If you want the short version: the best TV for PS5 and Xbox Series X in 2026 is the LG C5 OLED, and it has been near-untouchable for two console generations for a reason. But it is not the only answer. The right pick depends on how bright your room is, whether you also game on PC, and how much you actually want to spend — and there is now a genuinely good gaming TV at every price point.
This guide ranks four sets that we consider the strongest choices for console players right now, based on spec research and aggregated owner feedback rather than marketing sheets. We explain exactly what your PS5 and Xbox need from a display, what they quietly ignore, and which settings to flip on day one so you actually get the performance you paid for.
Best gaming TV 2026 at a glance
| TV | Best for | Panel | Max refresh | HDMI 2.1 ports | VRR | Price (US / UK) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LG C5 OLED (65”) | Best overall | OLED | 144Hz | 4 | Yes (G-Sync/FreeSync) | ~$1,099 / £1,299 |
| Hisense U8QG (65”) | Best value / bright rooms | Mini-LED | 165Hz | 2 (of 4) | Yes | ~$899 / £1,199 |
| TCL QM7K (55”) | Best under $600 | Mini-LED | 144Hz | 2 | Yes | ~$499 / £649 (C7K) |
| Samsung S95F (65”) | Best premium | QD-OLED | 165Hz | 4 | Yes | ~$2,299 / £2,299 |
What consoles actually need (HDMI 2.1, VRR, ALLM — and what they don’t)
Before you spend anything, know what the boxes under your TV can and cannot use. Marketing throws a lot of numbers at you; the PS5 and Xbox Series X only care about a few.
HDMI 2.1 explained: This is the bandwidth (48Gbps) that carries 4K at 120Hz. Both consoles ship with HDMI 2.1 outputs, so if you want 4K/120 in supported games (or 1440p/120 on PS5), the TV needs at least one true HDMI 2.1 port. Watch out here — several mid-range sets, including the Hisense below, only put HDMI 2.1 on two of their four ports. Plug your console into the wrong socket and you silently cap at 60Hz.
VRR on PS5: Variable Refresh Rate syncs the TV’s refresh to the console’s frame rate, killing screen tearing and smoothing out the stutter when a game dips below its target. Both consoles support it. A VRR TV for PS5 is the single biggest “feels smoother” upgrade after input lag, and every TV in this guide has it.
ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode): The console tells the TV “a game is running, switch to Game Mode automatically.” Set-and-forget. All four sets support it.
What consoles don’t need: 165Hz, 240Hz and higher refresh rates are for PC. Neither console outputs above 120Hz, so a 165Hz panel buys you nothing on console alone — it only matters if you also game on a PC. Dolby Vision gaming works on Xbox and PS5 (LG and TCL support it); Samsung does not do Dolby Vision at all, which we cover below.
How we evaluate gaming TVs
We don’t run a paid lab, and we won’t pretend to. Our rankings combine detailed spec analysis, manufacturer documentation, and aggregated owner reports plus the measured data published by trusted independent test houses. Where we cite input lag or brightness behaviour, it reflects that body of research — not invented in-house benchmark numbers.
We weight four things for console players: input lag in Game Mode at 4K/120, VRR implementation and how clean it is, real-world brightness (SDR and HDR highlights), and value at each set’s street price. Panel uniformity, blooming in dark scenes, and how idiot-proof the day-one setup is all factor in too.
Best gaming TV overall: LG C5 OLED
The LG C5 is the set most console players should buy. Four full HDMI 2.1 ports mean you can plug in a PS5, an Xbox, a PC and a soundbar (eARC) without ever thinking about which socket does what — a genuinely rare feature at this price. Input lag in Game Mode is effectively imperceptible, among the lowest of any TV you can buy.
OLED’s per-pixel contrast gives you perfect blacks with zero blooming, which is transformative in dark, atmospheric games. It runs at 144Hz (useful if you also play PC), supports Dolby Vision gaming, VRR with both G-Sync and FreeSync, and LG’s Game Optimizer menu is the best in the business.
The one honest caveat: OLED is dimmer than Mini-LED in a bright, sun-filled room, and OLEDs carry a small long-term burn-in risk with static HUDs — mitigated well by LG’s pixel-refresh tech, but worth knowing if you leave one game paused for hours daily.
Who it’s for: Almost everyone. The best all-round console TV, full stop.
