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Console gamers have never had so much power in just one box: Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X have been setting new standards in gaming performance away from the PC since the end of 2020.

With their powerful hardware, they not only deliver ray tracing effects (physical light calculation), but also output content in native 4K resolution.

Frame rates of up to 120 Hertz are also occasionally possible.

But as good as the Next Gen is: it elicits neither 4K images nor an adventurous frame rate from an older Full HD television.

So if you are toying with the purchase of a console, you should possibly also consider a modern television.

You don't really know what's involved in a gaming TV?

“Computer Bild” explains important terms such as latency times, game modes or HDMI 2.1 and reveals which televisions were convincing in the test.

What does latency mean in gaming TVs?

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Latency is the length of time it takes to process the video signal in the television.

Simply put: how long it takes for a signal from PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X to be implemented on the screen.

Especially in fast online games such as "Call of Duty - Black Ops Cold War", such numbers often decide on success or defeat.

Therefore, the lower the latency, the faster the transmission, which ultimately leads to a better gaming experience.

Televisions with a processing time between 10 and 20 milliseconds inspire with a jagged reaction, all numbers above can tarnish the gaming experience.

In any case, it helps to activate the game mode on the television.

What does the game mode bring to the television?

In order to keep the latency or input delay low for gamers, many televisions offer a special game mode.

It switches off all time-critical image processing and thus minimizes the latency or the input lag, i.e. the delay when an input is made via the controller.

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In most cases this mode is located under the picture settings: For LG televisions, for example, select the picture mode "Game".

On Samsung televisions, this mode can be found in the menu under

General

and

External device management

.

If you have a device that does not have a separate game mode, you can manually switch off possible motion smoothing to reduce latency.

Most televisions remember the selected mode for each connection, for TV reception and streaming separately.

So if you have connected the console to HDMI number 3 and set it to game mode, the film mode remains active for HDMI 1, for TV reception and streaming apps.

What's behind HDMI 2.1?

The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X can output moving images with up to 120 Hertz.

However, so far only a few televisions are able to process this fast image sequence via the HDMI input, which acts as a bottleneck in such cases.

In other words, consoles and high-quality televisions with 100 Hertz screens are theoretically capable of modern technology, but the interface is not necessarily.

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Only the latest version, HDMI 2.1, is fast enough for 120 Hertz in 4K resolution.

But be careful, the version number is no guarantee that a device will take advantage of all the possibilities of the interface.

Depending on the provider and feature choice, the following are possible:

-

8K:

Videos with a maximum of 7680x4320 pixels and 60 Hertz.

-

4K:

Videos with a maximum of 3840x2160 pixels and 120 Hertz.

-

VRR:

Variable frame rate - the television shows as many frames per second as the console or graphics card can calculate, which then varies continuously from 40 or 48 to 120 Hertz.

-

ALLM:

Auto Low Latency Mode, automatic switching to game mode when the player starts a game.

ALLM control quite a lot of current televisions, but this feature is also quite banal.

The previously mentioned 120 Hertz frame rate of the next-gen consoles are more interesting.

They only digest a few televisions, and neither do the variable frame rates.

With these amounts of data, the right cable is also important.

However, it is not the HDMI version numbers that count, but the bandwidth classes.

Three categories are interesting for 4K and more:

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HDMI high speed

safely transmits 10 gigabits per second, very tight for 4K at 60 Hertz.

-

HDMI Premium

guarantees 18 gigabits per second, enough for 4K with 60 Hertz and HDR.

-

HDMI Ultra High Speed

indicates cables with a guaranteed 48 gigabits per second.

That is also sufficient for 4K with 120 Hertz and for 8K.

Below you will find the best high-tech devices for gamers as well as alternatives for those on a budget.

Inexpensive gaming television: Samsung TU8079

In the lower price segment there are many devices that already satisfy the basic needs of a player.

In order to see content on the screen as clearly as possible, 4K resolution (Ultra HD, 3840x2160 pixels) is a must.

The technology is mature, almost every serious new TV model nowadays shows pictures in UHD.

Also, take a look at the device's previously mentioned response time or latency.

This delay between the controller input and the reaction of the character on the screen contributes significantly to the feel of the game.

Inexpensive televisions are usually devices with an LED screen.

This enables good picture quality, but it does not come close to the brilliant colors and deep blackness of more expensive QLED or OLED TVs.

For just over 500 euros, the 55-inch version of the Samsung TU8079 (140 centimeter screen diagonal) offers a very solid entry-level package with a natural picture.

In game mode and with motion smoothing switched off ("Motion Plus"), the latency is a tiny 11 milliseconds.

However, there is no 100 Hertz screen in this price range, so fast movements lose their sharpness.

Compact with 100 Hertz: Panasonic HXW944

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The situation is different with televisions with 100 Hertz screens, which ensure that movements can be scrolled comfortably.

One of the cheapest LCD models with a fast screen is the Panasonic HXW944, which in game mode has a latency of 15 milliseconds in addition to 4K resolution and the 100 Hertz mentioned above.

The device is even available in a compact 43-inch format from around 850 euros, while the popular 55-inch size costs around 1100 euros.

The Panasonic HXW944 offers excellent technical features and is fortunately also available in more compact formats from 43 inches

Source: Computer Bild

HDMI 2.1 and up to 120 Hertz: Sony XH9005 & ZH8

The Sony XH9005 model is slightly cheaper, with 55 inches and a screen with up to 120 Hertz costs around 800 euros.

The “PlayStation TV” received a few updates from Sony after the console was started and now delivers a strong refresh rate via HDMI 2.1 with a latency of less than 10 milliseconds.

VRR and ALLM should be submitted via update in the future.

The Sony ZH8 offers a similarly strong performance, which in addition to HDMI 2.1 with all its functions (except VRR) convinces with its great picture.

Although the latency is 22 milliseconds without gaming mode, the enormous sharpness of movement and excellent anti-reflective coating are impressive.

The sound is also really good without any additional equipment.

The Sony ZH8 is a real monster - but for buyers with the necessary change it is the best device currently available

Source: Computer Bild

At just under 3900 euros, however, the price is quite high.

With a screen diagonal of up to 85 inches, the device transforms every living room into a small cinema and the largest version costs almost 6500 euros as much as a used car.

Other manufacturers such as Samsung generally only offer 100 Hertz and more from 55 inches.

This technology starts with the Q70T product range.

HDMI 2.1 and variable up to 120 Hertz: Samsung Q70T

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Samsung likes to throw different Hertz numbers around with the Q70T in all its designs and sizes.

Important for gamers: In game mode and via HDMI 2.1, 4K images and up to 120 Hertz are possible; thanks to ALLM, switching to the corresponding area is automatic.

The latency varies between a strong 6 and 10 milliseconds, depending on the selected refresh rate.

The 55-inch version starts at just under 875 euros.

Masters of all classes: OLED TVs from LG

LG is well positioned in all areas with its OLED televisions such as the models in the LG OLED CX series.

The technology rightly tops the “Computer Bild” list of OLED televisions and leaves nothing to be desired.

The 55-inch version costs around 1550 euros and is therefore even comparatively cheap.

Thanks to HDMI 2.1, 120 Hertz are usually possible with UHD resolution.

In addition, LG already works with the variable frame rate (VRR) and, if desired, coordinates its own refresh rate with the graphics cards used in the consoles.

With Nvidia this works thanks to G-Sync, while AMD uses FreeSync.