Best gaming TVs 2025: PS5 Pro, PS5, Xbox Series X and PC
From value champs to the high-end OLED and Mini LED sets.
New year, new TV? As we enter 2025, some exciting new models have debuted at the annual CES event in Las Vegas, showing off bigger, brighter and more capable models using display technologies like OLED, Mini LED, Micro LED and more. With HDMI 2.1 now a mature technology included on aggressively-priced mid-range sets, you can be assured that one of the selections below will serve you well for HDR gaming for the foreseeable future.
Apart from making our 4K TV recommendations for gaming and movies, we'll also let you know which features are in the pipeline and what you can expect from gaming TVs over the next year. We'll also give a quick rundown of the four major panel types used in 4K HDR TVs - OLED, QLED, VA and IPS - so you have a basic idea of what their typical strengths and weaknesses are, in case you're considering a TV that isn't on this list.
So these are our top recommendations for gaming-friendly 4K HDR televisions in 2025. Use the quick links below to skip ahead, or read on for the full selections.
- Best gaming TV overall: LG C4 W-OLED
- Best premium gaming TV: Samsung S90D QD-OLED
- Best Mini LED gaming TV: Sony Bravia 7
- Best mid-range gaming TV: Hisense U7N
LG C4 OLED: best gaming TV overall
- Specs: 42, 48, 55, 65, 77 or 83 inches. HDMI 2.1. HDMI VRR, FreeSync and G-Sync Compatible. Dolby Vision.
- Buy: Amazon UK, Amazon US.
The best 4K TVs for HDR gaming right now is LG's C4 OLED. While the upcoming 2025 model year C5 looks promising, it's likely to be significantly more expensive until around Black Friday, making the C4 a better value proposition.
As you might have guessed, the C4 is built around a W-OLED panel from LG Electronics sister company LG Display, providing incredible contrast, unparalleled pixel response times and gorgeous colour reproduction. The 55-inch C4 and all larger sizes use an MLA panel that has improved brightness over older non-MLA panels, but this sadly isn't found on the 42-inch and 48-inch models.
All variants do support Black Frame Insertion (BFI) up to 60Hz though, boosting the clarity of fast-moving objects, and other features are generally identical between the different sizes, including four HDMI 2.1 ports with support for VRR at 120Hz on PS5 Pro, PS5 and Xbox Series X. PC users can enjoy G-Sync/FreeSync support and refresh rates up to 144Hz.
Input lag is also extremely low at 4-5ms, more akin to a high-end gaming monitor than a traditional 4K TV, making LG's OLEDs a great choice even for competitive gaming. 4K HDR content is where these TVs sing, but the television also handles lower-resolution content with aplomb thanks to excellent upscaling. LG's webOS software is also arguably the best available, thanks to a responsive interface that includes easy Wiimote-style selection and rapid multi-tasking.
Pros
- Four HDMI 2.1 ports allow 4K 120fps gaming on PS5/Series X and 4K 144fps on PC
- Extremely low input latency when using gaming modes
- 60Hz black frame insertion enables better motion processing
- Unbeatable contrast, pixel response times, colour accuracy and viewing angles
- Excellent scaling for lower-resolution sources
Cons
- Dolby Vision and HDR10 are supported, no HDR10+
- Burn-in possible, albeit extremely unlikely if you watch varied content
- No option for filter-free 720p or 1080p upscaling
- BFI limited to 60Hz, versus the older C1 which supported 120Hz BFI
Samsung S90D: the best premium gaming TV
- Specs: In UK/Europe, QD-OLED only offered at 65 inches. In the US, this becomes 55, 65 or 75 inches. HDMI 2.1. HDMI VRR, FreeSync and G-Sync Compatible. HDR10+.
- Buy: Amazon UK, Amazon US.
The Samsung S90D is an excellent alternative to the LG C4 that costs a little more but offers a more intriguing QD-OLED panel versus the W-OLED on the C4. This provides a wider colour gamut, for more vibrant HDR, and wider viewing angles too. The S90D also delivers higher average peak brightness in HDR and with gaming modes engaged than the C4, though BFI is limited to the same 60Hz.
Elsewhere, the Samsung benefits from the usual OLED qualities, including near-instant pixel response times and low input lag (around ~5ms at 120Hz). PC users enjoy G-Sync and FreeSync support and refresh rates up to 144Hz at 4K, and PS5, PS5 Pro and Xbox Series X users can take advantage for a full compatibility with various HDMI 2.1 features including ALLM, VRR and so on. However, Dolby Vision isn't supported, knocking out the possibility of Dolby Vision gaming on Xbox consoles and PC, as well as Dolby Vision video content elsewhere.
The downside to the S90D is that getting the right S90D is a bit of a minefield, with the same model name also including versions with (great but less interesting) W-OLED panels. From our research, the 65-inch S90D is the only QD-OLED model in the UK and Europe, while in the US the QD-OLED is available in 55, 65 and 77-inch sizes. The more expensive S95D does use the QD-OLED panel in all sizes for all regions, so hopefully Samsung will follow suit with the S90E in 2025.
