The TV you choose to play is one of the most important choices you will make as a player. The PS4 looks amazing, but expressed its full potential when equipped with a first-rate HDTV. It is an investment, certainly, but should not be taken lightly especially now with the PS4 Pro and its 4K gaming capabilities. Go out and buy the first inexpensive TV you see, or the least expensive option, is not the best idea. So, today we’re going to watch five of the best TVs for games and show you a range of prices and models to choose from.
Key features
Let’s go straight into the subject screw. We are looking for televisions with some key features:
- Sony recommends 60 inches and more for medium-sized salons.
- A true 4K resolution = 3840 x 2160
- Compatible with HDR10 (and no less). There is also Dolby HDR, but it is not supported by PS4 or PS4 Pro.
- Make sure it’s HDR 10-bit and not 8-bit. One has 16 million colors, and the other one billion!
- A laggy input lag. Anything below 40ms will go perfectly, you get a higher offset with HDR and 4K, so do not worry if you see higher numbers.
Take a look at these five incredible TVs:
SONY X900E Sony has several styles of 4K TVs, and while other models like the X930E and X940E are great, they also tend to cost several hundred euros more expensive than this one. The X900E is available in sizes from 49 to 75 inches. This option provides the maximum brightness you are looking for and the HDR10 you need for maximum image quality. The only drawback is the included sound which is quite crude. You should come out for a sound system or soundbar with this purchase.
LG OLED C7 If you have money to spend, and want the highest possible option, turn instead to an OLED screen as with this LG screen. Unlike LCDs, this type of screen emits light from pixels instead of using a backlight. The result? Incredible image quality, better brightness levels and no motion blur. In addition, the viewing angles are perfect no matter where you are sitting in the living room. There is support here for HDR10 and Dolby Vision, so you’ll have the best picture and sound. The only drawback here is the price, and it’s a big problem. You will spend nearly € 2000 easily on this TV.
Samsung’s QLED Quantum Dot Color Samsung brings a solid argument with a 4K TV just above the 1,500 mark. Here we have a complete 4K resolution with Quantum Dot Color Drive that has over a billion more colors compared to the HD standard. Triple Black technology offers deep black levels, and the HDR 1000 technology gives you the range of colors that you are looking for in a television like this one. Finally, Smart TV features are all here with a universal remote control that controls all your applications.
Samsung QE55Q8CAMT 55 “4K Ultra HD Curved Our third choice is on curved TVs. For some people, a curved television is what they prefer, but others can not stand the concept. Depending on your viewing distance, this can certainly change the immersive nature of the experience, so it’s something I always recommend you check in person before making a decision. The excessively expensive curved option offers everything what you need from your 4K screen, including a high refresh rate of 120 Hz and support for HDR. If you usually play games with other people, the curved design could offer a more consistent visual experience to everyone in the room, so it’s important to consider it as well.
Samsung UE55MI6205 If you want a nice screen size, but do not want to ruin yourself, this 55-inch 4K TV will only cost you 775 €! You will lose on some brightness levels, and the sound will need an external solution, but it has HDR support and 4K resolution for an incredible price.
A word about 4K … and 8K?
The PS4 Pro is here, and it supports 4K and HDR games. Although they are not native 4K, in all cases, the resolution is much higher than the 1080p. Not all games are compatible, but more than 50 titles have been added and the list continues to grow. The PS4 standard also supports HDR through a firmware update. It’s now time to move to 4K if you wait for the consoles to catch up. But wait, what about 8K? Yes, that’s right, and Sony intends to start selling TVs in 8K. The new technology will not be cheap, prices start around € 100,000 for an 85-inch screen. Apparently, the resolution is so high that you can stand up to the screen and not see the pixels.
Why is HDR so important?
HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. This is a new technology in 4K TVs that increases the range of levels between the lightest and darkest areas of your TV. Already with the 4K, we saw the difference, the HDR will really provide the factor “wow” that you seek. In the current industry, there are two HDR options: HDR10 and Dolby Vision. Players only need to focus on HDR10 as it is currently supported by PS4 and PS4 Pro.Dolby Vision is not only more expensive, but it is only useful if you have a separate 4K Blu-Ray player or a streaming box using Dolby Vision support. It does not offer HDR games. It is also important to look for a TV with a high peak brightness.
The final word
Buying a television is not an easy task, and with the emergence of new technologies, many will want to make sure they have a future-proof model. The 4K is going to be the new standard afterwards. Do not forget to also look in the warranty options if you buy one of the top models. I do not want anything to happen and you’re out of luck. Many retailers offer extended warranty options, so be sure to check all options.