough to fight some glare in a room with the lights on.
Its four HDMI 2.1 bandwidth ports offer up to 4k @ 120Hz gaming with VRR. It also has a nearly instantaneous response time, and has extremely low input lag. Overall, this TV is a great entry point into the OLED market. If you pretty much only use the TV for gaming on consoles, you don't really miss out on much by choosing it over the more expensive C4, and it still looks excellent if you also use it to watch content.
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Best Lower Mid-Range Gaming TV
Video Games8.7If you'd like the Sony BRAVIA 9 QLED or LG B4 OLED but are tight on money, you can step down to the best lower mid-range gaming TV we've tested, the Hisense U7N. Despite its price, the TV is packed with gaming features. It has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth on two of its ports, both capable of up to 4k @ 144Hz. It also has VRR support and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), so you're fully covered if you own either an Xbox Series X|S or a PS5. Motion in fast-paced games has minimal blur behind it thanks to its excellent response time, and its low input lag delivers a responsive gaming experience.
The TV isn't as bright as the Sony BRAVIA 9 QLED, but it's still very bright, and it has amazing reflection handling, so it overcomes glare in a well-lit room. If you also game in a dark room, the TV's excellent contrast delivers deep blacks, although there's noticeable blooming. Still, highlights in HDR games really stand out, and colors are vibrant due to the TV's wide color gamut, delivering an impactful HDR experience. It also supports Dolby Vision gaming for those with an Xbox Series X|S. Unfortunately, its viewing angle is very narrow, so it's not the best choice to play party games with a big group.
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Best Budget Gaming TV
Video Games8.2The best budget gaming TV we've tested is the Hisense U6/U6N. Unlike the picks above, it doesn't have HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and 4k @ 120Hz support. It still has some basic gaming features like Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), and its excellent response means there's only some minor blur behind fast motion. Its input lag is also low enough for a responsive feel when gaming. What separates this TV from most other budget models is the option to game in up to 1440p @ 120Hz if you prefer a higher frame rate over resolution. The TV also supports VRR, but its range maxes out at 60Hz, so you can't game at 120 fps with VRR.
Despite its price, the Hisense still provides good picture quality. It has an effective local dimming feature that gives the TV excellent contrast, so you get deep blacks in a dark room. It's not as bright as the Hisense U7N, but it's still bright enough to use in a well-lit room when gaming in SDR. The TV's HDR brightness isn't quite as good, though, so highlights don't stand out like they should in HDR games. However, it does have a wide color gamut for vibrant colors. Additionally, the TV supports Dolby Vision, so you can game in that HDR format on your Xbox Series X|S.
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Best Cheap Gaming TV
Video Games7.6If you need something even more affordable, the Hisense A7N is the best gaming television that's viable for small budgets. It's a decent TV that's a step down from the Hisense U6/U6N, as it can't do 120Hz like that TV can. Its contrast is okay, especially for a TV at this price point, so it looks adequate in a dark room, even without local dimming. That's a good thing since the TV doesn't get bright enough in HDR for rooms with lots of lights, even with its very good reflection handling. It's bright enough for moderately lit rooms, though, especially when playing SDR titles since its SDR brightness is decent. It also displays a wide range of colors that are sure to please.
Its spectacular input lag, great response time, and VRR support make it a good TV for gamers who don't need advanced features like 4k @ 120Hz. This TV is a great option for a casual gamer on a budget. If you'd rather sacrifice some image quality to game in up to 1440p @ 120Hz, you could opt for the TCL S5/S551G over the Hisense.
![Hisense U7N [U7, U75N] Design Picture](https://i.rtings.com/assets/products/VNHIW7eU/hisense-u7n-u7-u75n/design-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Hisense U7N [U7, U75N] In-Test Picture](https://i.rtings.com/assets/products/pdg00oXz/hisense-u7n-u7-u75n/in-test-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Hisense U7N [U7, U75N] PQ EOTF Graph](https://i.rtings.com/assets/products/76HdaUQX/hisense-u7n-u7-u75n/pqeotf-graph-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Hisense U7N [U7, U75N] Pixels Picture](https://i.rtings.com/assets/products/q2xzaXop/hisense-u7n-u7-u75n/pixels-small.jpg?format=auto){kind=tracking}
![Hisense U7N [U7, U75N] Pre Color Picture](https://i.rtings.com/assets/products/JZcTrv01/hisense-u7n-u7-u75n/pre-colorspace-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Hisense A7N [A7, A75N] Design Picture](https://i.rtings.com/assets/products/j0TFYuw6/hisense-a7n-a7-a75n/design-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Hisense A7N [A7, A75N] In-Test Picture](https://i.rtings.com/assets/products/c0cUksGO/hisense-a7n-a7-a75n/in-test-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Hisense A7N [A7, A75N] PQ EOTF Graph](https://i.rtings.com/assets/products/k0Qprpu7/hisense-a7n-a7-a75n/pqeotf-graph-small.jpg?format=auto)
![Hisense A7N [A7, A75N] Pixels Picture](https://i.rtings.com/assets/products/EbDg4PIE/hisense-a7n-a7-a75n/pixels-small.jpg?format=auto){kind=tracking}
![Hisense A7N [A7, A75N] Pre Color Picture](https://i.rtings.com/assets/products/KSSNboQk/hisense-a7n-a7-a75n/pre-colorspace-small.jpg?format=auto)
Notable Mentions
- LG G4 OLED:
The LG G4 OLED is one of the best TVs on the market and has very impressive brightness capabilities for an OLED model. However, it's very expensive, so unless you really want that extra brightness, most people are better off saving some money and going with the LG C4 OLED.
