Best TV for PS5 Gaming: HDMI 2.1, 120Hz and VRR Explained
By Robert Jones · 2026-03-08
If you've managed to snag a PlayStation 5, you've likely realised your old telly isn't quite cutting it anymore. An audio engineer with decades of experience breaks down what you need for a truly cracking PS5 gaming setup.
Right, if you've somehow managed to get your hands on a PlayStation 5, you've probably noticed your old telly just isn't cutting the mustard anymore, eh? It's a proper beast of a console, pushing out 4K pictures at 120 frames a second, with fancy Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) to sort out any screen tearing, and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) for instant button presses. But for any of that to actually matter, your TV needs to speak the same language. I've seen far too many people spend five hundred quid on a console, then plug it into a TV that bottlenecks the whole thing. It's like putting premium unleaded in a Ford Fiesta – nice, but a bit pointless. Choosing the right TV for your PS5 isn't just about getting the biggest screen you can cram into the living room. It’s about making sure the thing has HDMI 2.1 ports and a panel that can actually keep up. Honestly, some of these older TVs are about as fast as a snail in treacle. I've been fiddling with speakers and screens for decades, and let me tell you, the jump in display tech in recent years is genuinely impressive, especially for gaming. ### Quick Verdict **The LG C3 OLED is still the best all-rounder, offering the most bang for your buck without cutting corners.**  *Best TV for PS5 Gaming: HDMI 2.1, 120Hz and VRR Explained — tested in the SpeakersMag workshop.* ## Why Your Old TV Just Won't Do – And What HDMI 2.1 Means Look, your PlayStation 5 is a bit of a powerhouse, right? It's designed to spit out incredible visuals at seriously high frame rates. But if your TV doesn't have the right connections and capabilities, you're essentially hobbling the console. Imagine buying a Ferrari and only ever driving it in first gear. That's what it's like. The main culprit here is often the lack of HDMI 2.1. Now, HDMI 2.0 has been around for ages. It’s fine for 4K at 60Hz, maybe HDR if you're lucky. But HDMI 2.1? That's a different kettle of fish entirely. It’s got a massive increase in bandwidth, meaning it can push through a lot more data. This is crucial for things like 4K at 120 frames per second. Without it, you're stuck at 60Hz for 4K, which, while not terrible, isn't giving you that super-smooth gameplay the PS5 is capable of. It's like the difference between watching a video in 30fps and 60fps – once you see the smoother one, it's hard to go back. It also brings in Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), which is a bit of a godsend. Ever had a game where the picture seems to tear across the screen when things get hectic? That's screen tearing. VRR basically syncs your TV's refresh rate with the console's output, eliminating that annoying effect. It means a much smoother, more immersive experience. And then there's Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM). This is about reducing input lag – that tiny delay between you pressing a button and something happening on screen. ALLM automatically switches your TV into its lowest latency mode when it detects a game console, meaning your actions are registered instantly. Crucial for competitive gaming, believe me. So, when you're looking for a new TV, make sure it has full-fat HDMI 2.1 ports. Not just one, ideally. Some manufacturers are a bit sneaky, only putting one in or calling it "HDMI 2.1 compatible" when it's actually stripped-down. Always check the specs properly. It's a bit of a minefield, but worth the effort. ## The Best TVs for Your PlayStation 5: My Top Picks I've had plenty of these sets in my workshop, or at least spent some serious time with them at various trade shows and review events. I tend to focus on what actually matters for real-world use, not just what looks good on a spec sheet. Here are the ones I'd genuinely recommend, and a couple you might want to consider if your budget is a bit tighter. ### 1. LG C3 OLED (The All-Rounder Champion) **Who it's for:** Pretty much anyone who wants a fantastic picture, superb gaming features, and doesn't want to spend an absolute fortune. Serious gamers will love it. **Who should skip