The best TV for gaming in 2020: Low input lag and high picture quality

Every time a player is in game mode, he has to go through a delicate cycle: the fragile feedback loop that exists between your brain, your fingers, the game controller and the action you see on the TV screen. Any delay in responding to your reactions can affect the exciting immediacy and gaming performance of the gaming experience – or even kill your character.

The biggest cause of these delays – at least for online games – is the latency between your console and the servers on the Internet, over which you have no control. Another cause of delays in all types of games is the gaming television itself.

It only takes milliseconds for a video signal from your console to appear on the screen via the HDMI input of your gaming TV. However, too many milliseconds can be deadly to your brain or character in the game. These milliseconds are known as Entry delay.

Fortunately, most televisions have a picture mode that is specifically designed to minimize input latency and is commonly referred to as game mode. One of the tests I do for every TV I check for CNET measurements with a time delay. I also like to consider gaming experience, viewing angle, image quality, screen size, contrast, brightness, color gamut, frame rate, intelligent features, refresh rate and support for high dynamic range Content.

Here are the TVs I’ve tested so far, sorted by input delay. Lower numbers are better.

The first column contains links for full review, the second column for a retailer that sells that particular model.

TV input delay when game mode is on and off (milliseconds)

The top 5 in 2020

The following five televisions featured at the top of the page offer the lowest delay we measured among 2020 TVs.

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What else you need to know about entry delay

How to turn it on. In most cases, the display in game mode is not automatic, so you have to turn it on manually. Sometimes it is difficult to find the game monitor setting. Many use an image mode called “game”, while some, like Samsung and Vizio, can apply game mode to any setting (Samsung buries it deep in the menus, as shown below, while Vizio calls it “Gaming Low Latency”). Check individual ratings for details.

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The game mode makes a difference, unless it is not. As you can see, many TVs significantly decrease the delay when you turn on game mode, but many don’t. In general, expensive televisions with expensive video processing in game mode are more advantageous.

The game modes of most TVs are good enough for most players. No matter how nervous you are, it will be difficult to tell the difference between 15 and 30 milliseconds of input delay. Many players won’t even be able to distinguish between turning game mode on and off – it all depends on the game and your sensitivity to delays.

Continue reading: Best TVs for 2020

Turning game mode on can affect the image quality (a little). The TV manufacturers’ menus often refer to reduced picture quality. Decreased picture quality is generally the result of turning off this video processing. In my experience, however, the differences in image quality are very subtle and worth the compromise if you want to minimize the lag for a great gaming experience.

I just completed my first four 4K HDR input delay tests thanks to the Bodnar / HD Fury setup recommendations from @Vincent_Teoh and @rtingsdotcom
Game mode results:
LG OLED65C8P: 30 ms
Sony XBR-65X900F: 23.4 ms
TCL 65R617: 17.5 ms
Samsung QN65Q8F: 14.3 ms #BetterLateThanNever

– David Katzmaier (@dkatzmaier), May 10, 2018

4K HDR gaming lag differs from 1080p. The screen resolution you play with has an impact, and since consoles like that PS4 Pro and Xbox One X play a prominent role 4K HDR When it came to games, I started testing for 4K HDR delay in 2018. In general, the numbers are similar to delay with a standard resolution of 1080p, but as you can see from the table above, there are exceptions.

Vizios Input 5 is weird. The fifth HDMI cable connector of the Vizio P series and the PQ television (both) 2018 and 2019) have different input delay characteristics than the other HDMI connections. It’s great for 1080p gaming, but can’t accept 4K HDR content sources. No other TV manufacturer we tested has different delays and functions for different inputs.

Testing is an inaccurate science. I use a Leo Bodnar Lag Tester. Here’s how it works and how I use it. Different lag test results from different test sites that may be using Bodnar or another method may be displayed.

Continue reading: Best TV for picture quality

What is the best TV for games?

Trick question!

In my opinionThe best TV for games is one with the best picture quality to see everything else. Games, like films and television programs, benefit from deep black levels, bright lights and uniform screens.

Yes, there are other factors, but they don’t apply to most players. If you keep playing the same game on your smart LED TV and never showing anything else on the screen, and that game remains as a bright static element in the same place on the screen (like a HUD or other status indicator), you can do so at risk be for Burning in the OLED. But most players don’t have to worry about branding OLEDs.

If the TV input to which your console is connected is shared with other devices and you don’t want to think about constantly re-activating the game mode, an automatic game mode function can be helpful. Some state-of-the-art PC and Xbox One X players may appreciate the variable refresh rate. Automatic game mode and variable refresh rate can be found on Samsung’s 2018 TVs, and many appear on others 2019 TV With HDMI 2.1, including sets of Samsung, LG and Sony.

However, most players will find that the best television for gaming is the best high-end television.

I will continue to test televisions for input delays as I check them.

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Originally released last year.