# Are LED TVs better for gaming? - Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/are-led-tvs-better-for-gaming/ - Published: 2023-10-06 - Author: Loring Chien - Categories: [TV](https://33rdsquare.com/category/electronics/tv/) --- When it comes to choosing the best TV for gaming, there are a lot of factors to consider. One of the biggest decisions is whether to go with an LED or plasma TV. Each technology has its own pros and cons for gaming performance and visual experience. This guide will compare LED and plasma TVs to help you decide which is better suited for your gaming needs. ## LED TV Benefits for Gaming LED TVs utilize LED backlighting rather than the fluorescent lighting used in traditional LCD TVs. This allows LED TVs to produce a brighter, more vibrant and energy efficient picture. Here are some of the benefits of LED TVs for gaming: - **Brighter display** – LED TVs can get significantly brighter than plasma, making them great for colorful HDR gaming. Bright highlights really pop on an LED display. - **Lower input lag** – Many LED TVs match or beat plasma TVs when it comes to low input lag, which is critical for fast-paced gaming. - **Lightweight and thin design** – LED TVs tend to be much slimmer and lighter than plasma models. This makes them easier to mount and set up for gaming. - **Energy efficiency** – LED TVs are generally more energy efficient, using up to 30% less power than plasma. This saves on your electricity bill. - **No risk of burn-in** – Plasma TVs have a higher risk of permanent image retention or burn-in. LED TVs are not susceptible to burn-in. ## Plasma TV Benefits for Gaming While LED TVs may seem to have the edge, plasma TVs do offer some advantages, especially when it comes to picture quality: - **Superior contrast** – Plasma TVs produce much deeper blacks, resulting in far superior contrast ratios compared to LED. This makes games really pop with vivid colors and shadow details. - **Wide viewing angles** – Plasma TVs maintain their picture quality even at wide viewing angles. LED picture quality degrades at wider angles. So plasmas are better for multiplayer gaming. - **Smooth motion handling** – Plasma pixels can transition tones smoothly, reducing motion blur in action games. LED motion quality varies. - **Dark room performance** – Plasma TVs rival OLED in terms of dark room performance. Their inky blacks make them a great choice for night time gaming. So while LED TVs may be brighter and more versatile, plasma televisions still excel when it comes to contrast, motion handling, and viewing angles – qualities that are important for a premium gaming experience. ## Key Features for Gaming Whether you go with LED, plasma, or another technology like OLED, there are a few must-have features to look for in choosing your ideal gaming TV: - **Low input lag** – This spec determines how quickly your button presses translate on-screen. For gaming, you‘ll want a input lag of 15ms or less. - **High refresh rate** – A refresh rate of at least 120Hz allows your TV to display up to 120 fps for super smooth gaming. - **HDMI 2.1** – For 4K gaming at 120Hz on next-gen consoles, an HDMI 2.1 port is required. This has extra bandwidth compared to HDMI 2.0. - **Variable refresh rate** – VRR matches the TV‘s refresh rate to the game‘s frame rate for tear-free, low latency gaming. - **Auto low latency mode** – ALLM automatically switches the TV into low latency Game Mode whenever you launch a game. Prioritizing these gaming features will ensure your TV can keep up with fast gameplay and provide an immersive experience. ## Best Gaming TVs by Budget Here are some of the top-rated gaming TVs across various budget levels: **High-End** - LG C2 OLED – Best overall gaming TV with amazing contrast and ultra low input lag. - Samsung S95B QD-OLED – Quantum dot OLED delivers rich HDR color and deep blacks. Fantastic for gaming. - Sony A95K QD-OLED – Cognitive intelligence optimizes gaming performance and picture quality. **Mid-Range** - Samsung QN90B Neo QLED – Mini-LED backlight and quantum dots enable stellar contrast and brightness. Awesome HDR gaming performance. - LG G2 OLED – Brighter than the C2 with blazing fast response time. Excellent gaming choice. - Sony X90K LED – Full array local dimming helps this 4K LED TV deliver impressive contrast for the price. **Budget** - Hisense U8H – Impressive gaming chops like 4K 120Hz VRR support make this a standout budget gaming TV. - TCL 5 Series – Mini-LED backlight and built-in Roku smart platform make this 4K TV a solid entry-level gaming pick. - Hisense A6H – One of the most affordable 4K TVs with gaming features like ALLM and low input lag. ## Gaming TV Size and Viewing Distance When selecting a TV size for gaming, you‘ll want to consider the viewing distance – how far away you sit from the screen. Larger screen sizes can provide a more immersive gaming experience, but you don‘t want to go so big that you have to move your head to see different parts of the screen. Here are some general guidelines for gaming TV sizes based on viewing distance: - 8-10 feet away – 65 inches or larger - 6-8 feet away – 55 to 65 inches - 4-6 feet away – 43 to 55 inches - 2-4 feet away – 32 to 43 inches Of course, these are not set rules. Go as big as your space can