it:** If your living room is permanently bathed in direct sunlight, or you *only* play games with static HUDs for hours on end, you might want to consider a brighter Mini-LED. Honestly, the LG C-series has been the go-to for gamers for years, and the C3 keeps that torch burning bright. It's an OLED, so you get those perfect blacks and infinite contrast that really make games pop. You know, when you're in a dark cave in *Elden Ring*, the shadows are truly black, not just a murky grey. It makes a huge difference to immersion. It comes with four full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports, which is brilliant. You can plug in your PS5, an Xbox Series X if you're feeling flush, and still have a spare for a soundbar or a decent PC. No faffing about swapping cables. The "Game Optimiser" menu is genuinely useful too, letting you tweak settings like VRR, ALLM, and picture modes on the fly without having to dig through endless menus. It's quick, it's intuitive, and it just works. Now, it's not as bright as some of the newer QD-OLEDs or Mini-LED sets, especially in a really sunny room. If you game mainly in a conservatory or a room with huge south-facing windows, you might find yourself squinting a bit. And the old burn-in worry with OLEDs always crops up. I've had an LG B7 in my lounge for six years, used for everything from movies to PS4, and never had an issue. Modern OLEDs are pretty resilient, but if you're playing *FIFA* for eight hours a day with the same score overlay, there's always a tiny risk. For most people, it's a non-issue. * **Pros:** * Incredible contrast with perfect blacks – cinematic quality. * Four full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports – future-proof connectivity. * Near-instantaneous response time and low input lag – superb for gaming. * Excellent Game Optimiser menu – easy tweaks. * Great value for an OLED of this calibre. * **Cons:** * Not quite as bright as some QD-OLEDs or Mini-LEDs in very bright rooms. * Potential (albeit rare) for burn-in with extreme static image use. ### 2. Sony Bravia XR A95L (The "Designed for PS5" Premium) **Who it's for:** Those with a healthy budget who want the absolute best picture quality, especially if they value Sony's specific PS5 integration. **Who should skip it:** Anyone who thinks paying an extra grand for a slight improvement in colour and a couple of exclusive PS5 features isn't worth it. Also, if you need more than two HDMI 2.1 ports. Sony makes the PlayStation, so it's no surprise they're keen to market their own TVs as "Perfect for PlayStation 5." And, to be fair, they've done a cracking job with the A95L. This is a QD-OLED, which means it takes the perfect blacks of traditional OLEDs and ramps up the brightness and colour vibrancy. The colours on this thing are phenomenal, really vibrant and accurate. It's a proper feast for the eyes. It's got some neat tricks specifically for the PS5 too, like exclusive HDR Auto Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode. Basically, the TV talks to the console and automatically optimises the picture settings the moment you boot up a game. It's a nice touch, removes a bit of the guesswork. When I first saw this in action, I thought it was a bit of a gimmick, but it genuinely makes a difference. The HDR peak brightness is also a step up, making highlights in games truly sparkle. My main gripes? It's incredibly expensive. You're paying a premium for that Sony badge and the QD-OLED tech. And it only has two HDMI 2.1 ports, one of which is also your eARC port for soundbars. If you have a PS5, Xbox, and want a decent sound system, you'll be doing a bit of cable juggling. A minor annoyance, but still. If you've got the cash and want the best-looking PS5 experience money can buy, this is probably it. * **Pros:** * Phenomenal colour accuracy and vibrancy thanks to QD-OLED. * Bespoke PS5 integration (Auto Tone Mapping, Auto Genre Picture Mode). * Incredible HDR peak brightness – truly stunning visuals. * Excellent motion handling. * **Cons:** * Extremely expensive, a serious investment. * Only two HDMI 2.1 ports (one shared with eARC). * Google TV operating system can feel a bit sluggish sometimes. ### 3. Samsung S90C QD-OLED (The Best Value Premium OLED) **Who it's for:** Gamers who want the jaw-dropping colours and brightness of QD-OLED without quite the same dent in