The best gaming TVs in 2022 just keep getting better. In fact, with the latest 8K resolution TVs (with a 120Hz refresh rate and other gaming-related features), console and PC-based games have never looked so amazing. However, there’s not a ton of 8K content you can take advantage of yet, and there are plenty of 4K TVs with OLED or mini-LED displays that also offer gamers a richer, brighter, smoother and more immersive experience than anything they’ve experienced before.
Keep in mind, you don't have to play on a display with the latest OLED technology, or spend thousands on a huge screen to get a really good gaming experience from a TV. There are plenty of affordable TVs that are catching up to their higher-end cousins—and that feature 4K resolution, up to a 120Hz refresh rate, and HDMI 2.1 support. These TVs are great options for any of the new-generation consoles if you’ll be gaming in a bedroom, dorm room or smaller room in your home.
Whatever your budget, if you’re a gamer looking to upgrade the TV you connect your gaming console or PC to, you have plenty of impressive options. Plus, when you add an optional gaming headset, soundbar or a surround sound system, the audio you experience from your games will nicely complement the graphics. Then, as a final touch, add a few colorful LED light strips to your setup and you’ll be ready to experience games the way they were meant to be played. Here are the best gaming TVs you can buy in 2022.
- Best 8K (120Hz) TV Overall: LG 86NANO99UPA NanoCell 99 Series 75-Inch 8K Smart UHD TV
- Best 4K (120Hz) TV Overall: LG C1 OLED 55-inch
- Best TV for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S: Samsung QN90A
- Best OLED TV for Gaming: LG G1 OLED 65-inch
- Best 4K TV for Gaming: Sony A90J
- Best 8K Gaming TV: TCL 6-Series 8K
- Best Gaming TV Under $1,000: Hisense U8G 55-inch
- Best Budget-Friendly Gaming TV: TCL 5-Series
- Best Cheap Gaming TV: Hisense A6G 43-inch
- Best Gaming TV for a PC Monitor Replacement: LG CXPUB OLED 48-inch
- Best Small Gaming TV: Sony X85J
Best 8K (120Hz) TV Overall
Let 8K Resolution Take Your Gaming To The Next Visual Level
- Type: LED
- Resolution: 8K
- Refresh Rate: 120Hz
Taking into account the current versions of the Microsoft Xbox, Sony PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch gaming consoles, you can’t go wrong connecting any of these systems (or your PC) to any 8K resolution TV. The visual effects, graphics and animations will look lifelike and truly amazing. However, if you can afford a higher-end 8K TV with a 75-inch screen, like this LG model, you'll be in a for a real treat. (A lesser expensive 65-inch model of this LG NanoCell 99 TV is also available.)
In addition to the cutting-edge resolution this LED screen offers, you can expect up to a 120Hz refresh rate that’ll display richer colors and deep blacks with what the company refers to as “revolutionary” backlight control. With AI upscaling, this TV will make any lower-resolution content look spectacular.
For gamers, the TV’s TruMotion 240 feature does a great job at reducing blur while sharpening every detail at up to 240 frames per second. This allows for fast-moving and high-action gaming sequences to appear crystal-clear. The TV’s Game Optimizer functionality provides easier access to all your personalized game settings, plus it utilizes an Auto Low-Latency Mode.
Best 4K (120Hz) TV Overall
LG Offers A Stunning 4K Resolution Gaming TV In A Perfect Size
- Type: OLED
- Resolution: 4K
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
For a bedroom, dorm room or smaller size gaming room, a 55-inch 4K TV, like the LG C1, will serve you well and do your favorite games justice. This isn't LG's flagship OLED TV, but it's very close in terms of specs and features—especially for gaming. At this kind of price too, it's an absolute killer OLED TV. It's a worthy replacement of the last-generation kingpin, the LG GX gaming TV, though existing owners might need to look further up the scale for a significant upgrade.
