The 5 Best 4k Gaming TVs - Summer 2021 Reviews

The best 4k TV for gaming with an OLED panel is the LG C1 OLED. It's one of the best gaming TVs that we've tested, with a ton of gaming features. It comes with four HDMI 2.1 ports, which is great if you want to connect both your PS5 and Xbox Series X, and it supports all resolutions up to 4k @ 120Hz. To top it off, its OLED panel has self-lit pixels, giving it a near-infinite contrast ratio and pitch-perfect blacks for unparalleled picture quality.

It sports a 120Hz panel with a near-instantaneous response time, so fast-moving content looks exceptionally clear with very little smearing or motion blur. It also has an optional black frame insertion feature to reduce blur even further. New in 2021 is the input lag 'Boost' setting, which gives you incredibly low input lag as well. Finally, it supports FreeSync and HDMI Forum variable refresh rate (VRR) to reduce screen tearing and is NVIDIA-certified to be G-SYNC compatible.

Unfortunately, OLED TVs all carry a risk for permanent burn-in, especially when static elements like a game's HUD or a desktop interface are displayed for long periods. However, this shouldn't be an issue if you watch varied content. It also can't get as bright as an LED TV might, especially when it comes to HDR, but its exceptional contrast means it can still deliver a satisfying HDR experience. All in all, it's one of the best TVs for gaming.

The best TV for gaming in the LED category is the Samsung QN90A QLED. It's a high-end TV from Samsung's 2021 lineup that's packed with features and delivers exceptional picture quality while offering excellent gaming performance. It's very well-built and comes with a stylish center-mounted stand that should look nice in any setup.

What sets this TV apart is its Mini LED backlighting, which allows it to get extra bright, so visibility shouldn't be an issue even in the brightest of settings, and it has fantastic reflection handling. It also makes highlights really stand out for HDR content, and it supports the HDR10+ HDR format, but not Dolby Vision. In terms of gaming, it has a 120Hz panel with HDMI 2.1 inputs, so you can play 4k games in 120fps from either the Xbox Series X or PS5. It has VRR support, low input lag, and a quick response time for a smooth and responsive gaming experience.

Sadly, its local dimming feature performs worse in Game Mode than outside of it because it causes more blooming around bright objects and raises the black level. This can be noticeable when playing games with dark scenes, but it's still not too distracting. The VA panel has a lower native contrast ratio than most VA panel TVs because of Samsung's 'Ultra Viewing Angle' that improves the viewing angles, but the contrast is improved with the local dimming. All in all, it's one of the best gaming TVs we've tested.

The best budget 4k TV for gaming that we've tested is the Vizio M7 Series Quantum 2020. This is a 2020 model that you can still find in 2021, and it offers good features for an entry-level TV. It has native FreeSync support, which is rare for a budget model, but since it has a 60Hz panel, the refresh range is limited from 40 to 60Hz.

This TV delivers a responsive gaming experience thanks to its low input lag and quick response time, and it has a black frame insertion to try to reduce motion blur. It can display 1440p content at 60Hz, great for 1440p games from your PC or Xbox Series X. It's great for dark room gaming because it has a VA panel with an excellent native contrast, but even though it has a full-array local dimming feature, it fails to improve the contrast and causes blooming around bright objects.

Unfortunately, even though it displays a fantastic color gamut, it doesn't deliver the best HDR experience because it has low HDR peak brightness, so highlights don't pop how they're supposed to. It doesn't get bright in SDR either, but at least it has good reflection handling if you want to use it in a room with a few lights around. It has narrow viewing angles, which is normal for a VA panel TV, and it's not a good choice for co-op gaming. Regardless, it's the best TV for gaming in the budget category.