their wallet as the Sony A95L. **Who should skip it:** If Dolby Vision is a must-have for your movie watching, or you can't stand Samsung's Tizen operating system. If the Sony A95L made your eyes water at the price tag, the Samsung S90C is a very strong contender. It also uses QD-OLED technology, so you're getting those incredibly punchy colours and superb brightness levels that make games look utterly spectacular. Honestly, seeing a game like *Horizon Forbidden West* on one of these is just stunning. The vibrant blues of the sky, the lush greens of the foliage – it all just leaps off the screen. It supports a 144Hz refresh rate, which is a nice bonus if you happen to hook up a gaming PC to it as well. For the PS5, it'll cap at 120Hz, but that's still plenty smooth. Input lag is incredibly low, which makes a real difference in fast-paced games. Playing *Call of Duty* or *Fortnite* feels incredibly responsive. It’s got a very thin design too, which looks great mounted on a wall. The main drawback for some is the lack of Dolby Vision support. Samsung, for whatever reason, sticks with HDR10+ instead. For gaming, this isn't a huge deal, as most PS5 games are mastered in HDR10 anyway. But if you watch a lot of films and TV shows that are exclusively in Dolby Vision, you might notice the difference. Also, Samsung's Tizen OS can sometimes feel a bit cluttered compared to LG's WebOS or Google TV. It’s not terrible, just a bit busy. * **Pros:** * Stunning brightness and colour saturation for an OLED, thanks to QD-OLED. * Supports 144Hz refresh rate (great for PC gamers). * Excellent low input lag – very responsive gaming. * Better value than the Sony A95L for similar picture quality. * Sleek, super-thin design. * **Cons:** * No Dolby Vision support (uses HDR10+ instead). * Tizen OS can feel a bit cluttered. * Still a premium price point for many budgets. ### 4. Hisense U7K (The Best Budget Mini-LED) **Who it's for:** Gamers on a tighter budget who still want a bright, capable TV with all the core PS5 gaming features. Great for brighter rooms. **Who should skip it:** If you absolutely crave perfect blacks and infinite contrast that only OLED can provide. Or if you're a brand snob. Right, if the OLED prices are making your eyes water, then the Hisense U7K is a bit of a revelation. This isn't an OLED; it's a Mini-LED. What that means is it uses thousands of tiny LEDs to light the screen, giving it much better local dimming and far higher peak brightness than your average LED TV. In fact, it gets much brighter than most OLEDs, making it absolutely perfect if you game a lot during the day in a bright room. The colours are surprisingly punchy too. For gaming, it's properly kitted out. It features a dedicated Game Mode Pro that supports VRR and 144Hz (again, 120Hz for PS5), and input lag is really low. I had one of these in for a quick look last year, and I was genuinely surprised at how much tech they packed in for the money. You get two HDMI 2.1 ports, which is perfectly adequate for most people – PS5 and a soundbar, job done. Where does it fall short? Well, it's not an OLED, so you won't get those perfect, inky blacks. There can be a bit of "blooming" or "halo" effect around bright objects on a dark background, especially if you're watching something with stark contrast. It's not terrible, but it's noticeable if you're used to OLED. But for the price, you're getting an awful lot of screen for your money, and it'll handle your PS5 with aplomb. Hisense has really stepped up their game in recent years, they're not just budget rubbish anymore. * **Pros:** * Very affordable for the features it offers. * High peak brightness – excellent for bright rooms. * Mini-LED backlighting provides good contrast for an LED TV. * Dedicated Game Mode Pro with VRR and 144Hz support. * Good value for performance. * **Cons:** * Can't match OLEDs for perfect black levels. * Some blooming or haloing can occur around bright objects. * Processing might not be as refined as premium brands. ### 5. TCL C845K (Another Cracking Mini-LED) **Who it's for:** Another strong option for budget-conscious gamers who want high brightness and good all-round performance without OLED prices. **Who should skip it:** If you prefer the established brands, or if the user interface is a make-or-break factor for you. Similar to the Hisense, the TCL C845K is another Mini-LED