Pros
- Top real-world HDR brightness and better colour reproduction thanks to QD-OLED panel
- Four HDMI 2.1 ports for 4K 120Hz console gaming or 4K 144Hz PC gaming
- Black Frame Insertion up to 60Hz
Cons
- Dolby Vision isn't supported
- Desirable QD-OLED panels only available in some sizes (one in UK/Europe, three in US)
- Burn-in remains a possibility
Sony Bravia 7: best Mini LED gaming TV
- Specs: 55, 65, 75 or 85 inches. HDMI 2.1. HDMI VRR, FreeSync and G-Sync Compatible. Dolby Vision.
- Buy: Amazon UK, Amazon US.
The Sony Bravia 7 is a good choice if you don't want to worry about the possibility of burn-in and/or you want an extremely bright TV for use during the day or in brightly-lit rooms. Its VA panel doesn't quite offer the viewing angles, colour reproduction or motion handling of OLED alternatives, but Mini LED backlighting at least allows for great contrast.
In terms of gaming, the Bravia 7 is a solid option. It comes with two HDMI 2.1 ports for hooking up multiple devices for 4K 120Hz gaming, though one is the eARC port so you may find you need an HDMI 2.1 switcher to connect multiple consoles on the remaining HDMI 2.1 port. Input lag is low when in game mode and there is relatively little degradation when game mode is engaged. HDMI 2.1 features like ALLM and VRR are included, while PC users get G-Sync compatibility but no official FreeSync support.
Sony uses the Google TV operating system, which is significantly more customisable than the systems used on Samsung or LG TVs. It also has a huge number of downloadable apps versus these platforms, which generally work well.
Pros
- Two HDMI 2.1 ports for 4K 120Hz HDR gameplay
- Extremely bright with great contrast thanks to local dimming
- Full VRR support for consoles and PC
- No risk of burn-in
Cons
- Black levels and viewing angles of VA don't quite compare to OLED
- One HDMI 2.1 port being eARC limits simultaneous use of multiple devices and a sound system
- No HDR10+ support
Hisense U7N: best mid-range gaming TV
- Specs: 55, 65, 75 or 85 inches. HDMI 2.1. HDMI VRR, FreeSync and G-Sync Compatible. Dolby Vision.
- Buy: Amazon UK, Amazon US.
The Hisense U7N is a surprisingly capable gaming TV for its price point, offering full HDMI 2.1 support for gaming up to 4K 120Hz with VRR on PS5 Pro, PS5 and Xbox Series X, and 4K 144Hz with FreeSync or G-Sync on PC. This is limited to just two ports, versus four on higher-end TVs, but still a great inclusion. Dolby Vision gaming is also supported on Xbox and PC.
The U7N uses a VA panel with a Mini LED backlight, so contrast is good thanks to local dimming and colour reproduction is also great. Brightness and reflection handling is also a strong point, with the TV easily getting bright enough to handle daytime viewing. Input lag is also remarkably low, at ~5ms, and response times are also competitive for non-OLED panels. Black Frame Insertion at 120Hz is offered, but unfortunately is sub-par in its execution.
Finally, the U7N uses Google TV, so you have a wide selection of apps and the ability to tinker with the built-in OS to a greater degree than on LG or Samsung sets.
Pros
- Two HDMI 2.1 ports with full VRR support up to 4K 144Hz on PC and 4K 120Hz on consoles
- Competitive input lag, pixel response times and contrast for a non-OLED set
- Impressive SDR/HDR brightness and great reflection handling
Cons
- Narrow viewing angles due to the VA panel used
- Poor implementation of 120Hz BFI
What do you look for in a good gaming TV?
For gaming, arguably one of the most important things to look for is input latency, and how low that figure is. It's a measure of how long it takes for your buttons presses to translate into in-game actions. Many of the best 4K HDR TVs offer input latency figures of below 12ms, but can go lower with the introduction of VRR tech, too, so you can get the snappiest inputs possible. For reference, the average for response time is 20ms, while slower screens react in 30ms or more. While it may not sound like a lot, it can be noticeable when you're looking for it.
Apart from input latency, we also think a TV's motion handling is integral, as well as which HDR formats they support and how vivid and well-presented their colours are. As well as this, we'll also take a gander at their built-in smart TV OS and how intuitive that is to use, too. In terms of pricing, we've seen the pricing of sets come down dramatically in the last year. For instance, a 55 inch OLED display will run you about £1000/$1000, while LCD models can cost a lot less than half that amount. To add to this, there are also even cheaper options that provide relatively poor HDR but still deliver a lot of screen for the money.
HDMI 2.1 connectivity is another important feature we're looking out for. This standard allows for both 8K 60Hz and 4K 120Hz content, bringing a massive boost to either resolution or responsiveness. HDMI 2.1 is an integral part of both the next-gen consoles and next-gen graphics cards, so it's worth looking for if you're buying a TV - especially a high-end option. We've recently rounded up all the 120fps PS5 and Xbox Series X/S games, including backwards compatible titles.
Is it a good time to buy?
