Now that we have 4K televisions for less than 500 euros, consumer demands are especially focused on finding a Smart TV that is capable of covering all the needs generated by one of the most advanced devices that we can find in stores today. : the next generation consoles. If you are currently immersed in an endless search, we are going to leave you with several models that could take you to a new level.
What features should a Smart TV have to play?
The first thing you should understand is that beyond good image quality, to enjoy the games you will have to take into account a series of essential characteristics that will determine the final performance. These benefits establish in some cases an abysmal difference between one model or another, so you should take them into account if you want to get the better gaming experience. These are the characteristics that you should take into account:
- Resolution 4K: Today it is very difficult for you not to buy a 4K resolution, but it is something that you should be very clear about when looking at the panel. PS5 and Xbox Series X arrived to offer 4K at the highest quality and with resolution rates of at least 60 images per second, so this is the minimum you should have on your next television.
- HDMI 2.1: The Holy Grail. For a few months now, the new models on the market have begun to include the new version of the HDMI port, which offers a large number of new features that the new consoles will take full advantage of. If your TV has HDMI 2.1, you'll pretty much have everything you need.
- 120 Hz: It is one of the features that are implicit with HDMI 2.1. This image refresh rate will allow you to obtain smoother images, and indirectly will allow you to obtain lower latency times with which to improve your gaming experience. It is a feature that improves vision and sensation when playing.
- Variable Refresh Rate (VRR): This quality is in charge of automatically adjusting the refresh rate that the console is sending at that moment. In this way, strange effects in the image produced by an imbalance in the sampling are avoided.
- HDR: Like 4K resolution, a television with HDR is something that we will find in practically all models, however, not all manufacturers offer all standards. HDR10, HDR10+, LHG, Dolby Vision, Advance HDR…
The best Smart TVs for PS5 and Xbox Series X
Knowing the characteristics that you should take into account, we are going to leave you with a series of models that would fit perfectly among the ideal options to combine with a new generation console.
LG OLED TV-C1
It would be impossible not to start this post by recommending the best LG model. The OLED panel is updated with greater brightness and new functions at the software level, and although in general lines it maintains all the features of the CX, being able to make the leap to the latest generation is always a plus at the level of future updates. These new models already have sections in the menus specially designed for gamers, so you can quickly configure the image from them.
View offer on AmazonSamsung QN90A QLED
At Samsung we are also going to find an extremely interesting option in the new 2021 models, since this Neo QLED, the QN90A offers us a spectacular 120 Hz panel with HDMI 2.1.
Thanks to the new interface, many functions have been included especially designed for gamers, being able to choose the image format and other functions. It is not an OLED panel, but Samsung has achieved spectacular results with its panels.
View offer on AmazonSony X91J
Without a doubt, the best TV you can buy if you're looking to play Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5 on the biggest screen possible. The Sony X91J is only available in 85 inches, so that immersion in video games will be more than guaranteed.
This Sony model has a peculiarity, and it is that it has a low latency auto mode which will activate as soon as you connect the PlayStation 5. The 'Gaming' mode will also be activated automatically, so you won't have to worry about changing options when you're ready to play.
View offer on AmazonLG G1 OLED
This newly released model in 2022 features OLED EVO technology, being panels even brighter than the C1. Its game optimization mode is great if you are going to enjoy action and shooting titles. Its image quality is practically unbeatable today and its fluidity is impressive. Its latency is also really low, being a totally recommended television if what you are looking for is to play. Its only drawback —for taking out a defect— is that it has some stock problems, so it will not be easy to get a unit. It is available in 55 and 65 inch sizes.
View offer on AmazonHiSense ULED 65U8QF
This very interesting HiSense model offers 65 inches with 4K resolution and 120 Hz. The best thing is that its price is currently close to 1.000 euros, so it's a very interesting proposal that doesn't make a giant hole in your wallet. Large inches and very complete features with one of the best prices.
View offer on AmazonSony XH9096
A Sony option that can currently be found at a very good price. It requires one last system update to be able to reach 120 Hz, and but after it, you will have a complete TV with Full Array LED technology with HDMI 2.1 and 4K resolution.
View offer on AmazonLG G2 OLED
This TV is the brightest OLED model LG has made to date. His brightness level It is possible thanks to the combination of OLED Evo technology and a new heat dissipation element. All this has been achieved without sacrificing contrast, because, as LG usually accustoms us, this OLED screen has impressive black levels.
The general specifications for Gaming they are also unbeatable. LG televisions are the only ones that support games with Dolby Vision up to 120 Hz. This model has four HDMI inputs and supports a data stream in resolution in 4K@120Hz with VRR and ALLM support. There is also a hgig fit effective for more accurate HDR tone mapping. The level of input lag of this TV is about 9,4 milliseconds.
Is this screen absolutely perfect for gaming? Yes and no. Its price is really high, so it will only be worth it if you have enough budget and you think you are going to use it to justify your purchase. Another negative point is that it does not have support. LG considers that this screen must be anchored yes or yes to the wall, although it does not include the mechanism to install it, which must be purchased separately. The LG OLED G2 is not available in sizes smaller than 55 inches. Also has variants in 77, 83 and 97 inches. We miss an alternative of about 65 inches, but that does not mean that we are facing an outstanding product.