Pros - Four true HDMI 2.1 ports (the only set here with four) - Near-zero input lag; perfect OLED blacks - Dolby Vision gaming, 144Hz, class-leading Game menu
Cons - Not as bright as Mini-LED for daytime play - Minor burn-in consideration with static HUDs
Check price: LG C5 OLED (65-inch)
Full breakdown in our LG C5 OLED Review 2026: The Best All-Round TV?.
Best value: Hisense U8QG (165Hz)
The Hisense U8QG is the value champion and the pick for bright rooms. Mini-LED backlighting pushes it far brighter than any OLED, so glare and daylight simply matter less — this is the TV for a living room with big windows. It runs up to 165Hz, making it a strong crossover pick if you also game on a high-refresh PC.
For roughly $899 / £1,199 you get most of the gaming feature set of TVs costing twice as much: low input lag, VRR, ALLM and excellent HDR punch. Based on owner reports, the standout is sheer brightness — HDR highlights genuinely pop.
Two caveats. First, the blooming: in dark scenes, bright objects (a health bar, a moon) can throw a faint halo into the surrounding black — an inherent Mini-LED trait OLED avoids entirely. Second, and important, only two of the four HDMI ports are 2.1 on some configurations. Plug both consoles into those two ports and label them.
Who it’s for: Bright-room gamers and PC-plus-console players who want maximum brightness per dollar.
Pros - Much brighter than OLED — ideal for daytime gaming - 165Hz for PC crossover; strong HDR - Excellent price-to-performance
Cons - Blooming/halo in dark scenes - Only two HDMI 2.1 ports — easy to plug in wrong
Check price: Hisense U8QG (65-inch)
More detail in our Hisense U8QG Review: Flagship Brightness for $899.
Best under $600: TCL QM7K
The TCL QM7K (sold as the C7K in the UK) is the cheapest set we can confidently recommend for console gaming. Around $499 for the 55-inch in the US, it delivers a proper 144Hz Mini-LED panel with VRR and low input lag — the specs that actually matter — for the price of a disposable budget TV.
This is the best budget gaming TV precisely because it doesn’t cut the gaming corners. You get Dolby Vision gaming, ALLM, and Mini-LED brightness that embarrasses cheaper edge-lit sets. The compromises are elsewhere: fewer local dimming zones than the U8QG, so blooming is more visible; a less refined smart platform; and only two HDMI 2.1 ports. Motion handling is a step behind the pricier picks.
None of that stops it being a fantastic first 4K/120 TV or a superb second-room console set.
Who it’s for: Budget-focused players, dorm and bedroom setups, and anyone who wants real 4K/120 VRR without spending four figures.
Pros - Genuine 144Hz VRR at a budget price - Mini-LED brightness and Dolby Vision gaming - Best price-to-features for console 4K/120
Cons - More blooming; fewer dimming zones - Only two HDMI 2.1 ports; average motion
Check price: TCL QM7K (55-inch)
See our full TCL QM7K Review: The $499 Mini-LED Sweet Spot.
Best premium: Samsung S95F
If money is no object and your room is bright, the Samsung S95F is the flagship. Its QD-OLED panel pairs OLED’s perfect blacks with far higher brightness than a traditional OLED, and the S95F’s matte, glare-free coating is the best anti-reflection screen on the market — direct sunlight practically disappears. Four HDMI 2.1 ports, 165Hz, VRR and superb low input lag round it out.
The nuance everyone asks about: the S95F has no Dolby Vision. It uses HDR10+ instead. On Xbox, which supports Dolby Vision gaming, that means you fall back to standard HDR10 in DV titles — a real but minor downgrade most players won’t notice given the panel’s raw quality. On PS5, which doesn’t do Dolby Vision gaming anyway, it’s a non-issue. So the missing feature stings slightly on Xbox and not at all on PlayStation.
Who it’s for: Buyers who want the brightest possible OLED, a glare-free screen, and don’t mind paying flagship money.