As we mentioned in the intro, it's a great time to upgrade to a new TV, as OLED TVs have continued to improve and OLED alternatives are also getting more competitive. If you're reading this in the early part of 2025, then you'll also benefit from reductions on 2024-era TVs as the new 2025 models roll in as we enter the spring.
One of the most important techs you'll want to look out for when buying a TV is the inclusion of HDMI 2.1, a video standard standard that includes support for higher resolutions at higher frame-rates than ever before, including 8K 60Hz and 4K 120Hz support. As well as more raw data throughput, the new standard also includes features designed for gamers, like automatic low latency mode (ALLM), which automatically engages a game mode when a game is launched. Another important one is HDMI Forum variable refresh rate (VRR), which removes judder and makes small frame-rate drops less noticeable, without the heavy input lag penalty of traditional v-sync. Some TVs support parts of these standard with HDMI 2.0b ports, eg TVs with 60Hz panels may support VRR, ALLM and eARC without needing to support a 4K 120Hz connection. In general though, if you're considering a four figure TV, HDMI 2.1 support should be a given.
Display types
With the death of plasma displays, there are two major display types used in modern displays: LCD and OLED, with LCD representing the lower and mid-range of the market and OLED the high-end. LCD displays can be broken down further too, into IPS, VA and QLED displays. Here's what you need to know about each one, in order from cheapest to most expensive.
IPS: These monitors provide good viewing angles and improved colour accuracy compared to monitors using VA panels. However, some IPS panels, particularly older ones, can suffer from slower response times, making them worse for fast-paced games. Another potential issue is 'IPS glow', where the monitor's backlight is visible in dark scenes.
VA: A type of monitor panel which tends to occupy a middle-ground between IPS and cheap TN displays in many respects. These panels generally offer the best contrast, backed with good response times and colour reproduction. However, viewing angles and colour gamut may be limited compared to IPS and OLED.
QLED: This confusingly-named panel type from Samsung is essentially a VA panel that has been upgraded with quantum dots, allowing the monitors to produce slightly wider viewing angles than standard VA panels, plus higher brightness levels and wider colour gamuts. However, as is typical for a VA display, motion handling can be subpar.
OLED: This high-end display tech uses organic light-emitting diodes which produce what is arguably the best picture. Contrast is a strong suit, as individual pixels can be turned off completely to create a true black, rather than the very dark grey that other monitor types can produce. Viewing angles are also impressive, ensuring the picture from a 45-degree angle looks as good as the screen viewed dead-on. HDR is also well catered for, thanks to the ability to see extremely light and dark areas side-by-side. However, OLED can be expensive, its brightness can't compete with traditional LCDs - though this is changing - and motion handling can be poor on some models. Image retention or burn-in is also a concern, although real-life OLED burn-in tests that have been running non-stop for several years show that image retention is unlikely to occur through normal use, even when gaming.
Common terms
Resolution: How many pixels are on screen, given as horizontal x vertical. 1920x1080 (1080p) and 3840x2160 (4K) are the most common resolutions for both TVs and monitors. The higher the resolution, the crisper and more detailed a game tends to look.
Refresh rate: How many times the screen updates per second, given in Hz. Standard TVs refresh at 60Hz, while more modern TVs can achieve 120Hz at some resolutions. For 4K at 120Hz, a TV needs to support the HDMI 2.1 standard. The higher the refresh rate, the more fluid a game will feel.
Response time: This stat typically measures how fast a pixel can turn from grey to white and then back to grey again. The best displays sport pixel response time figures of less than 4ms, with TN and fast IPS panels offering a quoted 1ms GtG and VA and regular IPS screens likely to achieve higher figures. OLED displays can achieve near-instant response times. Low response times help to eliminate distracting smears in fast-paced scenes. Note that response time is distinct from input lag, which refers to the delay between an input (like pressing a button) and seeing the effect of the input on-screen.
Contrast ratio: Simply the ratio between the brightness of a display when it is displaying perfect black versus perfect white. Around 1000:1 is typical for an IPS display, a VA display can hit 3000:1 or higher and an OLED has technically infinite contrast, as its organic LEDs can switch off entirely to create a completely dark image. High contrast ratio screens look particularly good in dark rooms, as blacks will appear properly black rather than dark grey. When a high contrast display also has high peak brightness levels (eg 600 nits and up), HDR content will look punchier too.
HDMI VRR, G-Sync and FreeSync: These terms refer to adaptive sync technology, designed to eliminate ugly screen-tearing and judder while adding less input lag than traditional v-sync. G-Sync is Nvidia's implementation and FreeSync is the AMD alternative, while HDMI VRR is a slightly more neutral standard implemented by the HDMI Forum with HDMI 2.0b and HDMI 2.1. A TV can support one, some or all of these standards.
HDR: High Dynamic Range allows for greater contrast between the lightest and darkest parts of an image, as well as a wider colour gamut. There are various video formats that go beyond vanilla HDR10, including DolbyVision, DisplayHDR 400/600/1000/1400 and HLG. Some videos will only be offered in a certain format, while others may be available in multiple formats. Choosing a TV that supports at least one of these formats mean you're more likely to see HDR content as intended when streaming video or playing Blu-Rays.
Got a question we didn't cover?
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