OLED TVs have been all the rage for the past few years for a good reason. Not only are they excellent TVs thanks to their impressive color reproduction and infinite contrast, but they also continue improving on the highly criticized brightness limitations that older models had. With OLED TVs offering an industry-leading response time of as low as 0.1 milliseconds, they double as excellent TVs for gaming thanks to their decent input lag in gaming modes and support for various industry standards such as FreeSync Premium, Nvidia’s G-SYNC, and VRR.
Game Rant’s Picks of the Best OLED TVs for Gaming in 2024
LG C3 55 Inch OLED EVO TV
The LG C3 55-inch OLED EVO TV comes with a complete assortment of gaming-related advances, such as VRR support, ALLM, a high refresh rate, and an excellent response time coupled with four HDMI 2.1 ports. It’s hard to find a viable alternative to the C3 within its price range when considering the TV’s gaming performance.
The LG C3 happens to be the latest iteration of LG’s award-winning mid-range OLED TVs that truly entered the fray with the balanced, yet futuristic LG C9 OLED that still packs a punch with hardware that can hold its own nearly four years later with state-of-the-art technology. The C3 builds onto the significant advantage of the LG C2 OLED (also featured below) by offering a slightly brighter experience, and thinner borders while delivering similar build quality, console compatibility, and hardware capabilities as its predecessor - albeit at a higher price than the now-discounted C2.
It offers minor performance gains versus its last-generation C2 OLED TV but does handle sharpness better at lower resolutions. Competitive gamers who often want the FHD 120FPS experience on this TV might be inclined to pay a little extra just to get another year of updates from LG, coupled with slightly better picture quality at their chosen resolution.
Samsung Odyssey OLED G9
The Samsung G95SC G9 OLED Ultra-Ultra Wide Monitor is Samsung’s latest take on the premium ultra-wide monitor G9 lineup. It harnesses OLED technology for better display quality and infinite contrast while offering 240Hz refresh rates and 0.03ms response times.
The Samsung G95SC is hardly marketed as a TV or a TV alternative by any means. However, it does strive to be one thanks to it embracing Samsung’s TV-specific Tizen OS completely, offering support for video streaming and cloud gaming applications, as well as offering a remote control in the box. This sets it apart from a traditional monitor in many ways as it is a TV in many ways, allowing us to list it here. With 240Hz refresh rates, 0.03ms response times, and a unique form factor thanks to its 32:9 aspect ratio, the G95SC does bring a lot to the table.
On the flip side, it does have its fair share of limitations. Unlike most of its competitors on this list, it has no support for GSync, and thanks to its somewhat unique aspect ratio (and corresponding resolution as a result), it does not handle 4K content natively. This makes it a product with limited appeal for console gamers (though PC gamers might tell you a very different story, and justifiably so). Thanks to its 1800R curvature, what makes it an ideal monitor might not make it a great TV thanks to limited viewing angles, unless you plan to game from a set location only.
The G95SC is not the first thing that comes to mind when you consider an OLED TV for gaming, but it does have features that bring it as close as possible to a TV that a monitor can be. It is Samsung’s take on OLED, and it is a capable gaming display that in certain cases is superior to the competition while offering a somewhat passable TV experience to the user.
Sony BRAVIA XR A80L
The Sony XR55A80L is a 55-inch OLED TV that boasts 4K resolution and a 120 Hz refresh rate, offering a suite of supported internet services including Prime Video, Hulu, Netflix, and more. This model includes features like a NEW Eco Dashboard, Acoustic Surface Audio+, and compatibility with Google/Alexa assistants, all within a 13"D x 48.38"W x 29.13"H frame.
First available in May 2023, the Sony Bravia XR A80L is a premium OLED TV that packs several wholesome features for gaming, streaming, and more. It brings terrific features like Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture for the PlayStation 5, delivering better picture quality for gaming and streaming purposes. Beyond that, the A80L comes with a 4K resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, VRR, and ALLM features. The Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) offering tackles stuttering and screen tearing.
Living up toits smart TV title, buyers get access to their favorite streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. This TV also supports voice commands for Alexa, though purchasing an Alexa device is necessary to use this feature. The A80L also supports Google Assistant. Compatible with Apple AirPlay 2, this TV allows you to share pictures, videos, and other files from a Mac, an iPhone, and an iPad.
Samsung S95B 65-inch 4K OLED TV
The Samsung S95B is Samsung’s first attempt to push an OLED-based TV as it merges its QD (Quantum Dot) technology along with the benefits of an OLED TV to provide a more nuanced experience. This TV has better ABL handling and a more vivid picture thanks to its reliance on red, green, and blue subpixels to drive better color reproduction versus older WOLED tech.
