As gamers, we are now primed to expect more and more from major triple-A games: Better graphics, improved resolutions, and faster frame rates. If you want to truly enjoy the best that the modern gaming world has to offer, you’ll need the right TV.
We have spoken to the TV experts at Reliant who have years of experience pairing gamers with their dream TVs. We’ve decided to put their expertise to the test and create the ultimate gaming TV buyers guide, so you know what features to look out for when it’s time to upgrade your gaming set up!
Screen Size
What better place to start than with screen size? After all, it’s the first thing most people think of when it comes to buying a brand-new telly!
Choosing the right screen size is crucial for ensuring a comfortable gaming experience. Sitting too close to a TV not only puts a strain on your eyes, it also requires you to continuously move your neck to take in the full image. This is incredibly tiring, and will just leave you frustrated!
So, before you spring for that 98 inch TV that caught your eye, make sure to think about where you will be playing, whether that be on your sofa, or at your desk. For optimal comfort, you should make sure there’s a suitable viewing distance between you and the screen. To work out the right distance, take the screen size, and multiply it by 1.5 – That’s how many metres you should be sitting away from the screen! For most, a 65 inch TV is a great option for “couch gaming”, whereas a 32 – 48 inch TV is better suited to desktop gaming.
Input Options
What good is a gaming TV without some consoles hooked up to it? If you want to create a truly enviable setup, you’ll want to make sure your TV has plenty of input ports.
We recommend looking for a TV with multiple HDMI 2.1 input ports. HDMI 2.1 cables are designed to transmit content at higher resolutions, and at higher frame rates!
If you’re planning to connect an external audio system, such as a soundbar, you’ll want to make sure your chosen TV supports its required input method, such as BlueTooth!
Resolution
Top consoles like the new PlayStation 5 Pro and the Xbox Series X can now display graphics at incredible resolutions up to 4K and even 8K, with some games!
As such, we’d recommend going for a TV with a much higher resolution. 4K and 8K resolutions allow you to appreciate every last detail, and can even give you an advantage over the enemy, by giving you a clearer read of the battlefield!
Refresh Rate
A good refresh rate is crucial because it allows you to enjoy your games at higher frame rates, up to 120 frames per second.
Put simply, the term “Refresh rate” refers to how many times, per second, a TV screen can change its image. The higher the refresh rate, the smoother the image looks. If you plan to enjoy games at silky-smooth frame rates up to 120fps, then you’ll need a TV with a high refresh rate. We recommend targeting a 144Hz refresh rate.
Of course, frame rates can vary massively from game to game, so you’ll want to make sure your TV can keep up. So, we recommend looking out for a TV with some kind of variable refresh rate technology. This technology allows a TV to adjust its refresh rate automatically, to match the frame rate of your games. VRR technology keeps screen tearing from ruining your immersion in your favourite games.
Display Type
There are a few distinct display types to choose from, including LED, OLED, and QLED TVs, each with distinct benefits. However, we’d strongly recommend opting for an OLED display for its gameplay benefits.
OLED displays make use of self-illuminating pixels that can turn on and off, as required by the image. As such, they boast high contrast ratios and immense detail.
OLED Displays also boast speedy refresh rates. OLED pixels can adjust their light output in milliseconds, which allows them to quickly refresh the on-screen image dozens of times every second.
QLED displays are also great for gaming. They use special quantum technology to render more realistic and satisfying colour in every image. However, QLED TVs often tend to have slightly lower refresh rates, so they’re best for casual gamers looking to enjoy triple-A story-focused games.
Low Input Lag
In order to truly immerse yourself in your favourite games, you need to feel as though you’re in full control of the action. The more responsive your games feel, the more in tune you’ll feel with your in-game characters. To ensure your games are responsive and snappy, you’ll want to make sure your chosen TV has low rates of input lag.
Input lag is a term that refers to the window of time that passes between pressing a button on your game controller, and seeing the game respond. The larger this window of time is, the less in control you will feel. So, for total immersion, make sure to look for low rates of input lag.
You should aim for your TV to take no longer than 30 milliseconds to respond to your inputs, for the best sense of control.
Many smart TV models are equipped with Auto Low Latency Modes (ALLM), which automatically adjust the TV’s display settings to reduce input lag. We recommend looking out for these modes wherever possible!
