The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are two of the hottest items to get this holiday season… if you can manage to find them. For those who are lucky enough to snag one of these next-gen consoles, there’s a hidden (and somewhat optional) requirement: a compatible, high-end TV.
Both gaming consoles support a variety of new, space-age features that most TVs from more than a couple of years ago just won’t be able to handle. These include ultra high definition resolutions like 4K and 8K, blazing fast 120Hz refresh rates via HDMI 2.1, and high dynamic range (or HDR) for an enhanced image quality. We have a more detailed rundown of what those things mean, but you’re here for specific TV recommendations. We get it. We’ll do the work for you.
Since much of this technology is still in its infancy, it’s not easy to find a TV that supports all of it for a reasonable price. As a result, the TVs on this list don’t support 8K resolution. Frankly, there just aren’t many TVs that support it at all, and the ones that do can cost around $6,000. There also aren’t any games that run at 8K yet.
So here are some great 4K TVs that should help you get the most out of your new next-gen video game console.
LG NanoCell 90 Series
LG’s NanoCell 90 Series is a good place to start.
If you were hoping to spend less than $1,000 or so for the full suite of features listed above, you’re out of luck. This isn’t the end of the world, though! Give it a couple of years and these displays will be cheaper. For early adopters who simply can’t wait, however, the LG NanoCell 90 Series is a decent place to start.
As far as the basics go, the NanoCell 90 has just about everything you’d want: native 4K resolution, native 120Hz refresh rate, HDMI 2.1 support, and multiple HDR specs like HDR10 and DolbyVision.
When it comes to gaming, the NanoCell 90 TVs come packed with goodies like variable refresh rate (or VRR) and auto-low latency mode. VRR is a big one, as it can prevent visual glitches like screen tearing, which is the name for those ugly horizontal seams in the image you might notice while playing high-frame rate games. The Xbox Series X supports VRR out of the box, while the PS5 will support it in a future update.
Of course, these things don’t come cheap. LG’s smallest TV option is 55 inches, which starts at $1,049.99. It’s actually marked down to $949.99 on LG’s website at the time of writing, so hopefully you can snag one for a three-digit sum.
TCL 6-Series
TCL can get you a lot for less money than the competition.
Image: tcl / amazon
We have good news: There is at least one on this list that only costs a little bit more than the $500 PS5 and Xbox Series X.
TCL is always a good bet when it comes to sharp displays for less money than the other big-name brands. You have to accept some compromises along the way, but in general, these are good TVs for low prices. The newest 6-Series sets are no different.
Starting at $699.99 for a 55-inch set, the 6-Series also comes with most of what you want — emphasis on “most.” 4K, HDR, and 120Hz with VRR are all present and accounted for here. There’s also a game mode to reduce controller latency while gaming. And if it’s anything like the game mode on my TCL 4-Series at home, it’ll help a bunch.
There’s really only one problem here: No HDMI 2.1 port. It’s probably the newest and rarest of all the features we’re looking for, so it’s not reasonable to expect it for a TV this “cheap.” The main drawback of this is you won’t be able to run games at 4K and 120FPS at the same time. That might be a problem down the road, but the good news is the few games that support 120FPS right now (like Call of Duty) usually sacrifice resolution to get there. If a game runs at 4K/60FPS, the TCL 6-Series will work just fine with that.
Samsung Q70T
Samsung’s Q70T looks good on the spec sheet.
Image: samsung
Going back to the realm of slightly more expensive TVs that come equipped with the critical HDMI 2.1 port, the Samsung Q70T is the most affordable in Samsung’s portfolio. We mean “affordable” in relative terms only, as the baseline 55-inch model starts at $999.99. That said, at the time of writing, Samsung is offering $200 off on its website. If you can manage to grab the Q70T for $800, that’s a pretty solid deal, at least based on the spec sheet.
This is a 4K and HDR-compatible set with 120Hz support and one aforementioned HDMI 2.1 port. It also supports VRR for anyone concerned about screen tearing as well as a low latency mode for gaming. Whenever the theoretical future with console games running at 4K/120FPS arrives, the Q70T should be equipped to take on the challenge.
Vizio P-Series Quantum or OLED
Vizio gives you a choice between LED and OLED.
Image: vizio
When it comes to Vizio’s TV lineup, the least expensive models that fit our needs are the 65-inch P-Series Quantum and the 55-inch 2020 OLED model. There are pros and cons to each one, especially considering each consumer’s individual needs. They’re both 4K and HDR-compatible with HDMI 2.1 ports, 120Hz refresh rates, and VRR support, so you’re not missing out on those basics.
The P-Series Quantum is the larger and, oddly, cheaper of the two at $1,199.99. It’s actually down to $999.99 right now on Vizio’s website, making it a pretty sweet value for a TV of that size. If you’re wondering why it’s cheaper despite being larger, the P-Series Quantum uses an LED display. We have a full explanation of the distinction between LED and OLED, but the main thing you need to know is that OLED generally looks better because it can achieve darker black levels due to the lack of a backlight.
Meanwhile, the 55-inch 2020 OLED is 10 inches smaller than the P-Series model but $100 more expensive at $1,299.99. Again, the same $200 discount applies on Vizio’s website at the moment. Since it might fit in more entertainment centers and features a theoretically superior display (I say “theoretically” because I haven’t tested either TV), it might be worth dropping an extra Benjamin.
Either way you go, Vizio’s cheapest options for next-gen gaming are costly, but should last you several years.
Sony X900H
Sony’s X900H has what you need.
Image: Sony
There isn’t a ton to say about the Sony X900H that we haven’t already said about the other TVs on this list. It starts at 55 inches for $999.99, putting it roughly in line with the others in terms of size and price. The X900H also comes packed with a native 4K display, support for formats like HDR10 and DolbyVision, and HDMI 2.1 for that sweet, sweet 4K/120FPS goodness.
And hey, if you’re a PlayStation 5 person specifically, both the console and this TV are made by the same company. Talk about synergy! Sony actually marketed the X900H as “Ready for PlayStation 5” prior to the console’s launch, though they weren’t actually ready until a firmware update added key HDMI 2.1 features in November. Thankfully, that’s been solved and you can safely buy one of these knowing that it should unlock high resolutions and higher frame rates.