Samsung q80t
As we have already told you before, we do not need to purchase a next-generation model to have the features our console needs. A clear example are several of the models of the Korean manufacturer of the year 2020. Specifically, the ones that interest us are the Q70T, Q80T, Q90T and Q950TS. All of these have the HDMI 2.1 port, 120 Hz on your dashboard, HDR and 4K resolution. But, in our opinion, the one that is best located in relation to quality / price is this Q80T, that we can acquire it for a few 1.099 euros, depending on the inches in which we choose it.
View offer on AmazonLG Nano90 Nanocell
Although it is not an OLED TV, it does have a screen High-quality IPS LEDs and a very interesting price. If you find this television at a good price, it is not a bad idea to go for it. However, we recommend that you also value the Samsung QN90A, since it has better contrast than this panel and, at the same price, you will have a better experience Gaming with the Samsung.
View offer on AmazonSony A80J OLED
The A80J is one of Sony's success stories and is the second level of its OLED range. As such, it boasts incredible image quality in SDR and HDR thanks to the impressive XR Processor. Your dashboard has a exceptional contrast thanks to OLED technology. It is a television that allows you to enjoy vibrant colors and completely deep blacks. Of course, as usually happens with this type of television, we are not facing the brightest model in the world. It looks good during the day, but not as good as the models Samsung currently has on the market. Despite this, the A80J OLED looks good even in adverse situations and with reflections.
But let's go to the video games. This model has nothing more and nothing less than four HDMI 2.1 ports, two of them compatible with ALLM and VRR for games 4K@120hz. PS5 and Xbox Series X games look really good on this screen thanks to the 120Hz refresh rate and low latency, which is below 10ms. This model has recently received a firmware update from VRR, but its implementation is not as smooth and seamless as LG or Samsung TVs. Unlike the competitors, there is no dedicated Game Mode interface for adjusting the TV's gaming settings.
Regarding the operating system, this television has the interface of Google TV, so there are a wide variety of apps, games and streaming services available. The operating system runs fast and smooth, making Google Assistant and voice commands available to users.
View offer on AmazonLG OLED TV CX
LG's CX range corresponds to the 2020 versions of its OLED TVs, but we are facing a screen so spectacular in image quality and features that it is impossible not to continue recommending it if you find it at a good price.
The 55-inch model can be found for an excellent price below 1.500 euros in some cases, so basically we are facing one of the best options to assess.
View offer on AmazonSamsung QNQ70T
This model does not have local backlighting and is really from the QLED range of the year 2020, but it should not be left out of this top for that. This television is one of the most affordable that you can still find to play next-generation consoles at 4K and 120FPS, because it is one of the cheapest models in which you will find this feature. The QNQ70T isn't perfect, but it does have very dynamic picture performance, and it's a TV that feels like it was born for Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5.
In general, we are dealing with a television that meets the minimum requirements so that you can play the new generation consoles correctly. It has a single HDMI 2.1 port, while the rest will serve you the content at 4K and 60 FPS.
An interesting function in this model is the Mobile Multi View with Casting, which allows you to see the image of the television and that of your smartphone simultaneously, which is useful if you are playing an online game and you are dedicated to watching YouTube during waiting times and charge.
Like all Samsung QLEDs, several game modes. The mode game motion plus get a bass input lag, but maintains image processing elements to get the best possible image quality. He input lag in this mode it is a respectable 20 milliseconds. Said mode can be turned off, resulting in an incredibly fast lag of 9 milliseconds, as long as you're playing at 1080 and 60 frames per second.
View offer on AmazonPerfect for PS5
Sony's most modern range is including the "Perfect for PS5" nomenclature, a label that certifies that said Smart TV works perfectly with the brand's own console. This could be misleading to many users who might think that the most compatible Smart TV with PS5 would be one from Sony, but this is not entirely true. All Smart TVs with the aforementioned characteristics are perfectly compatible with PS5, the detail is that the models Perfect for PS5 from Sony have an automatic adjustment that makes life easier for users, and ultimately allows you to achieve optimal image performance without going into complex adjustments.
These indicated models are capable of communicating with the console to adjust the HDR values ​​to the optimal level with which to achieve very surprising lighting effects that make the most of the capabilities of both the console and the screen panel. The automatic mode is able to recognize if we are playing or watching a movie, and thus act accordingly with the console settings. As we say, it is an automatic process that greatly facilitates the user experience, but it does not mean that with the necessary knowledge (and tools) it cannot be done on other televisions from other brands. In the end, they are the advantages of playing at home.
And if you prefer to play in the cloud?
They are making their way in recent years with several really serious alternatives, such as those of Microsoft with its Xbox Cloud Gaming, Google with Stadia, Amazon and its Luna (which has not yet arrived in Spain) and Nvidia with GeForce NOW. Well, you should know that some Smart TV models already include hubs to use them all and that we only have to worry about connecting a network cable, Ethernet, and pairing a compatible wireless controller.
This is the case of the Samsung Smart TV models launched in 2022, which already They have what they call Gaming Hub and that provides us with access to apps capable of streaming in real time within the services to which we are subscribed. And the Xbox one is, surely, the most interesting because of its many new features that it usually adds every month, with premiere games that are important novelties, in many cases, and that are associated with that Game Pass that Redmond's have been promoting since some years ago.
Also televisions with Android TV have easier access to Stadia, for example, as well as other apps for which it is simply necessary to have a fast internet connection and the option of pairing a compatible gamepad to handle everything.
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