With ever more enhanced versions of the latest games offering superior performance on Sony’s PS4 Pro and Microsoft’s Xbox One X console, it’s no surprise that exemplary 4K HDR TVs are becoming highly sought after. If you’re after the absolute best gaming experience possible, with the highest fidelity graphics and sharpest picture mode, only a high-quality screen with a low latency output will suffice. Here, we’re compiling the five best premium options so far in 2018, using data compiled here. All prices are for 65-inch versions of the TV and are accurate at the time of writing, listed on Amazon.
Samsung Q9FN
$3,797.99
- HDR Real Scene Peak Brightness: 908 cd/m2
- 4K @ 60Hz + HDR: 22.4ms
- 1080p @ 60Hz + HDR: 22.3ms
- Sizing Options: 55, 65, 75
Samsung’s Q9FN stands tall as one of the premier gaming TVs that money can buy in 2018. It provides one of the lowest input lag figures of any TVs running 4K HDR at 60Hz, which makes it absolutely perfect for the application. The picture is exceptionally bright, too, in both SDR and HDR modes, and it displays superb motion handling thanks to an improved backlight for this year’s model (Samsung’s QLED technology still uses a traditional backlight). The Q9FN has an excellent contrast ratio and black uniformity, and the local dimming feature is very effective to improve dark scene performance. As it isn’t actually OLED, motion handling is something to consider, or at least it would be if the Q9FN didn’t flicker at a virtually imperceptible 480 Hz. It also has an optional Black Frame Insertion feature from last year’s model, which can now flicker at 60 Hz in Game Mode to help games appear more fluid.
LG C8
$3,496.99
- HDR Real Scene Peak Brightness: 683 cd/m2
- 4K @ 60Hz + HDR: 29.4ms
- Sizing options: 55, 65, 77
Last year we had LG’s C7 model as one of our top picks for premium 4K OLED screens, so it’s no great surprise to see this year’s model crop up again. The C8 is a real beast when it comes to motion handling, with absolutely no flicker or trail thanks to the nature of its OLED screen.
You will have to stay slightly vigilant that it doesn’t permanently burn-in images (an inherent problem with OLEDs), but it can be mitigated by taking precautionary steps. And the other slight upset is that its peak brightness isn’t quite high enough for the very best HDR experience. Still, we’re nitpicking here. While it doesn’t pop quite as much in brightness, it renders blacks beautifully, which helps to balance any contrast issues and has the added bonus of looking particularly good in dark rooms.
The C8 is capable of delivering breathtaking picture quality when playing games, with one review citing Horizon Zero Dawn as looking near photorealistic in 4K HDR. Any gamer will appreciate its super low 21ms input lag, but it obviously makes for a very attractive package for competitive online players looking for the most responsive package.
Sony A8F
$3,798.00
- HDR Real Scene Peak Brightness: 635 cd/m2
- 4K @ 60Hz + HDR: 30.8 ms
- Sizing options: 49, 55, 65, 75, 85
We had the A8F on our previous list of best 4K Gaming TVs, the Sony A1E is the predecessor to the A8F. The new design is virtually the same but has been updated and it no longer sits at a tilt.
The picture quality and flicker-free motion handling of Sony’s premier OLED TV is an excellent choice for gamers. Like the LG’s C8, the motion handling is brilliant, so fast-moving images render with much better clarity than LED equivalents. And again, similar to other OLED packages, the A8F produces deep blacks and lush colors, which nullifies the slight upset of having a lower screen brightness when enjoying HDR gaming.
Yes, there are all the same issues with burn-in due to temporary image retention, but as long as you’re taking basic measures to protect the hardware, there shouldn’t be any major concern. One might also cite the “high” input lag in comparison with other TVs here, but quite honestly, anything 30ms or under is very impressive for 4K HDR gaming.
Samsung NU8000
$1,597.99
- HDR Real Scene Peak Brightness: 479 cd/m2
- Input Lag: 4K @ 60Hz + HDR: 18.4ms
- Sizing options: 49, 55, 65, 75, 82
Another versatile 4K HDR TV with sharp picture quality and extremely low input lag is the Samsung NU8000. The 120 fps motion interpolation and optional 60 Hz black frame insertion mitigates its handicap versus OLED screens. Unfortunately, though, it doesn’t quite render colors with as much clarity and depth, which means that its 479 cd/m2 peak HDR brightness is a tad low for the very best HDR experience.
Where this screen really excels, though, is with respect to input lag. It’s one of the very lowest you’ll find and is therefore well suited to competitive console gamers that play twitch shooters or other fast-paced games. It’s also available in some huge screen sizes if you’re after a large model for a spacious room.
The NU8000 has a new ‘Game Motion Plus’ feature which automatically activates when a PS4 or Xbox One is detected.
Sony X900F
$2,198.00
- HDR Real Scene Peak Brightness: 894 cd/m2
- 4K @ 60Hz + HDR: 24.2 ms
- Sizing options: 49, 55, 65, 75, 82
One screen that certainly doesn’t struggle for brightness is Sony’s X900F. A whopping 894 cd/m2 produces bright, vivid colors that really make HDR scenes pop. It looks superb in a dark room due to its ability to render deep blacks thanks to an impressive contrast ratio, good black uniformity, and decent local dimming feature. Of course, its brightness also means that it also works well to combat glare in bright rooms, too.
Motion handling is excellent due to the fast response time and ability to flicker the backlight to clear up motion. The only main negative is the narrow viewing angle, so the best image quality is reserved for those directly in front of the TV. The 2018 Sony X900F can flicker its backlight at 120 Hz, which makes motion look clearer by reducing persistence blur.
Published: May 15, 2018 11:17 am