Four numbers decide a gaming TV before picture quality enters the conversation: how many of its HDMI ports carry full 2.1 bandwidth, the panel’s refresh ceiling, whether it supports VRR, and the input lag independent reviewers measure in Game Mode. The LG C5 leads this guide because it is the rare set that wins on all four - every one of its ports is full 2.1, so a PS5, an Xbox Series X and a gaming PC stay plugged in at once. Bright-room and budget players get the same gaming features from a mini-LED for less, and PC players chasing the smoothest motion should look at the 165Hz Samsung S95F.
Update, 9 October 2026: every price in this guide was re-read at the makers’ US stores, Newegg, Currys and PriceSpy UK. The two OLED picks are 2025 models their makers’ US stores now list as out of stock in every size - the LG C5 (65-inch listed at $1,499.99) and the Samsung S95F ($3,299.99; Newegg’s $2,319 listing was out of stock too) - while the 2026 C6 ($1,499.99) and S95H ($2,499.99) were in stock. TCL’s US store no longer sells the QM8K in any size; it lists a QM8L (65-inch $1,079.99, 85-inch $2,149.99) and the QM9K (65-inch $999.99, 85-inch $1,999.99) instead. Hisense’s US prices could not be read from here and keep their July label. In the UK the C5 is still on sale from £1,479 on PriceSpy against £1,899 for the C6 at Currys, no 65-inch S95F listing was found, and neither TCL’s QM8 nor Hisense’s U7 is sold under those names - the pound figures this guide carried for them were conversions and have been withdrawn. The picks have not been re-ranked and none of the successor models has been assessed; each section says what was read.
This guide ranks five gaming TVs by who they suit, judged on the specs that actually affect play: HDMI 2.1 port count, refresh rate, VRR support, input lag and the picture behind it all. Each pick names its trade-off, so you can match a set to your consoles, your room and your budget.
Best gaming TV 2026 at a glance
| Pick | TV | Panel | Gaming strength | Price US / UK (read 9 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | LG C5 OLED (65”) | WOLED | 4x HDMI 2.1, 144Hz, OLED blacks | $1,499.99 list, out of stock at LG US / from £1,479 (PriceSpy) |
| Best for PC | Samsung S95F (65”) | QD-OLED | 165Hz, glare-free, 4x HDMI 2.1 | $3,299.99 list, out of stock at Samsung US / no 65-inch UK listing read |
| Best bright-room | TCL QM8 (65”) | Mini-LED | 144Hz, huge brightness, value | QM8K no longer sold at TCL US; QM8L $1,079.99, QM9K $999.99 / no UK model |
| Best value | Hisense U7 (65”) | Mini-LED | 165Hz, VRR, low price | US not re-read (~$699 in July 2026) / no U7Q at Currys; U7S £999 |
| Best big-screen | TCL QM8 (85”) | Mini-LED | 120Hz on a giant panel | 85-inch QM8K unavailable at TCL US; QM8L $2,149.99, QM9K $1,999.99 / no UK model |
Prices read 9 October 2026: LG US, Samsung US and TCL US stores (list price and stock status), Newegg, Currys and PriceSpy UK. One retailer, one day - not averages or guaranteed lows; the Hisense US figure is a July 2026 check that could not be re-read. Treat every figure as a guide, not a guarantee.
How we picked
We are an editorial team, not a measurement lab. Our rankings draw on manufacturer specifications, professional review measurements from outlets we trust, and aggregated owner feedback across retailer reviews and AV forums. We do not run our own bench tests and never invent numbers.
For gaming specifically we weighted five things: the number of full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports (the deciding factor for multi-console households), maximum refresh rate, VRR support (including AMD FreeSync and G-Sync compatibility), measured input lag from professional reviews, and the picture quality behind it. A fast panel with a mediocre image is only half a gaming TV. For the wider picture-quality context, see Best TVs 2026: OLED, Mini-LED & Budget Picks Compared.
Best overall gaming TV: LG C5 OLED
65-inch WOLED, 144Hz, 4x HDMI 2.1, ~1ms response; $1,499.99 list and out of stock at LG US, from £1,479 in the UK (9 October 2026).
Price and stock, 9 October 2026: LG’s US store listed the 65-inch C5 at $1,499.99 but showed every C5 size as out of stock, while the 2026 C6 was in stock at the same $1,499.99 (55-inch $1,299.99); a Newegg listing carried the C5 at $1,499.99. US vs UK: in the UK the C5 is the clearance bargain - from £1,479 on PriceSpy, while Currys no longer lists it and returns the C6 at £1,899 - so a UK gamer saves about £420 by taking the 2025 set and a US gamer gets the newer model for the same money. Our LG C6 vs LG C5 comparison covers what changed between them; the C6 was not assessed for this guide.
