Samsung vs LG vs Sony: Which is the Best Gaming TV for Your Setup?
By Robert Jones · 2026-03-08
Right then, let's talk tellies for gaming. Picking the right one for your PS5 or Xbox isn't as simple as it used to be. I've been testing Samsung, LG, and Sony's best and I'll tell you which one's genuinely worth your cash.
Right then, let's talk telly. Specifically, tellies for gaming. For years, a big screen was enough, wasn't it? Plug in your PlayStation or Xbox, job done. Not anymore. With the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, things have gotten a fair bit more complicated. High refresh rates, proper low latency, HDR that actually makes a difference – it’s all a bit of a minefield if you’re not careful. It’s like setting up a new surround sound system; you can't just chuck any old bit of kit in there and expect fireworks. Now, when it comes to the top-end gaming screens, there are three big players: Samsung, LG, and Sony. Each has their own way of doing things. Samsung, they’re all about the brightness, especially with their Mini-LED stuff. LG, well, they practically own the OLED market, and they’ve been brilliant at giving gamers what they want. And Sony? They make the PlayStation, so you'd hope they know a thing or two about making a TV that works well with it, eh? They've got some clever integration, that's for sure. I’ve had a good few of these in the workshop, tweaking settings, seeing what makes them tick. So, let’s get stuck in and see which one’s worth your hard-earned cash. **Quick Verdict: For most gamers, the LG C4 OLED offers the best all-round package.** ### Who it's for: * **LG OLED:** Console gamers, PC gamers, film fanatics, those who appreciate perfect blacks and instant response. * **Samsung Neo QLED (Mini-LED):** Gamers with bright living rooms, those who fear OLED burn-in, Xbox Game Pass streamers, sports enthusiasts. * **Sony QD-OLED:** PS5 owners who want the ultimate "hands-off" experience, those prioritising motion and upscaling, film purists. * **Samsung QD-OLED:** PC gamers pushing high frame rates, console gamers wanting a brighter OLED experience, those who want vivid colours. ### Who should skip it: * **LG OLED:** Those gaming in extremely bright rooms without good curtain control, the genuinely paranoid about burn-in (it's barely an issue these days, mind). * **Samsung Neo QLED (Mini-LED):** Anyone who primarily watches films in a dark room and wants perfect blacks, Dolby Vision devotees. * **Sony QD-OLED:** Budget-conscious buyers, PC gamers who need more HDMI 2.1 ports, those not fussed about PS5 specific features. * **Samsung QD-OLED:** Anyone on a tighter budget, those who don't need the absolute brightest OLED, film buffs who prioritise motion over peak brightness.  *Samsung vs LG vs Sony: Which is the Best Gaming TV for Your Setup? — tested in the SpeakersMag workshop.* ## The Contenders: My Top Picks for Gaming Telly ### 1. LG C4 OLED – The Sensible Choice Right, the LG C-series. It’s been the benchmark for gaming TVs for a long while now, hasn’t it? The C4 just builds on that. It’s not a revolutionary leap from the C3, but it didn’t need to be, frankly. The C3 was already a fantastic piece of kit. The C4 ups the refresh rate to 144Hz, which is brilliant news if you’re a PC gamer hooked up to your rig. For PS5 and Xbox, 120Hz is still the top, so it’s not as critical there, but it certainly doesn’t hurt. You still get those four full-fat HDMI 2.1 ports, which is a must for anyone with multiple consoles and a soundbar. G-Sync and FreeSync support? Yep, both there. It’s an incredibly versatile screen. Contrast is what OLED does best, and the C4 is no different. You get proper, inky blacks, which makes a huge difference in shadowy games. No light bleed, no blooming around bright objects. It’s what makes horror games truly terrifying and dark cinematic scenes really pop. Input lag is tiny, practically instant, and the response times are lightning-fast. You won’t be blaming the TV for getting fragged, that’s for sure. And their ‘Game Optimiser’ menu is actually useful. It’s not just a gimmick; you can tweak things on the fly without digging through layers of settings. My only real niggle is the brightness. In a really sunny room, even with curtains drawn, it won’t hit the searing peaks of a Mini-LED. And while burn-in is much, much less of a concern than it used to be – honestly, you’d have to be really trying to get it on a modern OLED – it’s still something people fret about. For the vast majority of us, it’s a non-issue. I’ve had my C3 in the workshop for months, running games, static menus, you name it, and it’s been absolutely fine. No issues at all. For most folk, this is the one to go for. * **Pros:** * Perfect blacks, incredible contrast. * Near-instant response times, incredibly low input lag. * Four proper HDMI 2.1 ports – perfect for multiple consoles. * Handy ‘Game Optimiser’ menu. * 144Hz support for PC gaming. * **Cons:** * Not as bright as Mini-LED or QD-OLED in HDR highlights. * The slight, persistent worry about burn-in for some (though largely unfounded now). ### 2. Samsung QN90D Neo QLED – The Brightness Beast If you game in a room that’s basically a sun trap, or you just like things really, really bright, then Samsung’s QN90D (or last year’s QN90C) is probably the one you should be looking at. Their Neo QLED tech, which is basically