The next-gen, or should I say the new current-gen (Playstation 4, Xbox One and Wii U) is finally here and most of you will probably be considering to upgrade your entertainment systems. One of the most important part of the entertainment systems is the HDTV. Many gamers use Monitors to play games on, but those who are really into gaming and can afford it always go for big HDTVs.
Now choosing a HDTV for gaming is pretty difficult as you have to consider in a lot of factors other than picture quality. There’s response time, dedicated gaming settings, clarity, noise reduction, input lag (input delay) etc. Luckily for you guys we’ll be listing the best HDTVs you can get for gaming.
Until recently most HDTVs available on the market had relatively high input lag leading to delayed actions while playing games. This is not a huge issue while play slow cinematic games like JRPGs or even Action games like The Last of Us. The problem comes along when you play a fast paced game, such as twitch shooters like like Call of Duty or fighters like Tekken, which relies on quick reactions for success. In games like these, every frame matter, as does your input for each frame. Luckily, Sony has recently been producing HDTVs that have a super quick response times and low input lag which is why most of the choices in our list with be Sony HDTVs.
To determine Input Lag we’re using data conducted via the Leo Bodnar device as it compares both Input Lag and Response Delay which leads to a more accurate figure. The numbers in the article may be higher than those you see advertised on websites, as they usually only show off Response Time only. For Gaming both Response Time and Input Lag matters immensely, so we’ll be considering them both. Do note that the timings are tested with each HDTV in ‘Gaming Mode’. For more information about Input Lag, Response Time and the Leo Bodnar test, check out this awesome article.
So without further ado, check out our list of the Best HDTVs for your Playstation 4, Xbox One and Wii U list below.
7. Samsung UN40F5500
Although being in the mid-range 5 series of HDTVs by Samsung the Samsung UN40F5500 does not sacrifice too much and is in fact better for Gaming than it’s more higher-end brothers. The Samsung UN40F5500 features the least Input lag across Samsung’s complete range of HDTVs in the market right now. The Samsung UN40F5500’s Input lag is 28ms while it’s bigger brothers from the 6, 7 and 8 series usually average around 40ms and beyond.
You can also check out the 2014 model in this range, which is the Samsung UN40H5500. The Samsung UN40H5500 comes in a new shape and has a higher motion rate but almost everything else is just about the same. The Samsung UN40H5500 is slightly more expensive plus we don’t have data on it’s Input lag timings right now so make your decision accordingly.
More info: Samsung UN40F5500 40-Inch 1080p 60Hz Slim Smart LED HDTV (2013 Model), Samsung UN40H5500 Slim 40-Inch 1080p 60Hz Smart LED TV
6. Sony W650A
A great bang for the buck offering from Sony. Stripped of certain key features, such as ‘Impulse Mode’, the Sony W650A otherwise offers all the necessary features required for optimal gaming. Video processing is kept at a minimum, which reflects positively on its input response. In terms of input lag, it clocks in at just 15ms on Input lag, which is the fastest on our list. This particular TV is recommended to those who want a great experience without breaking the bank.
The W650A also doesn’t have 3D but that’s not really a disadvantage, given that 3D gaming is not very mature at this stage and is gradually losing support as well as appeal in the eyes of consumers. But hey, this makes it cheaper so I’m not complaining.
More info: Sony KDL-32W650A 32-Inch 60Hz 1080p Internet LED HDTV (Black)
5. Sony W850B
The W950B is Sony’s brand new 2014 series HDTV that features a futuristic wedge design that for one looks great in the living room, but also allows you to have bigger front soundbars for your HDTV. One of the biggest complaints of modern HDTVs is the lackluster sound quality, so getting a cheap $50 soundbar will not only look decent but will greatly improve sound quality. I’m also a big fan of the new logo design at the front, it lights up thanks to an in-built blue LED which matches the the LED strip on the Playstation 4.
Something the W650A didn’t have but reset of the Sony HDTVs on our list do have is Impulse mode. Sony’s Impulse Mode is a backlight strobing technique that smooths out frames and makes it seem as if games are running at a higher frame rate without any impact on Input lag. It does dim the backlight and there’s also some minor flickering in certain instances, but that’s a small price to pay for smoother looking games. This technology is not the same as Motionflow, which is basically the high latency frame interpolation technique that you see on all HDTVs these days. Input lag for the W850B is slightly high at 22ms, resulting in it missing out on the top 4 on our list.
More info: Sony KDL60W850B 60-Inch 1080p 120Hz LED TV
4. Panasonic TC-P60VT60
More info: Panasonic TC-P60VT60 60-Inch 1080p 600Hz 3D Smart Plasma HDTV
3. Sony W802A
The W802A is an amazing HDTV but misses out on the top 2 due to the lack of a Triluminos display, which we’ll get into detail later on. The W802A has a very low 17ms Input lag timing coupled with great image processing thanks to the X-Reality Pro Engine, which makes every game look great and a joy to play. The inclusion of Impulse Mode makes it all the more special, by enhancing the smoothness and clarity of fast moving games.
As far as a mid-range HDTV for Gaming is concerned, both the W850B and W802A are your best bet, with the Panasonic TC-P60VT60 joining the run if you’re into Plasmas, but due to the lower Input Lag, the W802A is our personal choice.
More info: Sony KDL-55W802A 55-Inch 120Hz 1080p 3D Internet LED HDTV (Black)
2. Sony W900A
Lets move on to the high-end flagship HDTVs shall we? Even though the W900A is last year’s model, don’t think it’ll have any lesser features than the rest of the HDTVs on the list. In fact it beats out 2014’s W850B in both it’s display quality and Input lag. The W900A has a Triluminos display which is a special display panel that shows better and a wider range of colors thanks replacing the standard R/G/B dots with Quantom dots.
I’m about to get a bit technical so bear with me a bit. Normal HDTV and display panels use a white light that shoots through Red, Green and Blue filters to display the image sourced onto the screen. This causes the colors to be washed out because it’s very hard for the three filters to accurately deduct the color in the source. A Triluminos display replaces the White light with a Blue LED causing a film of Quantom dots to produce Pure Green and Red colors. This allows the screen to display better colors resulting in a much more natural picture.
The Input lag comes in at 20ms, which is higher than the W802A, but superior black levels, color reproduction, and the rest of the features of the W900A help it land the number 2 spot on our list.
More info: Sony KDL-55W900A 55-Inch 240Hz 1080p 3D Internet LED HDTV (Black)
1. Sony W950B
The W950B is Sony’s top of the line flagship HDTV for 2014 and features everything you may ever want. The Sony W950B performs excellently while viewing images, watching movies in 2D or 3D and especially while Gaming thanks to it’s super low 17ms Input lag timing.
The W950B’s picture quality is unreal and can be only realized when you see it in person. Sony’s ever popular X-Reality Pro Engine is back working in the background to improving quality of video and pictures in real time, while the new Triluminos display panel shows off brilliant colors. A match made in heaven really. The W950B also has Impulse mode like most of Sony’s lineup, coupled with it’s existing set of features makes it the best HDTV for gaming.
More info: Sony KDL55W950B 55-Inch 1080p 120Hz LED TV
Well that concludes our list of the Best HDTVs you can buy for your Playstation 4, Xbox One and Wii U. To those wondering why we didn’t include PCs, well they’re a separate breed and I personally prefer to play PC games on a Gaming Monitor, expect a list covering those in the near future. Did this list help you out choosing your next HDTV? Let us know in the comments below.
