5 TV monitors are perfect for your new game console

Before you buy a brand new TV, you need to assess what mainly you will be using it for. If you buy one for just watching TV and movies, your needs are slightly different than if you buy one for games. So if you’re buying a new TV that you plan to use primarily for gaming, there are a few specific features that should be high on your checklist. With the new generation of consoles about to launch, you definitely want something that will suit your graphical hardware.

This article has been updated since its original publication.

What you need to know

• Short waiting time: The speed at which a television can render images is far more important for gaming than it is for normal video transmission. Most monitors that sell themselves as “gaming” monitors already have low latency as their main characteristic, but for many TVs this is a mixed bag. Look for a TV with a latency of 30 ms or less.
• High refresh rates: As a gamer, you’re probably over it by now, and if you’ve used a 120Hz or higher monitor for gaming you’ll appreciate the benefits of those higher refresh rates. With many televisions – and most previous OLEDs in particular – there is a tradeoff between visual fidelity and refresh rate that you will have to juggle depending on the play style of your choice and preference. However, if you’re looking to purchase a PS5 or Xbox Series X version, it makes sense to make the most of these features now and in the future.
• HDMI 2.1: Do you want to make the most of the new consoles from Sony and Microsoft? Then look for a TV that supports HDMI 2.1. It is the latest version of the HDMI specification with support for resolutions up to 8K, 120 Hz and ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) – a must have for any gamer worth their money. Not every HDMI 2.1 TV supports all game-centric features, but it’s a good place to start. As of now, only a handful of TVs in the local market are HDMI 2.1 enabled, and they’re all on that very expensive Side, to put it politely. So what if you have a TV without HDMI 2.1? Due to the lower bandwidth of the older HDMI standards, these are mainly functions with a smaller scope. For example, while HDMI 2.0b can handle 4K, it can’t transfer data fast enough to handle it above 60 fps. However, if you can afford an HDMI 2.1-enabled TV, you will be set for some time.
• Connection options: Chances are, you’ll only plug your shiny new game console into your TV if you live alone. Even then, it’s a good idea to get a TV with multiple HDMI inputs that supports standards like eARC and even may have some older connectors, depending on what else you want to hook up in the future.

If you’re very dedicated and looking for a gaming monitor, it’s similar, but you’re generally open to much higher refresh rates on monitors sold with a specific gaming purpose. The only big difference is the screen size, as most of us tend to play games on a monitor that is much closer than it is to our TVs. As such, unless you want the “full wall” experience of gaming, you can get away with buying a monitor that is smaller than its TV equivalent. You are also much less likely to find legacy connector types on gaming monitors if this is important to you.

Gaming monitors are also an area where you can see more options in the curved area of ​​the screen. This was a trend in televisions a few years ago, but many manufacturers have chosen to use home TV panels. Because of this narrow viewing angle, some gamers prefer curved monitors for immersion, but that’s a compromise with potential glare as this curve draws light from more directions than a purely flat panel.

Monitor options

Samsung 65 “QLED UHD 8K Smart TV QA65Q800TAWXXY, 4,229 US dollars
The story here is 8K support, and while you’re paying a premium for 8K now, it should mean you can jump into the best visual fidelity on your new game console from day one. For non-8K content, the Samsung QA65Q800TAWXXY offers 8K upscaling. When you’re not watching TV, Samsung’s Real Game Enhancer is designed to optimize for lower input delay and image quality for game-specific content.

LG Ultragear 27GL850-B, 799 US-Dollar
With a refresh rate of 144 Hz, support for G-Sync and AMD FreeSync, and a claimed response time of 1 ms, the Ultragear 27GL850 from LG is a big challenge for next-generation and PC gamers. It is a QHD (2560 × 1440) LCD monitor with a claimed 98 percent DCI-P3 coverage and dynamic action synchronization with black stabilizer functions for improved visual clarity.

Samsung 55 ″ Series 8 TU8000 Crystal UHD 4K TV UA55TU8000WXXY, $ 1,119
If you’re on a more modest budget than an 8K TV, Samsung’s 55-inch Series 8 TV might be a solid compromise. It’s 4K capable with HDR10 + support and a special game mode that (as usual) promises less input delay and fast motion control when activated.

Dell 27-inch LCD Gaming Monitor, Black, S2719DGF, $ 710.88
Dell may not be the name you think of when you think of games, but keep in mind that it also owns Alienware so it has some skins in the game. Dell’s 27-inch QHD monitor supports AMD Freesync when you connect a PC and has two HDMI ports (1.4 / 2.0) so you can easily connect multiple devices and configure them to your liking, with support for multiple games become profiles.

LG 27UL600-W 27 „UHD 4K IPS-Monitor, 549 US-Dollar
LG’s 4K gaming monitor (3840 × 2160) supports AMD Freesync and LG’s integrated game mode with very low lag rates, making it a good all-round gaming choice.

Editor’s note: descriptions and features are from manufacturer / seller claims on Amazon.

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