Mini-LED, just pumps out light like nobody’s business. HDR content truly shines here, even with the curtains wide open. You can actually see the detail in those bright explosions without having to draw the blinds. It’s seriously impressive. One thing a lot of people appreciate about these is the lack of any burn-in risk. If you’re one of those who leaves static game UIs on screen for hours, or just can’t shake the fear of OLED panel degradation, then this is your safe bet. Samsung also includes their Gaming Hub, which is a neat idea. You can stream games directly from Xbox Game Pass, even without owning an Xbox. If you’re a cloud gaming fan, that’s a big plus. The anti-reflective coating on these is also top-notch. Really cuts down on glare from windows or lamps. Now, it’s not perfect. Being an LED-based screen, even with thousands of tiny Mini-LEDs, you’ll still get a bit of “blooming” or “haloing” around bright objects on a very dark background. It’s much better than older LED TVs, but it’s there if you look for it. And Samsung, bless 'em, still refuse to support Dolby Vision. They push their own HDR10+ standard instead. While HDR10+ can be good, Dolby Vision is generally better supported by content creators, especially on streaming services. So, if you watch a lot of Netflix or Disney+ in Dolby Vision, you’ll miss out on that dynamic metadata. Not a deal-breaker for everyone, but something to consider. * **Pros:** * Blistering peak brightness – HDR truly pops, even in bright rooms. * Zero risk of burn-in. * Samsung Gaming Hub for cloud gaming without a console. * Fantastic anti-reflective screen coating. * Generally excellent gaming performance. * **Cons:** * Some blooming/haloing around bright objects on dark backgrounds. * No Dolby Vision support – HDR10+ only. * Black levels aren't as perfect as OLED. ### 3. Sony Bravia XR A95L/A95M QD-OLED – The Premium Play Right, if you’ve got deep pockets and you’re a PlayStation 5 owner, Sony’s A95L (or the upcoming A95M) is a serious contender. This is their flagship QD-OLED, and it’s a stunner. QD-OLED combines the perfect blacks and pixel-level control of traditional OLED with the vibrant colours and brightness of Quantum Dots. The result is a picture that’s incredibly vibrant, with fantastic colour volume that just makes everything look more lifelike. It’s particularly noticeable in games with really punchy colours. Sony’s processing is legendary, especially their motion handling and upscaling. Older games, or even standard definition content, look much better on a Sony. They just have a knack for making things look smooth and clean. For PS5 owners, there are some really neat exclusive features. Things like "Auto HDR Tone Mapping," which automatically optimises the HDR settings when you first connect your PS5. It takes the guesswork out of calibration, which is brilliant for those who just want to plug and play. It also has an Auto Genre Picture Mode, so it switches to game mode automatically when you fire up a game. Small things, but they make a difference. However, it comes at a price. A *big* price. This is easily the most expensive option on the list, and for some, the extra cost just isn’t justified. And here’s the kicker: it only has two HDMI 2.1 ports. One of those is also the eARC port, which you’ll likely use for your soundbar or AVR. So, if you have a PS5, an Xbox Series X, and a PC, you’re going to be constantly swapping cables or needing an HDMI switch. That’s just not good enough for a premium gaming TV in my book. Excellent picture, yes, but those limitations can be annoying. * **Pros:** * Stunning QD-OLED panel with incredible colour volume and perfect blacks. * Best-in-class motion handling and picture upscaling. * Exclusive, truly useful features for PS5 owners (Auto HDR Tone Mapping). * Excellent overall picture quality for films and games. * **Cons:** * Eye-wateringly expensive. * Only two HDMI 2.1 ports (one of which is eARC), a real limitation for multi-console setups. * Brightness isn't quite as punchy as Samsung's QD-OLEDs in some scenarios. ### 4. Samsung S95D QD-OLED – The Speed Demon's Choice Samsung’s S95D (or last year's S95C) is their answer to the QD-OLED market, and they’ve done a cracking job. If you thought the Sony was bright, the Samsung S95D pushes it even further, especially in those peak highlights. It uses the same QD-OLED panel technology, so you get those amazing, vibrant colours and perfect blacks, but with an extra kick of brightness that makes HDR really pop. This is a genuinely bright OLED, which is a bit of a contradiction in terms usually, but Samsung makes it work. Like the LG C4, you get a full suite of four HDMI 2.1 ports, which is what we need for modern gaming. It supports 4K at up to 144Hz, making it another fantastic option for PC gamers. The response times are instant, and input lag is incredibly low, just what you expect from a top-tier OLED. Samsung’s Tizen operating system is also very slick and responsive, with the Gaming Hub offering that cloud gaming convenience we talked about earlier. The S95D also has a new anti-glare screen coating which is even more effective than previous models, making it much better in brighter rooms than older OLEDs. Again, the main downside for some will be the lack of Dolby Vision, with Samsung sticking to HDR10+. While the picture quality is phenomenal, if you