accommodate and budget allows to maximize gaming immersion. Make sure you can comfortably view the entire screen without excessive eye movement. ## Gaming on TV vs Monitor Gaming on a TV vs a computer monitor both have their trade-offs. Here‘s how they compare for gaming performance: **TV Advantages:** - Larger screen size options for a more immersive experience - Usually better built-in speakers so you don‘t need separate sound system - Capable of higher resolutions like 4K for enhanced visual details **Monitor Advantages:** - Lower input lag for extremely responsive competitive gaming - Higher refresh rates up to 360Hz enable silky smooth motion clarity - Smaller form factor allows for optimal viewing at a desk - Designed specifically for gaming with features like crosshairs For a more cinematic single player gaming experience, a TV is hard to beat. But monitors excel for fast-paced multiplayer gaming where every millisecond of input lag counts. It depends on your priorities. ## OLED vs QLED for Gaming Two premium TV technologies, OLED and QLED, each deliver benefits for a great gaming experience: **OLED Gaming Benefits** - Perfect inky blacks and infinite contrast for stunning picture - Blazing fast response time resulting in smooth motion and low input lag - Wide viewing angles maintain image accuracy at off-center seats **QLED Gaming Benefits** - Can achieve much higher brightness than OLED for vivid HDR - No risk of permanent burn-in like OLED - Usually more affordable than same-size OLED alternative For the ultimate gaming image quality, an OLED TV can‘t be beaten. But QLED remains a compelling high-end option for brightly-lit rooms with price as a factor. ## Gaming Resolution: 4K vs 1080p The resolution you choose for your gaming TV will impact sharpness and game detail: **4K Resolution** - 4K TVs have over 8 million pixels for ultra sharp image quality - 4K is ideal for larger screen sizes, providing immersive gaming - Enables gaming in upscaled 4K on PS5, Xbox Series X and high-end gaming PCs **1080p Resolution** - Often limited to smaller screen sizes under 50 inches - Great for gaming on a budget with decent sharpness - Allows max settings and frame rates from lower-end gaming PCs For large screens and next-gen consoles, 4K provides the resolution you need to game comfortably up close and not see individual pixels. But 1080p remains a solid frugal choice. ## Avoid Image Processing for Gaming Many TVs feature special image processing modes intended to improve picture quality. However, these can severely increase input lag, which is terrible for gaming responsiveness. Settings like motion smoothing, noise reduction, and edge enhancement should always be disabled when gaming. Most TVs have a dedicated Game Mode that will turn off image processing automatically for low latency. ## Use Game Mode for Smoother Gaming Speaking of Game Mode, this is an essential setting for gaming on any modern TV. Game Mode reduces input lag by minimizing TV video processing during gameplay. Enabling Game Mode can reduce input lag by anywhere from 15-50ms depending on the TV model. This translates to much snappier responsiveness and a competitive edge in twitch gameplay. Game Mode may disable certain picture settings, but it‘s worth it for the huge reduction in input lag. Make sure Game Mode is enabled whenever you game. ## LED vs LCD – What‘s the Difference? When researching TVs, you‘ll see models labeled as either LED or LCD. What‘s the difference, and which is better for gaming? LCD refers to liquid crystal display and is the underlying panel technology. LED and LCD TVs both use LCD panels to create the image. The difference lies in the backlighting method: - **LED TVs** use LEDs to light the LCD panel - **LCD TVs** use fluorescent CCFL tubes as backlights LEDs allow for thinner, lighter TV designs and more efficient local dimming. Full array local dimming LED TVs provide the best contrast and image quality. For gaming, LED backlighting is preferred over traditional fluorescent LCD lighting. ## Lifespan and Burn-In Concerns Two final factors to weigh are lifespan and burn-in risk. Here‘s how the main TV technologies compare: - **LED TVs** last the longest at up to 60,000 hours before noticeable picture degradation. No risk of burn-in. - **OLED TVs** are most susceptible to permanent burn-in from static content, though with precautions can last over 5 years. - **Plasma TVs** have around a 10 year lifespan before phosphor ageing affects image quality. Moderate burn-in risk. - **LCD TVs** last around 50,000 hours on average but no burn-in issues. So LED and LCD televisions are your best options if longevity is your top concern. But all modern TV types can realistically last 5+ years of normal gaming use. ## The Bottom Line Choosing the ideal gaming TV requires balancing features like low input lag and high contrast with your budget and room setup. LED TVs work great for brightly-lit gaming while OLED is ultimate for image quality. Aim for at least 120Hz, HDMI 2.1, and other gaming-centric capabilities. And don‘t forget to enable Game Mode on any TV! Follow these tips and you‘ll enjoy an immersive, smooth gaming experience. --- Source: [Are LED TVs better for gaming?](https://33rdsquare.com/are-led-tvs-better-for-gaming/)