Despite not being cutting-edge, the OLED panel within this TV is absolutely gorgeous and fantastic for gaming. It enjoys the same infinite contrast ratio of other OLEDs, and has a near-instantaneous response time which helps eliminate ghosting entirely. Thanks to built-in tech that lowers input lag and its 120Hz refresh rate, the TV is great for competitive play.
The LG C1 also supports FreeSync, G-Sync and a variable refresh rate, and all its four HDMI ports are HDMI 2.1, so you can connect a variety of high-bandwidth gaming devices, including the Xbox Series S/X and PS5, as well as a high-end gaming PC.
Like all OLED TVs, the C1 does run the risk of burn-in, so you'll need to be careful playing games with lots of static HUD elements for extended periods of time. Enabling the built-in protective technologies, like pixel cleaning and screen move, can help you avoid this, however. Also avoid playing games at peak brightness to improve the longevity of your gaming TV when it relies on OLED technology.
Best TV for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S
See Every Detail In Console-Based Games With The Samsung QN90A
- Type: QLED
- Resolution: 4K
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
Not everyone wants or needs an OLED TV. They're usually a more expensive option and typically don't work well in brightly lit rooms. They're also susceptible to burn in damage, which can be a real concern if your favorite games have a lot of static icons and/or HUD elements.
That's where a great LED TV—or QLED in this case—comes in. Samsung's QN90A is almost as good looking as the best OLED gaming TVs (thanks to its use of Samsung's new mini-LED technology). This technology massively increases the number of backlight sources for the display and lets this TV get exceedingly bright, making it fantastic for HDR games exploding with rich color. With mini-LED technology, light sources can more easily be turned off, allowing for significantly higher contrast with a reduced bloom effect.
Contrast and colors are excellent out of the box, making this one of the few TVs where heavy user calibration is not really required. Gamers who love to dig into the nitty gritty of settings will find some options worth tweaking for improved color accuracy, but this TV looks great from the first time you turn it on.
Input lag is extremely low, and when combined with a fast response time and a 120Hz refresh rate, this is a great gaming TV for fast-paced and competitive games. Its HDMI 2.1 ports make it fully compatible with all of the new generation consoles, so you’ll find this TV is a really great companion for your PS5 or Xbox Series X/S console.
Best OLED TV For Gaming
A TV With An OLED Display Can Be A Great Option For Gaming
- Type: OLED
- Resolution: 4K
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
OLED TVs might have a reputation for burn-in (and with good reason), but they also hold some exciting advantages for gamers. Alongside the deepest blacks and excellent colors, the organic LED technology has almost zero input lag. Combine this with the 120Hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time, and it's no wonder the LG G1 is the best OLED gaming TV you can buy today.
Building on the success of the last-generation LG GX range of OLED TVs, the G1 enhances that with LG's new Evo panel which improves brightness by up to 20 percent. That means more vivid images, especially in lighter rooms, and it helps HDR look that bit better when paired with OLED's infinitely dark blacks.
With four HDMI 2.1 ports, this TV is fully ready to enjoy new-generation console gaming with either the Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5. It can also connect directly to new generation graphics cards for experiencing PC gaming on an absolutely gorgeous TV. With full support for 4K and 120Hz, you'll want all the GPU power you can get to take full advantage of what this TV can handle.
The G1 also supports variable refresh rate, Freesync and G-Sync, and has a slimmer build than its predecessor. There's no stand included, so this is a TV you'll want to wall mount, and the onboard speakers are a little underwhelming, but if you're buying the best gaming TV, it's worth investing in a great speaker system or soundbar too.
Best 4K TV For Gaming
8K TVs Are Still Pricey, But Sony Offers Some Beautiful 4K Options
- Type: QLED (Mini-LED)
- Resolution: 4K
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
Feature-for-feature, this Sony TV is one of the best TVs Sony has ever made, easily rivaling the LG G1. That means it comes with a super bright OLED panel—brighter even than LG's Evo design in some cases. This 4K TV offers a near-infinite contrast ratio, featuring gorgeous deep blacks, excellent motion handling, wide color gamut support, and a fantastic overall build quality.
