If you want to get the most out of your video games, you need to consider not only their specifications, but also those of your TV. But what makes a TV fit for modern consoles?
First of all, it should be borne in mind that the best TVs are made with a reserve for the future. That is, today their characteristics may seem redundant to you. But the next generation of consoles will have a wide selection of great 4K and HDR games. So if you want to make the most of the next generation of gaming, you should try to find a future-proof 4K HDR TV.
The point is, suspiciously inexpensive 4K HDR TVs don’t have sufficient frame rates. If you can’t spend $ 700-2000 on a gaming TV, you’ll have to look towards a 1080p TV, which of course has no room for the future. But it’s possible that you end up saving a lot more if you buy a future-proof TV.
When and where to buy a gaming TV?
There are many shops selling TVs on the Internet. It is impossible to list each of them. But here are some tips to help you find a gaming TV at a great price:
- Once you know what kind of gaming TV you want, use the internet. For example, you can search for a TV in the website’s catalog or use the filters while searching in any online store to find the perfect TV in terms of price-performance ratio.
- Read the reviews and reviews of the TVs that interest you. For more information, check out the YouTube reviews. This way you can see what real users are saying.
- If you’re willing to wait, just wait for a big sell-off period (like Black Friday).
Key features of a good gaming TV
Below we list the main features that make a TV great for gaming.
- Latency: The best gaming TVs should have low latency. Ideally 30ms or less.
- FPS: If you’re not a professional gimbal, 60GHz is enough for you. For pro-level 120Hz is fine.
- 4K and HDR: If you can buy a quality 4K HDR TV with high frame rate, go for it.
- OLED: If you’re aiming for 120Hz, don’t look towards OLED TVs.
- Videoinputs: Remember HDMI, RCA and s-video inputs, and if you are a retro gamer, then analog!
Without further ado, let’s get down to the details.
Low latency is the main feature of a gaming TV
Before worrying about picture quality or resolution, concentrate on finding a low latency TV. Latency (lag) is the amount of time the TV displays a frame on the screen. Lags are what can ruin your ice rink.
For most casual gamers, 60ms is sufficient. Hardcore gamers might be interested in 13ms, but something around 30ms is optimal.
Why do we consider latency more important than resolution or image quality? Because cheap 4K HDR TVs tend to have high latency. So buying into a beautiful picture, you can easily ignore such an important characteristic.
Does frame rate matter?
Gamers don’t care about frames per second (or Hz). Some people think that the frame rate is an insignificant characteristic, since the human eye does not have time to catch the difference between 60 FPS and 120 FPS, but this is not so. The human brain responds to a frequency of even one thousandth of a second.
While high frame rates look great, a 120Hz TV might be overkill for you. Those of you who are familiar with 60 FPS know how great it is! What can we say about the frequency of 120 FPS!
How about 4K and HDR?
Although the Play Station and XBox support 4K, most of the games released for them are not higher than 1080p. But, as mentioned earlier, the next generation of game consoles will change this situation, and 4K games will become the standard.
4K TV must be at least 45 inches. With a smaller diagonal, it’s hard to tell the difference between 1080p and 4K. While a 4K TV might not come in handy for your current games, you’ll thank yourself for purchasing a 4K TV when the next generation console arrives.
When it comes to HDR, it always comes at a price. Unlike 4K, which stands for resolution, HDR stands for contrast. HDR creates images with vibrant, bold colors, deep blacks and whites, and the crisp details everyone loves. It is already supported on Xbox One X and Xbox One S.
Is an OLED TV suitable for gaming?
To create a high-contrast image, an OLED screen must turn off individual pixel backlighting. Because of this, seasoned gamers are not entirely happy with OLED TVs. The point is that OLED screens are more prone to pixel burnout than conventional LCD screens.
Many pro gamers use screens with a frame rate of 120Hz, but with a refresh rate over 60Hz. OLED TV screens can blur as the LEDs fail to turn on and off quickly enough.
But if you don’t play 10 hours a day, and you are sure that the TV will not experience overheating, feel free to take OLED.
But if you cannot imagine your life without a 120Hz screen, then choose an LCD. If you get used to 120 hertz, 60 hertz TV will never satisfy you again.a