See our review - Sony A95L OLED:
The Sony A95L OLED is comparable to the Samsung S90D/S90DD OLED because it's a QD-OLED TV. However, it has higher input lag, so gaming feels less responsive, and this model is also a lot more expensive than the Samsung TV.
See our review - Hisense U8/U8N:
The Hisense U8/U8N is a cheaper alternative to the Sony BRAVIA 9 QLED. It has similar overall brightness as the Sony with slightly better reflection handling. It even has a wider color gamut and lower input lag. Still, the Sony is the better TV overall due to its wider viewing angle, more functional VRR feature, better accuracy, and better contrast.
See our review - TCL QM7/QM751G QLED:
The TCL QM7/QM751G QLED is a very similar alternative to the Hisense U7N. The TCL gets slightly brighter in HDR and can display colors more brightly, but the Hisense has better contrast, is more accurate, and has much better reflection handling, so it's the better option for most people.
See our review - TCL Q6/Q651G QLED:
The TCL Q6/Q651G QLED is a decent TV from TCL and directly competes with the Hisense U6/U6N. The Hisense is better overall and displays much deeper blacks due to its effective local dimming feature. Still, the TCL is an interesting option for gamers because it outputs up to 1440p @ 120Hz with a wide VRR range.
See our review
Recent Updates
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Added a link to our 2025 TV Lineup page and updated some text throughout the article for accuracy.
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Ensured the availability and accuracy of our current picks.
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Oct 10, 2024: Replaced the Samsung S90C OLED, the LG C3 OLED, and the LG B3 OLED with their 2024 successors. We also updated the Notable Mentions section.
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Aug 16, 2024: Replaced the TCL Q5/Q550G QLED with the Hisense U6/U6N in the 'Best Budget Gaming TV' category. We also refreshed some text throughout the article to make it clearer and more concise.
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Jun 21, 2024: We replaced the Sony X93L/X93CL with the Sony BRAVIA 9 QLED in the 'Best Bright Room Gaming TV' category and replaced the Hisense U7K with the Hisense U7N in the 'Best Lower Mid-Range Gaming TV' category. We also added the Hisense U8/U8N as a Notable Mention and refreshed the text in that section.
All Reviews
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best TVs for playing games currently available. They are adapted to be valid for most people in each price range. Rating is based on our review, factoring in price and feedback from our visitors.
If you would prefer to make your own decision, here is the list of all of our TV reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. Most TVs are good enough to please most people, and the things we fault TVs on are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.
Suggested Reads
Recommended Articles
Comments
Best Gaming TVs: Main Discussion
What do you think of our picks? Let us know below.
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- 21010
thank you!
However, I’m confused because I thought the 2022 in the RTINGS review said it had flicker even though the flicker graph was flat while the 2021 review indicated no flicker but then it’s flicker graph had bumps in it. Wondering if both reviews were off to start, and were both years reviews updated or just the one? Also do you know if there are any iPhones and also any iPads that would work for me at certain brightness settings, that is without flicker? I want one of each. And do you do any consulting away from RTINGS. If I were to buy a MacBook Air (or iPhone/iPad) could we have it shipped to you and have you test it for flicker (within the return window) and maybe configure it, of course for a fee?Hi,
I think there’s a bit of confusion regarding the actual model. There’s no 2021 MacBook Air. The M1 came out in 2020, while the M2 came out in 2022, and the M3 came out in 2024. Are you referring to the MacBook PRO from 2021?
As for iPhones and iPads, most recent models flicker as far as I’m aware. Unfortunately, we don’t do any consulting work to test specific products.
- 21010
thank you!
However, I’m confused because I thought the 2022 in the RTINGS review said it had flicker even though the flicker graph was flat while the 2021 review indicated no flicker but then it’s flicker graph had bumps in it. Wondering if both reviews were off to start, and were both years reviews updated or just the one?
Also do you know if there are any iPhones and also any iPads that would work for me at certain brightness settings, that is without flicker? I want one of each.
And do you do any consulting away from RTINGS. If I were to buy a MacBook Air (or iPhone/iPad) could we have it shipped to you and have you test it for flicker (within the return window) and maybe configure it, of course for a fee?
- 21010
Thank you for all this information. Can you tell me what other sizes the M2 2022 Macbook comes in besides 13"? And what memory options, and where to buy?
