Gaming TVs are getting way more common these days because manufacturers have started taking them seriously and adding some brilliant amount of power.
When Samsung marked its debut due to the best 4K LED display in the Q80 series, LG CX OLED rivalled it with its best aesthetics; simultaneously, gaming on Vizio TV stunned every budget-buyer with its excellent value for money.
What to do when you have a stack of top-rated brands? How will you get the best gaming TV for your recent console or any upcoming generation? Not every cost-efficient TV fulfils your gaming desires; some fall short of latency and refresh rates.
The next console generation is just about to come, no doubt. So don’t you think the first thing you need to look into your TV is that it must be future proof? Yes!
From a better input lag, improved refresh rates, and response times to next-gen 4K LEDs display –that’s all about the things to consider before buying a gaming tv. Let’s get right into the details!
Features of an Ideal Gaming TV
Do you want to know how an ideal gaming TV looks like? Here’s a brief list of all those key features that together make a gaming TV simply ideal.
· 4K and HDR
A real gaming TV is one that comes with a future-proof 4K HDR display to fulfil every hardcore gaming geek hanker. It costs a bit more, but it’s actually worth it.
· FPS or Refresh Rate
The higher the refresh rates, the better it is for a hardcore gamer. Refresh rates have to deal with the responsiveness that helps you pick every visual on time. Most gaming TVs come with 60Hz to 120Hz refresh rates.
· Latency/Lag
The lower latency results in better gaming performance. If you want to make your gaming experience worth it, a latency of 30ms will work well.
· OLED
Generally, OLED gaming TVs don’t come with higher refresh rates. If you don’t want to miss out on 120Hz, then there’s no need to go for OLED TVs.
· Video Inputs
The best gaming TVs come with enhanced connectivity and better video inputs to smoothly let many things in your game. The HDMI, s-video, RCA, and coaxial inputs together make out a great gaming TV.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Gaming TV
Let’s jump into further details!
1. Refresh Rates Matter A lot!
The refresh rate is the number of times per second a display refreshes or renew itself. It helps in generating new images on time so you can pick every single visual.
If you’re a pro-level gamer or an eSport expert only, you’d be able to distinguish between 60Hz and 120Hz frames per seconds, trust me.
Many gamers talk about this thing that refresh rates don’t make out any real in-game change, and it’s a nonsense thing to look for. Do you know what? Actually, not looking into FPS before buying a gaming TV or monitor is a nonsense thing, yes.
The brain of human reacts to a varying visual stimulus within milliseconds, then how a gamer can’t missout on any subtle detail when he has a lower FPS TV?
Well, still, here’s a matter of choice. If you’re a casual gamer or running low on budget, it’s not mandatory to switch to a 120Hz monitor. You can still have a comfortable gaming experience on 60Hz.
But, if you’re a hardcore gamer and don’t want to lose on your competitive edge in the extreme gaming sessions, then looking for a 120Hz TV upgrade is worth your money
2. A 4K HDR Display Comes First!
As we have mentioned earlier, you need to build a future-proof gaming TV; it will make things easy. Although Xbox One X and PS4 support 4K resolution, their many games are still stopped at 1080p.
The resolution has to deal with image clarity, and higher resolutions add subtleness to overall visuals. If you’re planning a gaming TV larger than 45”, trust me, you’re good to go with a 4K display.
However, it becomes pretty harder to distinguish between 4K and 1080p on a TV smaller than 45”. Will you still like to increase your budget for a thing that’s not even making a real difference?
Moreover, many games don’t support 4K, but you’ll surely praise yourself for buying a future-proof TV as soon as next-gen consoles come around.
What about HDR, by the way? 4K is the depiction of the resolution, while HDR determines color contrast and accuracy. It helps in creating the darkest blacks and brightest whites, which is something important for a gamer.
So HDR 1000 is the ideal thing so far, but if you can’t get such a TV, HDR higher than 600 will help you too.
3. Is OLED Gaming TV Worth You?
Here’s the most anticipated thing that most hardcore gamersrave about –the OLED screen! What’s an OLED display, by the way?
Organic Light-Emitting Diode OLED is a technology that uses a series of thin films between conductors that turn the individual pixels off. It doesn’t involve the inclusion of the backlight even.
The ultimate result is a crispier image with a high-contrast ratio and, most notably ‘true black’ image that adds adventure to your gaming experience.
But the sad reality is gaming communities are stigmatizing OLED TVs for a solid reason. They are more prone to burn-in as compared to standards LEDs –that’s certainly a big concern for gamers who are spending 10+ hours in their Fortnite character.
Moreover, OLED TVs are more liable to motion and screen blur when you hit 120Hz refresh rates. It’s an intrinsic problem with OLEDs that may refrain you from getting on them.
Still, the choice is yours! But we’ll recommend it’s better to stick with your standard 120Hz LEDs instead of motion-blur and less-durable OLEDs.
4. What about Video Inputs? Don’t Miss out!
If you want to couple up your game with your partners and have many gaming tools to plug in your game, then look for a gaming TV with many HDMI ports.
Or else you’d end up spending extra dollars on buying additional HDMI switches that demand so many wiggles. And if you buy a TV with enhanced connectivity and better port selection, that’s going to pay you off later.
However, if you’re planning to run your older consoles that still require coaxial, s-video or RCA inputs, then don’t look for something that’s too far.
The converter boxes that can convert RCA to HDMI are available in the market to provide room for the latest consoles. Then what’s the concern? Choose the gaming TV that’s not an advanced techie thing, but it must fulfil your needs.
The Bottom Line
Starting from considering video quality, resolution, response times to the aesthetics, and overall gaming experience –these are all the things to consider before buying a gaming TV.
But wait! How can we forget the budget? The more you spend, the better you get –that truly fits in gaming equipment.
Some excellent budget buys like Vizio TV offer excellent performance and an unforgettable gaming experience.
Keep all the above things in mind, decide on your budget, narrow down the choices, and see how things will get easier.