On the gaming front, the Sony A90J 65 TV provides a 120Hz refresh rate, a super low response time, and very low input lag, making it great for competitive play. Depending on the game, this TV might even give you a few milliseconds advantage over those playing on older or slower TVs.
Built into the TV are four HDMI ports—two of which are rated for HDMI 2.1—so you can connect any of the new-generation consoles, like the Xbox Series X/S and PS5, and truly experience the technological perks of these systems.
In fact, Sony recently introduced new branding for its XR TVs (including this one), labeling them as "Perfect for PlayStation." Some of the new features incorporated into these TVs that are exclusive for PS5 gamers include Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode (which will adjust the TV's settings to make it look perfect for each specific game you're playing). It makes perfect sense that Sony would support its flagship gaming system with specialized functionality from its TVs.
Best 8K Gaming TV
Kick Your Gaming Up To The Next Level With An 8K TV From TCL
- Type: QLED (Mini-LED)
- Resolution: 4K
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
The prices on 8K TVs are falling fast, and TCL is looking to undercut the competition (in price, not quality) with its latest 6-Series 8K model. This TV nicely combines the power of a truly next-generation display with mini-LEDs for supreme brightness.
The TCL 6-Series 8K is available in a range of sizes, from 55-inches up to 75-inches, and though the pixel density at lower sizes does add a little extra crisp detail if you're sitting up close, for the best 8K gaming experience, you'll want to opt for a bigger (albeit more expensive) screen size.
This VA panel TV doesn't get as dark as an OLED, but its mini-LEDs do a good job of emulating it with local dimming zones, and it gets plenty bright for HDR content. There are two HDMI 2.1 ports for connecting new-generation consoles, and there's native FreeSync and G-Sync support for compatible gaming PCs. You can also enjoy fast response times and low input lag, making this a gaming TV that's perfect for any competitive gamers out there.
Best Gaming TV Under $1,000
Hisense Offers a 4K Gaming TV That’s Rather Affordable
- Type: LED
- Resolution: 4K
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
Hisense makes a range of excellent TVs that are affordable, and the U8G is the cream of the crop when it comes to gaming. As an LED TV, it has a high brightness (up to 1,000 nits), making games look rich and vivid. It also offers a strong contrast ratio for an LED TV, so you aren't going to spend your time languishing when you see grey-blacks (as opposed to deep blacks).
This Hisense 4K TV is also impressively responsive, combining its 120Hz refresh rate with full support for variable refresh rate technology, along with a fast response time and incredibly low input lag. Thus, the Hisense U8G is one of the best gaming TVs for competitive play, since it’ll likely give you a serious responsiveness advantage against those gaming with an older or slower TV.
The U8G comes with two HDMI 2.1 ports, allowing you to connect any and all of your new-generation gaming devices. It also supports FreeSync and variable refresh rate technologies to help avoid any screen tearing. With added support for HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision and HLG, you’ll be able to take full advantage of its excellent contrast ratio for HDR gaming (when playing supported titles).
If you have a little more money to spend, you can push for the 65-inch version this TV, but then you start to get very close to the LG C1 from a price point, which has some unique advantages worth considering if you can stretch your budget a bit further.
Best Budget-Friendly Gaming TV
You Don’t Need To Spend A Fortune For A Good Gaming TV
- Type: QLED
- Resolution: 4K
- Refresh Rate: 60Hz
TCL's 4K resolution Class 5 Series TV uses quantum dot technology to enhance colors over more traditional LED TVs. It doesn't utilize mini-LEDs, so doesn't quite have that staggering brightness of nuanced HDR you’ll find in higher-end (and more expensive) TVs, but it still produces an excellent picture and will makes your games look really good—no matter what you're playing.
