What TV is Needed for a PS4? The Ultimate Guide
Hey there! If you‘re reading this, you‘re likely an avid PS4 gamer looking to upgrade your television. I totally get the excitement – and stress – of choosing a new TV to maximize your PlayStation experience.
Well, you‘ve come to the right place. With over 10 years of experience reviewing TVs and electronics, I‘m going to walk you through everything you need to know to pick the right TV for flawless PS4 gaming.
I‘ll cut through the jargon and marketing hype to focus on the key factors that make a TV well-suited for gaming. Consider this your PS4 TV buying cheat sheet, so you can shop like an expert. Let‘s dive in!
Input Lag and Response Time Are Key for PS4 Gaming
The most crucial specification for a PS4 gaming TV is input lag. This refers to the delay between pressing a button on your controller and seeing the corresponding action happen on screen.
According to tests by RTings, even a difference of just 15ms in input lag is perceptible. For fast-paced action and competitive multiplayer games, you want the lowest input lag possible.
Here are some average input lag times for different TV types:
– OLED TVs: 21ms
-LED TVs: 14ms in game mode
-Gaming monitors: 10ms or lower
Closely related to input lag is response time – how quickly each pixel can change from black to white. Faster response equals less motion blur and sharper visuals.
For reference, here are common response times for popular TV models:
– LG C2 OLED: 1ms
– Samsung QN90B QLED: 9ms
– Sony X90J LED: 14ms
I recommend choosing a TV with input lag under 15ms and response time under 10ms. This will give you snappy, real-time reactions for competitive gaming.
Weighing OLED vs. QLED for PS4 Gaming
Two of the best options for gaming are OLED and QLED TVs:
**OLED** TVs have self-emissive pixels that switch off completely to produce perfect blacks. This infinite contrast creates vibrant, crisp images. OLED also boasts ultra-low input lag.
**QLED** TVs use quantum dots for wider color and brightness. The best QLEDs like Samsung‘s have nearly OLED-level black levels, plus higher peak brightness. QLED also avoids risk of OLED burn-in.
Based on lab tests, **OLED beats QLED for motion handling**, with nearly instantaneous response times to eliminate blurring. But QLED matches or beats OLED on input lag, making it feel very quick and responsive.
Overall, you can‘t go wrong with either for PS4 gaming. OLED excels at contrast and motion; QLED shines for HDR peak brightness. Both are superior TV technologies compared to standard LCD.
When to Choose a Gaming Monitor over a TV
For players who want every competitive advantage possible, a **gaming monitor** is better suited than a TV for PS4.
Pro gamers opt for monitors because of their:
– Lightning fast response times of 1ms or less
– Input lag under 10ms, often as low as 4-5ms
– Refresh rates of 144Hz-360Hz for ultrasmooth motion
The smaller 27-32 inch screens allow sitting near the display to see targets and enemies easily.
Of course, monitors lack the big, immersive screens of TVs. But their unparalleled responsiveness gives them the edge for multiplayer and twitch gameplay.
Matching Screen Size to Your Setup
A larger screen isn‘t automatically better. You want to choose the size based on your room layout, viewing distance, and preferred gaming style.
For big projection and immersive single-player games, **55 to 65 inches** is ideal. This lets you sit 6-12 feet away and still appreciate the visual scope.
For fast competitive gaming, **27 to 40 inches** allows sitting 2-4 feet away to see the whole screen easily.
Curved displays also add immersion for a more engrossing experience. Just be sure to get a curvature radius under 4000R – anything more is too subtle to notice.
Ultimately getting a screen that fits comfortably in your space is what matters most. Don‘t just assume bigger is better when choosing a size.
Adjust Your TV‘s Settings for Optimal Gaming
Out of the box, most TVs are not configured optimally for gaming. By fine-tuning a few key settings, you can maximize performance and responsiveness:
– Enable Game Mode to reduce input lag and disable extra video processing.
– Set Input Label to your console‘s input port to auto enable Game Mode.
– Lower Sharpness to zero to prevent visual artifacts and edge haloing.
– Match Color Temperature and Gamma to console‘s RGB range for accurate hues.
– Adjust Contrast and Brightness for ideal visibility in dark or bright game scenes.
– Turn off Motion Smoothing and other effects that introduce input lag.
Taking a few minutes to optimize these settings will immediately improve your gaming experience prior to even choosing a new TV.
Sound Systems for Immersive PS4 Audio
Don‘t overlook the importance of audio! Enveloping sound transports you into the game world.
Consider a sound bar or surround sound system to get multi-directional audio well beyond your TV‘s weak built-in speakers.
For powerful bass and cinema-like sound, invest in a sound system with a dedicated subwoofer. This adds thrilling depth to in-game explosions and effects.
Also look for Dolby Atmos support for truly three-dimensional, positional audio that emanates all around you.
With the right audio system, you‘ll hear every footstep, branch crack, and growl with pinpoint precision to boost engagement and suspense.
Still Not Sure? Here Are the Best PS4 Gaming TVs
Even with all this advice, choosing a TV can be tricky. So if you still can‘t decide, here are my top recommendations:
**Overall Best PS4 Gaming TV:** LG C2 OLED
**Runner-up for Serious Gamers:** Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 QLED
**Best Budget PS4 Gaming TV:** Hisense U7G
**Best Monitor for Competitive Gaming:** Asus TUF Gaming VG279QM
**Most Immersive Screen:** Sony X95K 85-inch
**Best OLED Sound:** LG G2 Evo Gallery Edition
**Best 8K Future-Proof:** Samsung QN900B QLED
**Prettiest Screen:** Samsung The Frame QLED
Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m always happy to share my AV and gaming knowledge to help fellow players get the ultimate experience. Enjoy your new PS4 TV when you get it. Happy gaming!