The LG C5 is the best all-round gaming TV in 2026 for one decisive reason: all four of its HDMI ports are full 2.1. That means a PS5, an Xbox Series X and a gaming PC can all stay connected at once, each running 4K 120Hz (up to 144Hz from a PC) with VRR — no unplugging, no HDMI switcher. Most rivals give you two 2.1 ports; LG gives you four, and for a multi-console household that is the whole game.
The OLED panel is the other half of the appeal. Near-instant pixel response means zero motion blur, input lag is among the lowest measured, and perfect blacks make dark games look extraordinary. LG’s Game Optimizer menu and support for Dolby Vision gaming round out a comprehensive package.
The one caveat is brightness. In a bright room the C5’s glossy OLED panel reflects windows and can’t match mini-LED punch, so daytime gaming in a sunlit space is where it’s weakest. In a controlled room it is close to flawless.
Pros:
- Four full HDMI 2.1 ports — best for multiple consoles
- 4K 144Hz, VRR, Dolby Vision gaming
- Near-instant response and very low input lag
- Perfect OLED blacks for immersive games
Cons:
- Glossy panel reflects light in bright rooms
- Lower brightness than mini-LED
- Ads on the webOS home screen
Who it’s for: the console-and-PC gamer who wants the best all-round gaming TV and games in a normally-lit room. Read the full LG C5 OLED Review 2026: The Best All-Round TV?.
Check price: LG C5 OLED (65-inch)
Best for PC gaming: Samsung S95F QD-OLED
65-inch QD-OLED, 165Hz, 4x HDMI 2.1, matte coating; $3,299.99 list and out of stock at Samsung US, no 65-inch UK listing read (9 October 2026).
Price and stock, 9 October 2026: Samsung’s US store listed the 65-inch S95F at $3,299.99 and out of stock (55-inch $2,199.99, also out of stock), and Newegg’s $2,319 listing was out of stock too; the 2026 S95H was in stock at $2,499.99 for the 65-inch, not assessed here. US vs UK: no 65-inch S95F listing was found at Currys or on PriceSpy’s TV page (the 55-inch was £1,349 on PriceSpy); Currys sells the 65-inch S95H at £2,699 and the S90H at £2,099. The July figure of ~$2,299 / £2,299 no longer describes anything on sale.
For PC players chasing the smoothest possible motion, the Samsung S95F is the pick. Its QD-OLED panel runs at 165Hz — higher than the C5’s 144Hz — with VRR and near-instant response, and its matte glare-free coating is a genuine advantage at a desk or in a bright battlestation, dissolving window and lamp reflections that would otherwise sit right in your eyeline. Like the LG, it fits four full HDMI 2.1 ports.
QD-OLED’s brighter, more saturated colour makes HDR games look spectacular, and Samsung’s Gaming Hub gives quick access to cloud gaming services if you want to play without a console at all. It matches the C5’s strengths and adds refresh rate and glare handling.
The trade-offs are price and format support. The S95F costs meaningfully more than the C5, and Samsung omits Dolby Vision (using HDR10+), so a handful of Dolby Vision games render in a lesser HDR mode. For pure PC smoothness and bright-room use, though, it leads.
Pros:
- 165Hz refresh — the highest here for gaming
- Matte glare-free coating, ideal at a desk
- Four HDMI 2.1 ports, VRR, low lag
- Bright, colourful QD-OLED HDR
Cons:
- No Dolby Vision (HDR10+ only)
- Premium pricing
- Overkill unless you can drive high frame rates
Who it’s for: the PC gamer or high-refresh enthusiast who wants maximum smoothness and glare-free viewing. See the full Samsung S95F OLED Review 2026: QD-OLED Flagship.
Check price: Samsung S95F OLED (65-inch)
Best bright-room gaming TV: TCL QM8
65-inch mini-LED, 144Hz, very high brightness; ~$999 in July 2026 - QM8K no longer sold at TCL US, no UK model (9 October 2026).
Price and stock, 9 October 2026: TCL’s US store no longer sells the QM8K: every size was listed as unavailable, the 65-inch at $2,499.99, its original list price. TCL now lists the QM8L, an “SQD-Mini LED” series it rates at up to 6,000 nits with 4,000-plus dimming zones and “Game Accelerator 288” VRR, at $1,079.99 for the 65-inch (compare-at $2,499.99), and the higher-numbered QM9K at $999.99 (compare-at $2,999.99). Neither has been assessed for this guide; everything below describes the 2025 QM8K. US vs UK: none of the UK sources read - TCL UK’s TV page, Currys, PriceSpy - lists a QM8; TCL sells C-series models in the UK, so the £1,099 this guide quoted was a conversion with no product behind it and has been withdrawn. TCL UK’s 65-inch SQD-Mini LED sets at Currys were the C8L at £1,899 and the C7L at £1,299 - listings, not assessments.
