Updated Oct 12, 2017
By Mehdi Azzabi
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As we reach closer to Black Friday, prices of TVs launched in the spring have fallen down significantly. 2017 TVs tend to have less input lag and motion blur than 4k TVs from previous years, which are the most important aspects of a good gaming experience. Our picks work well for consoles and PC gaming at 60 Hz. If that's not quite what you're looking for, check out our recommendations for PC gaming at 120 Hz as well as the best TVs for HDR gaming for the Xbox One X and PS4 Pro.
So far, we've tested 35 TVs in 2017 and here are our recommendations for the best gaming TVs.
Best TVÂ for Gaming
When it comes to gaming, more expensive TVs often don't really perform better than less expensive models. You generally tend to gain a fair bit of versatility and overall picture quality, but pricier TVs aren't necessarily more responsive.
Usage Rating - Version 1.1
8.8Video Games
✕
What it is
Video games. The TV will be used to play video games, directly in front, in a controlled light environment. Usually fast games, like online FPS, where motion blur and input lag is important.
Score components:
- 32% Input Lag
- 16% Motion Blur
- 8% Contrast
- 6% 1080p Input
- 6% 4k Input
- 6% Image Retention
- 4% Image Flicker
- 4% Local Dimming
- 4% Black Uniformity
- 3% Sound Quality
- 3% Gray Uniformity
- 3% Reflections
- 1% SDR Peak Brightness
- 1% Pre Calibration
- 1% Viewing Angle
- 1% Post Calibration
55" 65"
The best gaming TV we've tested is the LG C7 4k OLED TV. It combines the best picture quality currently available with a set of gaming-related features such as a very low input lag and virtually no motion blur. Thanks to its instant response time, fast motion looks incredibly fluid and crisp. The overall package offers a very responsive and immersive experience unmatched by competing LED TVs like the Samsung Q9F and Sony Z9D.
Thanks to its very wide viewing angle, it's also one of the most versatile TVs around. This makes it a great choice for just about every usage, but it's also great for playing games with a group of friends.
Best Mid-Range TVÂ for Gaming
You don't lose much in this price range as far as gaming goes. Mid-range TVs are less versatile, though, so not as good as pricier models if you plan on watching movies or HDR content.
Usage Rating - Version 1.1
8.7Video Games
✕
What it is
Video games. The TV will be used to play video games, directly in front, in a controlled light environment. Usually fast games, like online FPS, where motion blur and input lag is important.
Score components:
- 32% Input Lag
- 16% Motion Blur
- 8% Contrast
- 6% 1080p Input
- 6% 4k Input
- 6% Image Retention
- 4% Image Flicker
- 4% Local Dimming
- 4% Black Uniformity
- 3% Sound Quality
- 3% Gray Uniformity
- 3% Reflections
- 1% SDR Peak Brightness
- 1% Pre Calibration
- 1% Viewing Angle
- 1% Post Calibration
55" 65" 75"
For a mid-range option, we recommend the Vizio P Series 2017 LED TV. It's a versatile 4k TV that does exceptionally well with video games thanks to its very low input lag and motion blur. It has good value compared to the competing Samsung MU8000 and LG SJ8500 and the Vizio P Series 2017 is a good choice if you want some of the best picture quality found on an LED TV.
Thanks to its very low 16 ms of input lag, it should please even the most demanding gamers. It doesn't have the same wide viewing angle found on OLEDs, and its picture quality will not quite match OLED, but the Vizio P image will still please most users thanks to its very good local dimming feature. Its excellent handling of motion and its black frame insertion feature also make the experience more fluid and immersive, making it a package difficult to beat.
As a note though, the Vizio P's low input lag only applies for SDR games. An HDR input sees its latency go up to about 43 ms which, while not terrible for casual use, is a bit high for more competitive gaming.
More Versatile Alternative
49" 55" 65" 75"
If you're not very sensitive to input lag or if you simply play games more casually, the Sony X900E is a good alternative to the Vizio P Series. It offers a more versatile set of features to fit a more varied usage. It doesn't have quite as low an input lag as the P Series with standard video games, but it doesn't suffer from higher latencies with HDR games, making it better suited for those looking to invest in an HDR capable console in the near future.
Best Budget TVÂ for Gaming
Budget TVs offer a lot of value nowadays, and their input lag is just as low as more expensive TVs. You do lose on the overall fit and finish as well as brightness, but they can still be a good purchase.
Usage Rating - Version 1.1
8.5Video Games
✕
What it is
Video games. The TV will be used to play video games, directly in front, in a controlled light environment. Usually fast games, like online FPS, where motion blur and input lag is important.
Score components:
- 32% Input Lag
- 16% Motion Blur
- 8% Contrast
- 6% 1080p Input
- 6% 4k Input
- 6% Image Retention
- 4% Image Flicker
- 4% Local Dimming
- 4% Black Uniformity
- 3% Sound Quality
- 3% Gray Uniformity
- 3% Reflections
- 1% SDR Peak Brightness
- 1% Pre Calibration
- 1% Viewing Angle
- 1% Post Calibration
55"
For a budget option, go for the TCL P607 4k LED TV. It's the best budget gaming TV we've tested and features a very responsive experience with great motion, making it a top choice for video games. Unlike most budget TVs, it also features a better than average full-array local dimming feature which enhances its picture quality by helping it produce deeper, more uniform blacks.
The TCL P-Series punches above its weight class when it comes to gaming. Its input lag is one of the lowest we've tested at 15ms, making it an excellent choice for fast-paced games like first-person shooters and fighters that require split-second reactions. Its handling of motion is no slouch either and motion blur is some of the lowest found on LED TVs. It's not quite as versatile as the more expensive Sony X900E, but unless you want the extra features found on the Sony, the P607 is simply the best budget gaming TV money can buy.
Cheaper Alternative
43" 49" 55" 65"
If you're looking for something cheaper, we recommend the TCL S405 4K LED TV. It's a feature-packed TV for its price, and it has exceptionally low input lag and motion blur making it a great choice for more competitive gamers. It doesn't have the HDR related features of the TCL P607 and it's not quite as bright, but it's still a good buy for gamers on a budget.
Notable Mentions
- LG SJ8500. Good TV, but there are better TVs for playing video games in the same price range. See our review
- Samsung KS8000. Great gaming TV, but hard to find nowadays. See our review
- Samsung Q9F. Very good for playing video games, but poorly priced in comparison to the more versatile LG C7. See our review
- Sony A1E. Excellent gaming TV, but the LG C7 offers even better performance for cheaper. See our review
- Vizio M Series 2017. Good mid-range TV for gaming, but outclassed by the similarly priced P607. See our review
- Sony Z9D. Great gaming TV, but the LG C7 offers better performance. See our review
- Samsung MU8000. Good TV, but the LG C7 is better for playing video games. See our review
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best TVs to play video games for most people in each price range. We factor in the price (a cheaper TV wins over a pricier one if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors and availability (no TVs that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here is the list of all our reviews of TVs. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no TV is perfect, most TVs are great enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.
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