What Features Should You Look Out For In A Good Gaming TV?

Modern games are now more visually immense than they’ve ever been before. With consoles and gaming PCs now boasting more powerful processors, gamers now expect much more when it comes to gaming performance. Not only do they expect top-tier graphics, but also a perfect sense of control over their games. 

In order to enjoy modern games at their very best, you’re going to need a TV that’s up to the task. But what features set the best gaming TVs apart from the rest? What should you be sure to look out for when buying a gaming TV of your own?

With the help of the TV experts over at Reliant, we’ve decided to put together this ultimate guide, so you can select the gaming TV of your dreams!

Essential Features for a Gaming TV – What To Look Out For

The primary features of a gaming TV include:

• Screen Size
• Resolution
• Refresh Rate
• Input Lag
• Display Type

Screen Size

Most likely, when the idea of buying a brand new gaming TV popped into your mind, the first thing you thought of was screen size. After all, modern games are now more cinematic and immersive than ever before, so why not enjoy them on the biggest screen possible? While we’d totally recommend sizing up and going for a screen with a great sense of scale, make sure you don’t rush your decision.

Before you choose the perfect screen size, make sure to think carefully about where it’s going. How much space do you have? Is there room for the TV to fit in? Will you be mounting it to the wall? You should make sure there’s more than enough space for the TV to fit into the room without becoming an obstacle!

You should also make sure the viewing distance suits the screen’s size. The larger the TV is, the farther you should sit from it. This ensures you can adopt a neutral posture as you play, which keeps aches from developing! The optimal viewing distance can be worked out by taking the screen size and multiplying it by 1.5!

If you’re planning to play at your desk, your best bet is to go for a slightly more compact screen, so you can play up close. If you’re looking to play from your sofa, then a larger screen, such as a 65-inch TV model might be a better choice!

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Resolution

It’s no secret that top consoles like the PlayStation 5 Pro and Xbox Series X can output visuals at 4K and even 8K resolutions. As such, you’ll want to make sure your TV has the right resolution!

While you’re considering your dream resolution, you’ll also want to give some thought to your TV’s input options. Make sure there’s a good number of HDMI ports, so you can plug in multiple consoles without hassle. If you want to game at 4K resolutions or higher, you will need to make sure your chosen TV supports the HDMI 2.1 format!

Refresh Rate

If you want to play games at boosted frame rates, then you’ll need to make sure your TV has a suitable refresh rate. Unlike a frame rate, which refers to how many individual images a console can render in a given time frame, “Refresh rate” refers to how many times a TV can refresh its image in a given time frame. The higher a TV’s refresh rate, the smoother motion will appear. 

To choose the right TV refresh rate, you’ll want to consider your optimal frame rate. If you’re aiming to play at 60 frames per second, then you’ll want to aim for a TV with a 60Hz refresh rate. If you’re aiming for 120 frames per second, it will need to be a 120Hz refresh rate. 

You should also look for a TV with variable refresh rate technology (VRR). This technology allows a TV to automatically adjust its refresh rate to closely match your game’s frame rate. Of course, a game’s frame rate can fluctuate massively from one second to the next. VRR technology ensures your TV can keep up with these fluctuations so that there is no risk of screen-tearing spoiling your immersion!

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Input Lag

Competitive games require players to make split-second decisions that can mean the difference between victory and defeat. As such gamers depend on games to be as responsive as possible, so that the instant they press a button, they see the desired action on-screen. 

If you need your games to feel snappy and responsive, then input lag is a crucial thing to consider. Input lag is the space of time between pressing a button on your controller and seeing the correct response on the screen. The less input lag there is, the more responsive your game will feel. This is perfect for immersing you in the action, and most crucially for claiming victory over your opponents.

For optimal performance in your games, you should make sure your gaming TV has no more than 30 milliseconds of input lag. Anything below 30 milliseconds will help to enhance your sense of control.

It’s also worth looking for a TV with some kind of Auto Low Latency Mode, which kicks in as soon as you boot up your console, and adjusts your TV settings to ensure smooth gameplay.

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Display Type

The TV market can be quite daunting to navigate. Everywhere you look you’ll find all kinds of unique technologies promising a more immense gaming experience. There are also all kinds of display types, such as OLED, LED, and QLED TVs. But which of the three is really best for gaming?

If you’re looking for a display that balances excellent performance with improved visual fidelity, then we’d recommend opting for an OLED TV. These make use of special pixels that produce their own light. Each individual pixel can be turned off and on as needed, allowing for images that are high in contrast. OLED TVs also boast improved refresh rates, allowing for fast-paced competitive play.

However, QLED TVs are also worth considering, if you’re looking to play atmospheric story-oriented games. QLED TVs make use of quantum technology to recreate millions more unique colours than the average TV can even dream of rendering! This makes them fantastic for soaking in every last detail of your favourite digital realms!