TV that punches well above its weight. TCL has been making waves in the TV market by offering truly impressive tech at prices that make the bigger names look a bit greedy. This set delivers seriously high brightness – often outshining even some more expensive OLEDs – and excellent contrast for an LED-based TV thanks to its Mini-LED backlight and a good number of local dimming zones. It's also fully equipped for PS5 gaming with HDMI 2.1 ports, 120Hz refresh rate (up to 144Hz for PC), VRR, and ALLM. Input lag is perfectly respectable, so you won't feel like you're playing through treacle. The picture quality, especially with HDR content, is really striking, with vibrant colours and a real sense of depth. It's Google TV too, which I find generally pretty user-friendly. Again, the same caveats apply as with the Hisense U7K – it's not going to give you those perfect, inky OLED blacks. There will be some backlight blooming in very demanding scenes, particularly in a dark room. But honestly, for the money, you're getting a very capable gaming display that will make your PS5 look fantastic without having to remortgage the house. It's well worth a look if you're in this budget range. * **Pros:** * Extremely high peak brightness – fantastic for any room. * Excellent contrast for a Mini-LED TV. * Full HDMI 2.1 feature set (VRR, ALLM, 120Hz). * Great value for money. * User-friendly Google TV interface. * **Cons:** * Black levels can't quite match OLED. * Some backlight blooming is occasionally visible. * Build quality can feel a little less premium than top-tier brands. ## Quick Comparison Table | Feature | LG C3 OLED | Sony Bravia XR A95L | Samsung S90C QD-OLED | Hisense U7K Mini-LED | TCL C845K Mini-LED | |:-------------------|:-----------------------------------------|:----------------------------------------------|:---------------------------------------------|:-------------------------------------------------|:-----------------------------------------------| | **Panel Type** | OLED | QD-OLED | QD-OLED | Mini-LED (VA) | Mini-LED (VA) | | **Resolution** | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K | | **Max Refresh** | 120Hz | 120Hz | 144Hz (120Hz for PS5) | 144Hz (120Hz for PS5) | 144Hz (120Hz for PS5) | | **HDMI 2.1 Ports** | 4 | 2 (1 shared with eARC) | 4 | 2 | 2 | | **VRR Support** | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | **ALLM Support** | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | **HDR Formats** | HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision | HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision | HDR10, HLG, HDR10+ | HDR10, HLG, HDR10+, Dolby Vision | HDR10, HLG, HDR10+, Dolby Vision | | **Peak Brightness**| Excellent (around 800-1000 nits) | Exceptional (around 1000-1500 nits) | Exceptional (around 1000-1300 nits) | Very Good (around 1000-1200 nits) | Very Good (around 1000-1300 nits) | | **Contrast** | Infinite | Infinite | Infinite | Excellent (for LED) | Excellent (for LED) | | **Sound** | Good (Dolby Atmos) | Very Good (Acoustic Surface Audio+) | Good (Object Tracking Sound Lite) | Decent | Decent | | **PS5 Features** | VRR, ALLM, Game Optimiser | VRR, ALLM, Auto Tone Mapping, Auto Genre Mode | VRR, ALLM | VRR, ALLM, Game Mode Pro | VRR, ALLM | | **Price (approx)** | £1100-£2500 (depending on size) | £2000-£4000+ (depending on size) | £1300-£3000 (depending on size) | £600-£1000 (depending on size) | £650-£1100 (depending on size) | ## Getting the Best Out of Your New TV for PS5 Gaming Buying the TV is one thing; setting it up properly is another. Don't just plug it in and assume it's perfect. A few minutes tweaking can make a world of difference. Trust me, I've seen plenty of brilliant kit look rubbish because someone couldn't be bothered to dive into the settings. First off, make sure your PS5 is plugged into an HDMI 2.1 port. Sounds obvious, but sometimes people just use the first available socket. Then, head into your PS5 settings and make sure everything is set to automatic or the highest available options for resolution and refresh rate. Check the "Screen and Video" section. You want to see "4K 120Hz" if your TV supports it. If you don't, something's amiss, usually the cable or the port. Most modern TVs will detect your PS5 and switch into a Game Mode automatically thanks to ALLM. But it's always worth double-checking. In your TV's picture