If you game in a bright room or want maximum screen for your money, the TCL QM8 is the mini-LED to buy. Its backlight with thousands of dimming zones pushes very high peak brightness, so HDR highlights blaze and daylight glare is overpowered rather than washing the image out — the opposite of an OLED’s weakness. It runs at 144Hz with VRR and Dolby Vision gaming, and input lag is low enough for competitive play.
For the price it is a lot of gaming TV: big, bright and fully featured, with no burn-in worry from static HUDs during marathon sessions. It is the practical choice for a sunlit living room or a mixed movies-and-gaming setup on a mid budget.
The compromises are mini-LED’s usual ones. Blooming haloes bright objects on dark backgrounds, off-angle contrast fades, and the two HDMI 2.1 ports (versus LG’s four) mean a soundbar and two consoles will have you managing connections. The Google TV platform is also ad-heavy.
Pros:
- Very high brightness for bright-room gaming
- 144Hz, VRR and Dolby Vision gaming
- Excellent value and big-screen options
- No burn-in risk from static HUDs
Cons:
- Only two HDMI 2.1 ports
- Blooming in high-contrast scenes
- Ad-heavy Google TV
Who it’s for: the gamer in a bright room who wants the most brightness and screen size per dollar. Compare more affordable options in Best Budget TVs 2026: Great Picture for Less.
Check price: TCL QM8 (65-inch)
Best value gaming TV: Hisense U7
65-inch mini-LED, 165Hz, VRR; ~$699 in July 2026 (US not re-read), no U7Q at Currys (9 October 2026).
Price and stock, 9 October 2026: Hisense’s US store renders its prices in script that could not be read from here, Best Buy’s results would not load and Newegg had no 65U7QG listing, so the ~$699 US figure is a July 2026 check and is not re-dated. US vs UK: Currys lists Hisense’s UK range under different model names and a 65-inch U7Q search returned no U7Q - the nearest sets were the 144Hz U7S at £999 (reduced from £1,499) and the 165Hz U7S Pro at £1,299 - so the £699 this guide quoted had no UK product behind it and has been withdrawn. Those sets are listings, not assessments.
The Hisense U7 is the best gaming TV for a tight budget. It offers a 165Hz refresh rate, VRR and Dolby Vision gaming with low input lag on a mini-LED panel that is far brighter and better-dimmed than any edge-lit set at the price. For a PS5 or Xbox Series X owner who wants high-refresh gaming without spending flagship money, it hits the marks that matter.
The picture sits a clear step above entry TVs — good brightness, solid HDR pop, Dolby Vision support — and the high refresh rate future-proofs it for a PC or the consoles’ 120fps modes. Pound for pound, it is the value gaming champion.
The savings show in the extremes. It is dimmer than the pricier QM8 or U8, blooming appears in high-contrast scenes, and, like the QM8, it has two HDMI 2.1 ports rather than four. But few TVs deliver this feature set for the money.
Pros:
- 165Hz, VRR and Dolby Vision gaming at a budget price
- Mini-LED brightness and low input lag
- Strong HDR for the money
- Future-proof high refresh rate
Cons:
- Only two HDMI 2.1 ports
- Dimmer than step-up mini-LEDs
- Blooming and ad-heavy Google TV
Who it’s for: the budget console gamer who wants high-refresh, low-lag play without overspending. More cheap picks in Best Budget TVs 2026: Great Picture for Less.
Check price: Hisense U7 (65-inch)
Best big-screen gaming TV: TCL QM8 (85-inch)
85-inch mini-LED, 120Hz, high brightness; ~$1,999 in July 2026 - 85-inch QM8K unavailable at TCL US, no UK model (9 October 2026).
Price and stock, 9 October 2026: TCL’s US store listed the 85-inch QM8K at $1,799.99 but unavailable, like every other QM8K size. Its 85-inch replacements were in stock: the QM8L at $2,149.99 (compare-at $3,999.99) and the QM9K at $1,999.99 (compare-at $3,999.99) - so the giant-screen route now costs about what this guide’s ~$1,999 figure said, but on sets this guide has not assessed. US vs UK: no QM8 is listed by the UK sources read; Currys listed TCL’s 85-inch C8L at £2,999 and 75-inch at £2,299 as the nearest UK equivalents, so the £2,199 this guide quoted has been withdrawn.