The Samsung S95B 65-inch 4K QD-OLED TV is a culmination of Samsung finally throwing in the towel officially and embracing OLED as a means to deliver high-end TVs to its consumer base. Samsung has pushed its own Quantum Dot expertise onto an OLED panel to get the best of both worlds and the results are impressive to see. The S95B enjoys better color reproduction and generally offers a brighter experience thanks to its unique approach when it comes to display tech.
It does have its drawbacks though. Samsung does not have software support for the 12-bit compliant Dolby Vision HDR that sees implementation across high-end TV and mobile displays alike, such as the Apple iPhone and the LG OLED TV lineup. It pushes the HDR10+ route instead, which is considered slightly inferior to Dolby Vision in terms of raw capability.
Samsung’s high ask at launch for the S95B and a limited screen size of 65 inches at the higher end probably also affected user adoption for a TV that was available for as much as $3000 at launch. It comes at a much more palatable price now with the Samsung S95C nipping at its heels witha 77-inch S95Coffering that has already made it to the market.
Samsung S90C OLED 4K
The Samsung S90c packs some exciting gaming features for a smart TV. It supports streaming on platforms like Netflix, Apple TV+, and Xbox. It packs Samsung’s OLED technology along with 4K resolution and a native refresh rate of 120 Hz. Among its strong points are the Neural Quantum Processor with 4K upscaling, Quantum HDR OLED, and Real Depth Enhancer. It features the Samsung Gaming Hub where gamers can play console games and check out game streaming apps.
The 55-inch S90C TV leverages Samsung’s OLED technology to deliver impressive contrast and immersive colors. The ultra-slim TV gets a Neural Quantum Processor with 4K upscaling, a feature that transforms content into 4K resolution. Offerings like Dolby Atmos and Object Tracking Audio Lite bring a cinematic audio experience to your home. On sound, the TV features Q-Symphony 3.0, a proprietary audio technology that blends TVs and Q-series/S-series soundbars (sold separately) for jaw-dropping audio.
Play high-end games at peak performance with Motion Xceleratoor Turbo Pro, a feature that delivers clear 4K visuals up to 120Hz. It doesn’t end there as Game Motion Plus can see gamers get a refresh rate of 144Hz with compatible PC-connected content. Another impressive feature the S90C brings to the table is Samsung Gaming Hub, a platform for discovering the best console games, game streaming apps, and more. Compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, the S90C’s remote comes with some smart features including an in-built microphone for speaking to Google Assistant or Alexa.
LG C2 Series 48-Inch Class OLED EVO TV
The LG C2 Series TV features 8 million self-lit OLED pixels, providing incredible picture quality with infinite contrast, deep blacks, and over a billion vibrant colors, now even brighter. Powered by the α9 Gen 5 AI Processor 4K, exclusive to LG, it automatically adjusts the TV’s settings for enhanced picture and sound quality based on the content.Filmmaker Mode eliminates unnecessary processing for movies, preserving the director’s vision, while Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos enhance the overall viewing experience.
The LG C2 Series 48-inch Class OLED EVO TV makes an appearance as the second OLED TV from the LG C2 lineup but for different reasons on our list. It offers sharp picture quality in tandem with all the features that its larger siblings offer as a de facto LG C-Series TV delivers. With Infinite Contrast in play along with excellent colors, the C2 48'' being priced at the sub-$900 price point makes it an excellent budget TV, ranked slightly higher than the 42-inch variant of the same that is marginally cheaper but much smaller.
The LG C2 48'' happens to be in just the right place at the right time in terms of pricing, even as it delivers a stellar experience for gaming and regular use. The 48-inch size, while not the smallest for an OLED TV, sits at just the right place to be considered for most PC users who prefer to sit closer to their monitor/TV and console gamers looking to max out their gaming experience without splurging north of $1k. The key features for an OLED TV are all still intact even in the smaller form factor, which makes this a no-brainer if you are looking for a premium gaming TV at a budget that doesn’t break the bank for you.
What Makes OLED TVs Good for Gaming?
Finding the right gaming TV can be challenging, especially with so many different types of screens out there. OLED TVs are popular for gaming thanks to a few key features:
FAQ
Q: Are OLED TVs superior for gaming?
In a nutshell, yes. OLED TVs tend to be premium for the same reason. They offer lower input latency and excellent response times, and they can handle VRR particularly well, making them a no-brainer for gaming if you can foot the bill.
Q: Which is better: OLED or QLED?
OLED is better for users who need excellent contrast in any kind of space, since the bright and realistic colors can look good in both light and dark rooms. QLED is better for users in rooms that are constantly well-lit, as the mini-LEDs in use are much brighter overall and will cut down on glare better than OLEDs.
Q: What are the disadvantages of an OLED TV?
OLED TVs are much more expensive than other options. Additionally, users need to be careful to avoid “burn-in”, which is when the LEDs stay lit for so long that they essentially never deactivate. Most OLED TVs have an automatic system built in to prevent burn-in, but not all of them do.