Of course, this TV will also provide an affordable but visually impressive cinematic experience when watching movies and TV shows, especially those produced in native 4K resolution.
The rear of this TV has four HDMI 2.1 ports, although they are limited to just 60Hz due to the panel used in this screen. Still, they fully support 4K resolution, so you can take almost-full advantage of new generation Xbox and PlayStation consoles.
Considering that most of the higher-end games aren't easily playable at 4K 120Hz anyway, you're not missing out on too much—especially if you play the more popular atmospheric games.
Response time is fast, while input lag is impressively limited, so this TV won't hold you back in competitive play. It feels particularly responsive in faster paced esports and traditional sports games, for example.
For when you aren't gaming, this TV packs a host of built-in smart features thanks to its Roku TV operating system. It comes preloaded with all of the top streaming services.
Best Budget Gaming TV
Just Over $300 Will Get You A Nice 4K Gaming TV From Hisense
- Type: LED
- Resolution: 4K
- Refresh rate: 60Hz
If you're looking to buy a new gaming TV but you’re on a tight budget, there's no reason you need to settle for something poor. Thanks to advances in display technology, you can get something rather good. With the Hisense A6G, you get a bright and vibrant 4K TV with low input lag and full support for Dolby Vision HDR. The drawbacks are its smaller screen size (42 inches) and its refresh rate (60Hz). For a bedroom or small gaming room, however, this TV can be a good fit.
All of the colors you'll see are well represented, and although you are limited to 60Hz and the response time is average, the input lag is impressively low, making this a responsive gaming TV that won't hold you back. This TV can handle standard 4K gaming rather well, especially since most gaming PCs and new-generation consoles don't play 4K at higher than 60 FPS anyway.
This TV provides a wide viewing angle without too much loss of color depth or clarity, so the A6G makes for a good local co-op gaming TV option. Its built-in upscaler is solid, helping you to fully enjoy 720p or 1080p resolution games on older consoles with ease. For just a few hundred dollars, the Hisense A6G offers a much better and more responsive viewing experience than you’d expect.
Best Gaming TV for a PC Monitor Replacement
Consider Replacing Your Computer’s Monitor With This 4K TV
- Type: OLED
- Resolution: 4K
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
PC monitors can only get so big before they get inordinately expensive, but gaming TVs can give you that monster screen feel at a more affordable price (and in a more traditional form factor). Where some may opt for an ultrawide monitor when going for a huge PC monitor, this 48-inch LG CXPUB gaming TV makes it possible to have a traditionally formatted display that's large and breathtakingly gorgeous.
This gaming TV offers a broad stand that makes it easier to fit on a traditional PC desk. It has trim bezels and a great collection of HDMI ports. There's no DispayPort, though, and the USB hub is limited to USB-A 2.0, so if you want to take advantage of both 4K resolution and the 120Hz refresh rate at the same time, you'll need a graphics card with HDMI 2.1 support (like Nvidia's new RTX 3080 and 3090, or AMD's RX 6800 XT or 6900XT).
Its low input lag, excellent contrast ratio, and support for both FreeSync and G-Sync make this an all-round package for the discerning PC gamer who wants a massive gaming monitor at a TV's price. Just be sure to install the latest firmware update, as it adds the FreeSync support and improves 4K 120Hz performance. You'll need an HDMI 2.1 cable too. As with all OLED TVs, there is a risk of burn-in, especially when using it with static desktop elements as a PC monitor.
Best Small Gaming TV
A Small Screen Size Does Not Necessarily Mean An Inferior Viewing Experience
- Type: LED
- Resolution: 4K
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
A gaming TV does not need to be huge. In fact, some of the smaller sets can be great options for a bedroom, dorm room, or smaller size living room where you don't have a ton of space to work with. The Sony X85J combines a 4K resolution and high refresh rate screen with excellent contrast ratio, high brightness and a very low input lag.