settings, look for a "Game Mode" or something similar. This typically turns off a lot of the image processing that can add input lag. For movies and TV, that processing can look good, but for gaming, it's your enemy. You want the picture to be as raw and responsive as possible. If your TV has a "Game Optimiser" menu, like the LGs, spend some time in there. You can usually toggle things like VRR, FreeSync (which is similar to VRR), and adjust black levels or sharpness specifically for gaming. Don't be afraid to experiment. You can always reset to default if you mess it up. Finally, the cable. Use a certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable. The one that came with your PS5 is fine, but if you're buying a longer one, don't skimp. Cheap cables can cause all sorts of headaches with high bandwidth signals. It's not just about getting a picture, it's about getting a *stable* picture at the *right* quality. ## FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered ### Q: What is HDMI 2.1 and why is it so important for PS5? A: HDMI 2.1 is the latest version of the HDMI standard, and it's crucial for PS5 because it provides much higher bandwidth. This allows for features like 4K resolution at 120 frames per second (120Hz), Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) to eliminate screen tearing, and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) for a more responsive gaming experience. Without it, your PS5 can't deliver its full visual and performance potential. ### Q: Do I really need 120Hz for PS5 gaming? A: Not every game on PS5 runs at 120Hz, but many do, especially competitive titles or games with a performance mode. While 60Hz is perfectly playable, 120Hz offers a significantly smoother and more fluid experience. Once you've played a game at 120Hz, going back to 60Hz can feel a bit sluggish. It's a genuine upgrade, not just a marketing gimmick. ### Q: What's the deal with OLED burn-in? Should I be worried? A: The risk of OLED burn-in has been massively overstated for modern TVs. While theoretically possible if you display the same static image (like a game's HUD or a news channel logo) for thousands of hours on end, it's extremely rare with normal use. Manufacturers have implemented features like pixel shifting and logo dimming to mitigate the risk. For typical gaming and TV watching, it's not something I'd lose sleep over. ### Q: Is a soundbar or home cinema system necessary with a new gaming TV? A: "Necessary" is a strong word, but strongly recommended, absolutely! While built-in TV speakers have improved, they still can't compete with a dedicated soundbar or a full home cinema setup. Better audio makes a huge difference to immersion, whether it's hearing footsteps in a stealth game or feeling the rumble of an explosion. It completes the experience. Don't spend big on the picture and forget the sound, eh? ### Q: What size TV should I get for PS5 gaming? A: This really depends on your room size and viewing distance. For 4K, generally, the bigger the better, but within reason. Aim for a size where you can comfortably see the whole screen without constantly moving your eyes, but still feel immersed. For typical living rooms, 55-inch to 65-inch is a sweet spot. Use an online viewing distance calculator if you're unsure, but a rough guide is to sit about 1.5 to 2.5 times the screen height away from the TV for a good 4K experience. ## Final Word So there you have it. Choosing a TV for your PS5 can feel a bit like wading through treacle with all the jargon, but it doesn't have to be a nightmare. The key bits are HDMI 2.1, 120Hz, VRR, and decent HDR. Get those right, and you're well on your way to a truly cracking gaming experience. My top recommendation still sits with the LG C3 OLED. It's a fantastic all-rounder, offers incredible picture quality, and has all the gaming features you could possibly want, all at a price that, whilst still significant, isn't quite as eye-watering as some of the other premium options. If you're on a tighter budget, don't dismiss the Mini-LEDs from Hisense or TCL – they offer serious performance for the money, especially if you're in a bright room. Whatever you pick, just make sure you set it up properly, eh? A bit of time spent in the settings menu will unlock the full potential of both your new TV and that powerful PS5. Happy gaming, folks! Robert out.