Pre-ordered a PS5 or Xbox Series X|S? Or maybe you’re thinking of pulling the trigger later this year? If that’s the case, it might be worth taking a second look at your TV.
Next gen consoles come with a bunch of exciting new graphical features. 4K gaming that adds extra detail and clarity to all those stunning new worlds you’ll be leaping into. Higher framerates that make the action smooth and seamless. But to really show off what the consoles can do, you need a TV that can keep up.
What features should I look out for?
Unpacking all those spec points can be a real headache. We’ll take you through each next-gen boosting feature you should look for in a new TV.
4K / Ultra HD / UHD
You’ve probably heard of 4K – it has four times the number of pixels as Full HD. That adds up to an incredibly clear picture. The tiniest details on your most loved in-game characters, breath-taking landscapes and striking scenery. All of it’s within reach with 4K.
HDR
Good news- both the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S are HDR ready! High Dynamic Range makes bright colours brighter and blacks deeper. These different layers of brightness create more depth and more subtlety when you look at an image. In a nutshell, you get a way more lifelike gameplay experience.
The spotlight from an enemy tower flashing across your screen. A creature lurking in the shadows. All of it is easier to pick out, more vivid, more real.
VRR
Hate it when your games stutter during a crucial boss battle or intense cut-scene? That can happen when your console’s frame rate output doesn’t match your TV’s refresh rate.
VRR (or Variable Refresh Rate) puts a stop to those maddening bits of lag. With VRR your TV adapts to your console’s frame rate in real time. So if the frame rate goes up in seriously busy combat scenario and then suddenly drops when things calm down, your TV takes it in its stride. Your game looks smooth, slick and you don’t miss a minute of the action.
ALLM
Auto Low Latency Mode has a similar effect to VRR, in that it will keep lag at bay- even when you’re pulling off incredibly fast combat sequences.
Most TVs will have something called ‘Game Mode’ that reduces latency and lag. But since this mode often doesn’t look great when you’re watching a film or live TV, you usually need to go into your settings and turn it on or off manually. A bit of a pain.
ALLM does it automatically for you – plug in your console and your game looks its best. No faffing with settings!
HFR
HFR stands for High Frame Rate. When a TV has a super high resolution (like 4K) it makes it harder to keep the frame rate up for that seamless look when things are in motion. HFR TVs combine both a sharp, detailed picture and seamless action. That’s why in gaming HFR is sometimes called 4K@120Hz.
Keep an eye out for those features and you can’t go far wrong for a gaming TV! Take these two…
Sony Bravia KD-65XH9005 65" Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR LED TV with Google Assistant
The clue’s in the name- this TV has almost all the great features we’ve listed, like 4K and HDR. That makes for killer contrast, depth and colour.
In fact, Sony have even labelled this range as ‘Ready for PlayStation®5’. That’s in part thanks to its 4K@120Hz HFR. There’s a later update scheduled too, that’ll add VRR and ALLM to the X90’s already impressive spec list.
It also comes with Acoustic Multi-audio. This nifty feature means the sound will actually come out of the TV where the action is. It just adds that extra little oomph of immersion, since you hear your enemies creeping around you.
Shop the SONY BRAVIA KD65XH9005BU 65" Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR LED TV with Google Assistant
LG CX6LA 55” Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR OLED TV with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa
There’s a lot for gamers to love with this LG TV. For one, it’s an OLED. OLED TVs turn pixels off individually, which means you get true, deep blacks in your picture. That greater range of colour really ups the contrast. Every bit of gameplay jumps out of the screen - even in those dark, inky stealth games - creating maximum impact.
And, once again, the LG CX6LA can run games in 4K@120Hz and has VRR and ALLM tech ready to go. Plus, with four HDMI 2.1 ports you’ve got plenty of space for all the consoles in your life. Good thing too, since ExpertReviews have said ‘if there is one TV gamers should buy ahead of the launch of the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, this is it.’
Shop the LG OLED55CX6LA 55" Smart 4K Ultra HD HDR OLED TV with Google Assistant & Amazon Alexa
If you need any more help finding your perfect TV, you can pop in-store or chat to a tech expert via video call on ShopLive.