Pros - QD-OLED: perfect blacks plus high brightness - Best-in-class matte, glare-free coating - Four HDMI 2.1, 165Hz, very low input lag
Cons - Expensive - No Dolby Vision (matters slightly on Xbox only)
Check price: Samsung S95F (65-inch)
Input lag and feature comparison table
A quick tv input lag comparison and feature grid. Input lag figures reflect published independent Game Mode measurements at 4K/120 and are approximate.
| Feature | LG C5 | Hisense U8QG | TCL QM7K | Samsung S95F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panel type | OLED | Mini-LED | Mini-LED | QD-OLED |
| Game Mode input lag (4K/120) | ~9ms | ~13ms | ~13ms | ~9ms |
| Max refresh | 144Hz | 165Hz | 144Hz | 165Hz |
| HDMI 2.1 ports | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| VRR (G-Sync/FreeSync) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ALLM | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dolby Vision gaming | Yes | Yes | Yes | No (HDR10+) |
| Peak brightness | Good | Excellent | Very good | Excellent |
| Best for | All-round | Bright rooms | Budget | Premium/glare |
Settings to enable on day one (per console)
Buying the right TV is half the job. Out of the box, most sets do not run in their fastest mode. Do this once.
On the TV (all models): - Turn on Game Mode (or let ALLM do it automatically). - Enable VRR / FreeSync / G-Sync in the picture or game menu. - On Hisense and TCL, confirm your consoles are in the HDMI 2.1 ports (usually HDMI 3 and 4 — check the manual). - Set the input to a PC or Game icon if your TV asks, to unlock full 4:4:4 chroma.
On PS5: Settings → Screen and Video → set Resolution to 2160p and enable 120 Hz Output and VRR (Automatic). Run Adjust HDR (the three brightness screens). Enable 1440p if your panel is on a monitor.
On Xbox Series X: Settings → General → TV & display options → 4K UHD, then Video modes → tick Allow 4K, Allow HDR10, Allow Dolby Vision (skip DV on the Samsung), Auto low latency mode, and Variable refresh rate. Run the HDR Game Calibration app.
For a deeper tune, see our Best TV Picture Settings 2026: Calibrate Any Brand guide, and if you also game on PC, Monitor Refresh Rate Explained: Is 144Hz or 240Hz Worth It? clears up the 120Hz-vs-165Hz question.
Verdict: which gaming TV should you buy?
Most people: the LG C5 OLED. Four HDMI 2.1 ports, flawless blacks, near-zero lag. The default best TV for PS5 and Xbox.
Best TV for PS5 under $1,000 / bright rooms: the Hisense U8QG. More brightness per dollar than anything else — just mind the two-port HDMI 2.1 limit.
On a budget: the TCL QM7K. Real 4K/120 VRR for under $600.
Money no object: the Samsung S95F. The brightest, most glare-proof OLED going — perfect on PS5, near-perfect on Xbox.
Whichever you pick, the gap between a well-configured mid-range set and a badly configured flagship is bigger than most people think. Enable Game Mode and VRR, use the right port, and calibrate HDR.
For more picks across sizes and budgets, browse the TVs & Displays.
FAQ
Do I really need an HDMI 2.1 TV for PS5? Only if you want 4K at 120Hz or VRR. Both need the extra bandwidth HDMI 2.1 provides. For 4K/60 gaming, an older HDMI 2.0 set is fine. But since every TV in this guide includes HDMI 2.1 at reasonable prices, there’s little reason to buy a 2.0-only TV for a current console in 2026.
Is OLED or Mini-LED better for gaming? OLED (LG C5, Samsung S95F) gives perfect blacks, zero blooming and the lowest input lag — ideal for dark, cinematic games and controlled lighting. Mini-LED (Hisense U8QG, TCL QM7K) gets much brighter, which wins in sunlit rooms, but shows some halo/blooming in dark scenes. Choose by room brightness first, budget second.
What’s the best 120Hz TV for Xbox Series X? The LG C5 OLED, thanks to four HDMI 2.1 ports, Dolby Vision gaming (which Xbox supports) and near-zero input lag. If your room is bright, the Hisense U8QG is the value alternative. The Samsung S95F is superb too, but its lack of Dolby Vision is a small downgrade specifically on Xbox.
Does refresh rate above 120Hz matter on console? No. Neither the PS5 nor Xbox Series X outputs above 120Hz, so a 165Hz panel gives you no console benefit. High refresh rates only help if you also connect a gaming PC. Don’t pay extra for 165Hz for console use alone — prioritise input lag, VRR and HDMI 2.1 ports instead.
What’s the best gaming TV in the UK? The same picks apply. The LG C5 (around £1,299) is the all-round winner; the Hisense U8QG (about £1,199) is the value choice; TCL’s C7K is the UK budget equivalent of the QM7K (roughly £649). Currys and Amazon UK are the usual retailers, and prices dip notably during seasonal sales.
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