Hi,
The M2 MacBook Air is available in a 13- and 15-inch. However, the 15-inch has been discontinued, so you can only get it from a thrid-party seller or marketplace like Amazon or Bestbuy. The 13-inch is still available from Apple and other retailers. RAM options vary from 8GB up to 24GB. Apple has recently discontinued the 8GB model and made the 16GB the baseline spec, though you can still get the 8GB from third-party sellers.
- 21010
Thank you for all this information. Can you tell me what other sizes the M2 2022 Macbook comes in besides 13"? And what memory options, and where to buy?
- 21010
Did the iPad Pro M4 measure any flicker? Is there any super simple “no set up” tool to measure flicker at home? Rereading your comments, still some confusion whether the 13" MacBook from 2021 or 2022 measured flicker-free, or if both measured flicker-free? When you say “IF” the 2021 13" MacBook is flicker-free then according to the Apple Tech the larger variants from that year should also be flicker-free, it is the Rtings review of the 2021 13" MacBook that says it is flicker-free, so are you thinking it is possible there is flicker on that model but the Rtings review measurement tool just was not able to pick it up, or how should I understand the “IF”?
Yo! The iPad Pro M4 does measure with flicker at 480Hz.
Opple Lightmaster meters are a consumer-grade luminance tool that will give you a bunch of information on the display (brightness, color temperature, flicker, etc). I’ve not personally used one as I have access to much more sophisticated tools, but the reviews seem to be positive about the tool itself, but the app being more of an annoyance than anything. I’m hesitant just because it doesn’t tell me all the thresholds for it’s reading capability, so I’m concerned it wouldn’t be able to identify flicker above a certain cap, which they don’t tell us.
Another method is to use a camera and set the shutter speed to 1/4000 and you might be able to identify it. The thing you’ll see more of with this method is the stroboscopic visibility, which would be the seen as wide gaps in the line. The Macbooks don’t have a wide stroboscopic visibility so this method isn’t really useful for you in this particular circumstance.
Sorry, I’ll try to make it a bit clearer. It does get a bit confusing.
So, the M1 Macbook Air we tested from 2021 does have flicker (this should be updated in the review soon). The M2 Macbook Air from 2022 does not have flicker.
What I meant by “if” was more a reference to the information I received from the Apple Store genius. I can confirm what I have here but any variants of our products (so in this case a larger M2 Macbook from 2022), I cannot verify. I can only say what Apple employees have told me. So the “if” is a lack of my ability to 100% guarantee that information. What I can guarantee is that the M2 Macbook Air 13" 2022 does not have flicker.
- 21010
Thank you so much again! You are going above and beyond to help me figure this out, and I really appreciate it. I hope they give you a raise because it sounds like you deserve it haha. There’s not much more I can ask of you, other than if there’s any way to find out if the larger 2022 MacBooks also have a flicker-free screen like the 13-inch one. I tried going to the Apple Store, but they had no idea. I also tried calling customer support, and I don’t think they even knew what flicker was. If there is some Apple customer support number to actually talk to their engineers, then maybe I could get an answer myself, but I don’t know if there is or who to contact. Do you know anyone who owns that model and could measure it, or, if not, do you have any way to do it? Please let me know, or if you have any ideas on who I could contact. If you can do it, great, but if not, I understand.
Did the iPad Pro M4 measure any flicker?
Is there any super simple “no set up” tool to measure flicker at home?
Rereading your comments, still some confusion whether the 13" MacBook from 2021 or 2022 measured flicker-free, or if both measured flicker-free?
When you say “IF” the 2021 13" MacBook is flicker-free then according to the Apple Tech the larger variants from that year should also be flicker-free, it is the Rtings review of the 2021 13" MacBook that says it is flicker-free, so are you thinking it is possible there is flicker on that model but the Rtings review measurement tool just was not able to pick it up, or how should I understand the “IF”?
- 21010
It’s all good! It wasn’t a waste or anything, so no worries about that. :) If the information I received from Apple is correct, than if one of the models is flicker-free than all models regardless of size within that same category should be flicker free as well. So the 2021 13" Macbook Air being flicker free should mean that the larger sizes of the Macbook Air from that year should be the same. I hope that answers your question!
Thanks so much! If you ever get a chance to confirm this by measurements or some other means let me know, otherwise thanks again for your time and help.
- 21010
I’m sorry but I think I goofed. I just looked on rtings.com at the 2021 13" macbook air review and that is the model that is flicker free, so I was hoping you could find out if the larger models were also flicker free for that year. I realize you’ve already spent quite a bit of time on this.
It’s all good! It wasn’t a waste or anything, so no worries about that. :)
If the information I received from Apple is correct, than if one of the models is flicker-free than all models regardless of size within that same category should be flicker free as well. So the 2021 13" Macbook Air being flicker free should mean that the larger sizes of the Macbook Air from that year should be the same.
I hope that answers your question!