Is it worth buying an OLED TV for gaming in 2022?

If you‘re considering upgrading your gaming TV setup, OLED is likely on your wishlist due to the stunning image quality. But is now the right time to splurge on an OLED, or should you stick with more affordable LED/LCD displays? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore all aspects of OLED gaming to help you decide.

How OLED display technology achieves perfect black levels

OLED stands for “organic light emitting diode.” Rather than using an LED backlight like a traditional LCD screen, each individual pixel in an OLED TV emits its own light. This enables precise control – pixels can be turned off completely to achieve perfect black levels when needed.

This is a huge distinction from LED/LCD TVs, which look grey or washed out for darker images since the backlight remains on across the screen. Let‘s take a quick look at how OLED technology works at the subpixel level:

• Subpixels contain organic compounds that emit light when electricity is applied.
• No backlight is used; the subpixels directly create the illumination.
• Each subpixel can operate independently without affecting others.
• Turning off a subpixel renders absolute black as no light is emitted.

So by controlling individual OLED subpixels, the TV can create crisp contrast between bright and dark areas – leading to the “infinite” contrast ratio OLED is known for.

Current market share and future outlook for OLED TVs

OLED televisions first hit the consumer market back in 2013, but adoption has accelerated rapidly in the last few years. According to Display Supply Chain Consultants, 7.5 million OLED TVs were shipped globally in 2021, representing 15% market penetration. DSCC forecasts OLED TV shipments will grow 21% in 2022 to surpass 9 million units. By 2026, OLED penetration is expected to reach 33% as manufacturing capacity increases.

LG Display currently supplies the majority of OLED panels used in TVs. Going forward, other brands like Samsung are investing heavily in next-gen display technologies including QD-OLED, which uses quantum dot film and promises even higher brightness. More competition should continue driving down OLED pricing.

Advantages of OLED TVs for gaming

Here are some of the key advantages OLED TVs offer for gaming:

Instantaneous response time – With response times measured in microseconds, OLED panels react almost instantly to signal changes. This minimizes motion blur, making fast gaming action look crisp and fluid.

Infinite contrast ratio – Perfect blacks paired with bright highlights make games feel more immersive. Dark shadow details are clearly visible.

Wide viewing angles – OLED maintains color accuracy and contrast at wider angles compared to LED. Great for multiplayer and couch co-op gaming.

120Hz refresh rate support – Many new OLED TVs like the LG C2 can achieve a true 4K 120Hz refresh rate when paired with HDMI 2.1 graphics cards and consoles. This results in supersmooth motion clarity.

G-Sync and FreeSync support – Recent OLED TVs can enable variable refresh rate (VRR) via Nvidia G-Sync or AMD FreeSync. This matches the TV‘s refresh rate to the game‘s frame rate, minimizing stuttering.

Potential downsides and concerns about using OLED TVs for gaming

While OLED seems ideal for gaming on paper, there are some downsides and concerns to consider:

Risk of burn-in – Static elements like HUDs and menus can permanently burn into OLED subpixels after repeated long-term use. This leaves faint artifacts visible on screen.

Lower peak brightness – Modern high-end LED/LCD TVs using full array local dimming can achieve higher peak brightness. OLED highlights still look impressive but don‘t match the searing brightness of some LED models.

Higher cost – Large OLED TVs are significantly more expensive than comparable LED models. For example, the 65-inch LG C2 OLED currently costs approximately $1,900 vs just $950 for the 65-inch Samsung QN90B LED.

Limited monitor options currently – There are abundant choices for PC gaming monitors in LED/LCD technology up to 34-35 inches. But OLED monitors remain rare, though more models are expected soon.

Let‘s dig into these factors in more detail…

Examining the risks of OLED burn-in when gaming

Static elements displayed repeatedly over long periods can lead to subtle image retention or even permanent burn-in on OLED displays, resulting in faint ghosted artifacts visible in other content. This is a result of the organic OLED materials degrading unevenly across the pixel matrix over time.

According to rtings.com burn-in testing, running 18 consecutive hours per day of static content led to visible retention after 4 weeks and permanent burn-in after 3 months on some samples. However, normal varied TV usage averaging just 5-7 hours per day showed no burn-in even after 5 years.

Fortunately, taking some reasonable precautions can essentially eliminate any practical risk of burn-in from gaming on a modern OLED TV:

• Avoid displaying static high contrast HUDs for 12+ hours per day at peak brightness.
• Use the TV‘s built-in pixel shift/refresher and screensaver features.
• Enable OLED panel brightness limiter options if available.
• Vary the games you play and take content viewing breaks periodically.

As long as you don‘t play the exact same game with a persistent static HUD for excessive periods daily, burn-in should not occur. Some temporary image retention may happen after longer gaming sessions but this disappears quickly.