For sim racing, flight sims or couch co-op where sheer scale is the point, the 85-inch TCL QM8 delivers giant-screen gaming at a price OLED can’t touch at that size. It keeps the QM8’s mini-LED brightness and local dimming, runs at 120Hz with VRR and Dolby Vision gaming, and in July 2026 filled a wall for around $1,999 — roughly what a 65-inch flagship OLED cost.
At this size, brightness and value are the winning combination. An 85-inch OLED would cost several times as much, so the QM8 is the sensible route to a truly immersive big-screen setup, especially in a bright room where its brightness is an asset.
The trade-offs scale with the panel. Blooming and off-angle contrast loss are more noticeable across a larger screen, it drops to 120Hz rather than 144Hz, and you still get only two HDMI 2.1 ports. You also need the wall space and a sofa far enough back to take it in.
Pros:
- Huge 85-inch screen at a mini-LED price
- 120Hz, VRR and Dolby Vision gaming
- High brightness suits bright rooms
- Vastly cheaper than an equivalent OLED
Cons:
- Blooming more visible on a big panel
- 120Hz, not 144/165Hz
- Two HDMI 2.1 ports, needs lots of space
Who it’s for: the buyer who wants the biggest immersive gaming screen for the money and has the room for it.
Check price: TCL QM8 (85-inch)
How to choose a gaming TV
Five specs decide a gaming TV. Get these right and the rest is picture preference.
HDMI 2.1 port count. This is the most overlooked spec. If you own two consoles and a soundbar, two 2.1 ports (Sony, TCL, Hisense) means constant juggling; four (LG C5, Samsung S95F) means everything stays plugged in. Count your devices before you buy.
Refresh rate. 120Hz is the practical target for a PS5 or Xbox Series X, since that is what the consoles output. PC players benefit from the C5’s 144Hz or the S95F’s 165Hz. Anything above 60Hz is a meaningful upgrade for fast games.
VRR support. Variable Refresh Rate eliminates screen tearing when frame rates fluctuate. All the sets here support it, including FreeSync and G-Sync compatibility on most — check that your specific console or GPU is covered.
Input lag. Lower is better; anything under about 15ms in Game Mode feels responsive. OLEDs and the mini-LEDs here all measure well, so this rarely separates good gaming TVs — but always enable Game Mode, which cuts lag dramatically.
Panel and room. OLED gives perfect blacks and zero motion blur for a dark gaming den; mini-LED gives brightness that wins in a sunlit room and removes burn-in worry during long sessions with static HUDs. Match it to where you play — our OLED vs QLED 2026: Which TV Tech Is Better? explainer helps.
FAQ
What is the best gaming TV in 2026?
The LG C5 OLED is the best all-round gaming TV, thanks to four full HDMI 2.1 ports, 4K 144Hz, VRR, very low input lag and perfect OLED blacks. For PC gaming or bright rooms, the Samsung S95F adds 165Hz and a glare-free coating; for value, the Hisense U7 and TCL QM8 mini-LEDs deliver high refresh rates for less.
What is the best TV for PS5 and Xbox Series X?
The LG C5 leads because all four HDMI ports are full 2.1, letting both consoles and a soundbar stay connected while running 4K 120Hz with VRR. The Samsung S95F is an excellent alternative with the same four-port advantage. Both consoles output up to 120Hz, so any of these high-refresh TVs will do them justice.
Do I need a 120Hz TV for gaming?
For a PS5 or Xbox Series X, yes if you want their 120fps modes — a 120Hz panel is the practical target. On a 60Hz TV you are capped at 60fps regardless of what the console can output. PC gamers can go further with 144Hz (LG C5) or 165Hz (Samsung S95F) panels.
How many HDMI 2.1 ports do I need?
Count your devices. One console needs one 2.1 port; two consoles plus a soundbar using eARC needs at least three. LG’s C5 and Samsung’s S95F offer four, which comfortably covers a multi-console setup. Sony, TCL and Hisense typically offer two, which means switching cables or using an HDMI switch.
Is OLED or mini-LED better for gaming?
OLED (LG C5, Samsung S95F) gives perfect blacks, zero motion blur and the most immersive image in a dark room. Mini-LED (TCL QM8, Hisense U7) goes far brighter for daytime gaming, costs less and removes any burn-in concern from static HUDs during long sessions. Choose by your room’s brightness and how you play.
Does input lag really matter?
Yes for fast or competitive games, where the delay between your input and the on-screen result affects timing. All the TVs here have low input lag in Game Mode — under about 15ms — which feels responsive. Always enable Game Mode; leaving it off can multiply input lag several times over.
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