The peak brightness is especially impressive in SDR content, which many older games are. Using its two HDMI 2.1 ports, you’re able to easily connect an Xbox Series X/S and PS5 console. Its fast response time and 120Hz refresh rate will ensure that it remains snappy and responsive during fast-paced action sequences. This isn't a TV that will feel like it's slowing you down in esports or other competitive games.
Do You Need A 120Hz Gaming TV?
Until recently, most TVs that were considered “gaming TVs” did not offer a 120Hz refresh rate (or a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz). One reason for this was price, and the second was that older games consoles couldn't take advantage of it. Also, HDMI ports and cabling couldn't handle higher resolutions and higher frame rates at the same time.
This is no longer the case. HDMI 2.1 ports built into many of the latest 4K and 8K TVs can now support resolutions up to 10K—meaning that 4K or 8K content, even with with HDR, won’t be a problem. Thus, if you’re using a next-generation gaming system, be sure to seek out a 4K or 8K TV with a 120Hz refresh rate. Don’t settle for a 60Hz refresh rate unless you’re on a tight budget.
The biggest benefit to a 120Hz refresh rate is that it’ll make your gameplay smoother—allowing games to look and feel better, especially when there’s a lot of action happening on the screen. The higher refresh rate also improves your input lag, making you a more competitive gamer by reducing the reaction time between when you press a button and when that action impacts what’s happening within the game.
However, with slower paced games, non-competitive games, or when you don't expect your console or PC to be able to handle frame rates above 60, there's much less of an improvement from having a TV with a high 120Hz refresh rate.
Which Graphics Cards And Consoles Do You Need For 4K TV gaming?
Next-generation Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 consoles can play games at 4K and utilize a refresh rate up to 120Hz, though frame rate will very much depend on how detailed the games are and what settings gamers pick. They’ll also support 8K to varying degrees at some point.
For PC gamers, there are a number of graphics cards that can handle 4K gaming. If you limit yourself to 30FPS, older cards (like the RX 5700 XT, GTX 1080, and 1080 Ti) can handle 4K resolution. For higher frame rates, the RTX 2080 Super and 2080 Ti deliver much improved performance. For the ultimate PC-based 4K gaming experience (whether you use a monitor or gaming TV), you'll need Nvidia's RTX 3080, 3080 Ti, or 3090 graphics card, AMD's RX 6800 XT or 6900 XT, or something comparable.
How Big Should A Gaming TV Be?
Just like when choosing a TV for watching movies or TV shows, the size of your gaming TV should be dependent on your budget, the size of your room, and how far from the TV you'll be sitting. The bigger you go, the further back you can be before losing some of the effect, but the larger your TV, the larger the pixels it utilizes (in most cases) will be, and the higher its price will be.
You'll discover that 4K resolution looks great on TVs up to 85-inches (or even bigger), but if you want the biggest of TVs that approach 100-inches, or like to sit extra-close to your TV when you’re gaming, 8K resolution will give you much greater detail.
Keep in mind, you will need one of the absolute fastest gaming PCs in the world to take advantage of 8K resolution. Both the PS5 and Xbox Series X are capable of generating an 8K signal, but there are currently very few games that support this resolution.
Is FreeSync and/or G-Sync Compatibility Important?
FreeSync is “adaptive-sync” technology created by AMD that’s designed for competitive gaming that involves high-action and the necessity for extreme precision. G-Sync is a similar technology from Nvidia. Either or both FreeSync and G-Sync is built into many gaming TVs, and it’s a feature you should definitely look for if you plan to connect your gaming PC to the TV. Many OLED TVs from LG, for example, support G-Sync.
Without FreeSync or G-Sync, if your TV’s refresh rate is not able to handle and match the game’s frame rate, you'll experience screen tearing and stuttering. When you use the FreeSync or G-Sync that’s built into many gaming TVs, the TV’s refresh rate will automatically adjust to the game’s frame rate, which will minimize visual artifacts that can manifest (like input latency, screen tearing and stuttering).