How do OLED and LED TVs compare for gaming performance?

Let‘s examine how OLED stacks up against LED/LCD televisions on key metrics for gaming:

	OLED TV	LED/LCD TV
Response time	0.1 ms	8-15 ms
Input lag	5-10 ms	5-10 ms
Contrast ratio	Infinite	3000-5000:1
Black level	Perfect black	0.3-0.5 cd/m2
Refresh rate	Up to 4K/120Hz	Often 60Hz interpolated

While LED/LCD TVs have some advantages like higher peak brightness, OLED excels where it really counts for gaming – response time, black level, and contrast. This adds up to a more immersive experience.

OLED‘s nearly instantaneous response time and lack of motion blur make fast gaming feel extremely fluid and crisp. Esports gamers in particular benefit from the smooth visuals and pixel transitions.

Recommended OLED TVs for gaming in 2022

Here are some top-rated current model OLED TVs offering excellent performance for gaming:

LG C2 – The 42-83 inch LG C2 OLED TV hits the sweet spot of price and performance, offering 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM, and low input lag. It‘s the best overall choice for most gamers.

Sony A95K – Sony‘s brightest OLED TV uses a heatsink and achieves up to 30% higher peak brightness than other OLEDs. Pairs nicely with the PS5.

LG G2 – This newer "Gallery Series" OLED boosts brightness by up to 70% but costs more than the C2. Also features a slimmer design.

LG B2 – A budget-friendly OLED option offering most key gaming features but lacks the faster "Evo" panel. Still a huge upgrade over LED at this price.

What about OLED monitors for PC gaming?

For PC gaming, smaller monitor size and desk ergonomics also come into play. Some gamers may prefer a 27” to 34” monitor compared to a massive OLED TV used up close. Currently, only a couple OLED monitors exist:

• LG 27" UltraGear OLED gaming monitor
• Alienware 34” QD-OLED monitor

These provide the same fast response times and per-pixel dimming as OLED TVs, but start around $1300. That’s $1000 more than comparable high-end LED gaming monitors! More models like those from Asus and Philips are on the way for 2022-2023.

Supply constraints are limiting OLED monitor availability for now. But increased manufacturing scale-up should improve supplies and lower prices moving forward. By 2024-2025, OLED monitors in the 25-35 inch range will hopefully reach close to price parity with equivalent LED monitors.

Do you need HDMI 2.1 for 4K/120Hz OLED gaming?

To enjoy cutting-edge 4K gaming at 120 frames per second on new consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X, you‘ll need ports that support HDMI 2.1. This brand new HDMI specification offers up to 48Gbps bandwidth vs just 18Gbps on the older HDMI 2.0b.

Make sure to use the correct ultra high speed HDMI cables too. Some "high speed" HDMI cables lack adequate shielding or bandwidth for 4K/120Hz and may result in visual artifacts.

Many new LG, Sony, and Samsung OLED TVs include HDMI 2.1 now. Just be aware that some models only have 1-2 ports with full 48Gbps support, while the rest max out at 40Gbps (no 4K/120Hz). Check your connections.

Upcoming display technologies like microLED will also compete for gaming

Beyond current OLED and LCD/LED displays, new technologies like microLED and QD-OLED promise to someday push picture quality to the next level.

MicroLED uses tiny self-emissive LEDs for each pixel, potentially enabling higher brightness and efficiency than OLED. But manufacturing challenges have kept microLED limited to ultra-expensive large wall TVs for now. More progress is needed to scale down for consumer TV sizes.

Quantum dot OLED (QD-OLED) adds a quantum dot film layer to the OLED stack. This helps boost brightness significantly while maintaining perfect black levels. QD-OLED TVs will hit the market in 2022, providing OLED-like performance but with brightness that can rival premium LED TVs.

The bottom line – should you buy an OLED TV for gaming right now?

Here‘s my take given everything we‘ve covered:

If you‘re eager to experience the stunning contrast and motion clarity of OLED for gaming, now is a great time to make the upgrade. Prices are gradually becoming more affordable, and compelling models like the LG C2 deliver phenomenal performance for both console and PC gaming.

Taking a few basic precautions will prevent any practical issues with burn-in. And next-gen OLED technologies like QD-OLED will provide only incremental improvements – today‘s OLED TVs already look amazing.

That said, if you game more casually, watch varied content, or simply want to save some money, modern LED/LCD TVs like the Samsung QN90B still deliver gorgeous 4K gaming visuals. I‘d only recommend splurging on OLED for dedicated gamers who really appreciate the difference perfect black levels and fast response times make. Everyone else can safely stick with LED for now and upgrade later once OLED prices drop further.

Either way, it‘s an exciting time to upgrade your gaming TV! Let me know if you have any other questions.