It's never been a better time to buy a 4K HDR TV for gaming, as new graphics cards for PC gaming are expected soon and a new console generation is only weeks away. The debut of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X coincides with an exciting time in the TV space too, 4K HDR becoming standard on even the cheapest sets and new technologies like 120Hz refresh rates, adaptive sync and auto low latency modes boosting responsiveness for games. What follows are our recommendations for the best gaming TVs in 2020.

When considering a 4K TV for HDR gaming, one of the most important metrics is input latency, which measures how long it takes for your buttons presses to translate into in-game actions. The best 4K HDR TVs offer input latency of around 15ms or less, average models around 20ms, and slower screens react in 30ms or more; generally a difference of about 15ms between two screens is noticeable. However, you'll only accomplish these speeds by engaging gaming modes, which go by different names on different televisions. Auto low latency mode, which we mentioned earlier, automatically activates this mode when it's needed.

As well as input latency, we'll also be looking at how these televisions handle motion, their peak brightness figures, which HDR formats they support and the strength of their built-in smart TV interface. Of course, price is a prime consideration as well. Right now, more expensive OLED sets start at around $1700/£1700 for a 55-inch display while LCD models at the same size can cost less than half of that amount. There are also even cheaper options that provide relatively poor HDR but still deliver a lot of screen for the money.

HDMI 2.1 is another important feature we're looking out for. This standard allows for both 8K 60Hz and 4K 120Hz content, bringing a massive boost to either resolution or responsiveness. HDMI 2.1 is an integral part of both the next-gen consoles and next-gen graphics cards, so it's worth looking for if you're buying a TV - especially a high-end option. We've recently rounded up all the 120fps games confirmed for PS5 and Xbox Series X, and there are sure to be many more to come before the new consoles arrive.

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We also have our recommendations in video form, filmed in February 2020.

Apart from making our TV recommendations, we'll also let you know which features are in the pipeline and what you can expect from gaming TVs over the next year. We'll also give a quick rundown of the four major panel types used in 4K HDR TVs - OLED, QLED, VA and IPS - so you have a basic idea of what their typical strengths and weaknesses are, in case you're considering a TV that isn't on this list.

So these are our top recommendations for gaming-friendly 4K HDR televisions in 2020, including budget, mid-range and high-end options. Use the quick links below to skip ahead, or read on for the full selections. Remember to disable ad blockers to see prices and "where to buy" links.

LG CX OLED: the best 4K TV for HDR gaming Specs: 48, 55, 65 or 77 inches. HDMI 2.1. HDMI VRR, FreeSync and G-Sync Compatible. DolbyVision. The best 4K TV for HDR gaming is the LG CX OLED. This model replaces the excellent LG C9 from last year and includes several key upgrades - most notably a faster processor and a 120Hz Black Frame Insertion (BFI) feature that boosts the clarity of fast-moving objects. Variable refresh rate support on the TV now includes AMD's FreeSync in addition to Nvidia's G-Sync Compatible and HDMI VRR, so you can expect smooth motion from 40Hz to 120Hz without tearing, judder or excessive input lag on both PC and consoles. Elsewhere, the CX possesses all the qualities we loved on the LG C9, including extremely low input lag, measured at ~13ms at 60Hz and ~6ms at 120Hz. The TV also boasts four HDMI 2.1 ports, allowing for 4K 120fps gaming using a single cable on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and next-gen PC graphics cards. Image quality, colour reproduction, viewing angles, motion clarity and contrast are top-notch thanks to the OLED panel used, which is an ideal choice for HDR content. While we recommend OLED if you're considering a high-end TV, Samsung's QLED sets have their own strengths, including the ability to hit higher peak brightness figures and immunity to burn-in. 4K HDR content is where the CX sings, but the television also handles lower-resolution content with aplomb thanks to excellent upscaling and full OSSC and Framemeister compatibility for retro gaming. LG's webOS software is also arguably the best available, thanks to an intuitive and responsive interface that includes easy Wiimote-style selection and rapid multitasking. Pros HDMI 2.1 ports allow 4K 120fps gaming on Series X, PS5 and next-gen GPUs

Extremely low input latency when using gaming modes

120Hz black frame insertion enables better motion processing

Unbeatable contrast, pixel response times, colour accuracy and viewing angles

Excellent scaling for lower-resolution sources Cons DolbyVision and HDR10 are supported, but HDR10+ is missing

Burn-in possible, albeit extremely unlikely if you watch varied content

No option for filter-free 720p or 1080p upscaling

Samsung Q80T QLED: best 4K non-OLED TV for HDR gaming Specs: 49, 55, 65, 75 or 85 inches. HDMI 2.1. HDMI VRR and FreeSync. HDR10+. While OLED TVs are impressive, they are expensive and may be prone to burn-in in extreme cases. They also can't match the brightness of high-end LCD displays. If you've decided against OLED for whatever reason, Samsung's QLED TVs are a good alternative. The Q80T we're recommending sports over 700 nits peak brightness and also boasts excellent colour accuracy, while its full array local dimming allows for contrast ratios of 4,000:1. Note that contrast here is lower than last year's equivalent Q70R, but improvements in response times, colour accuracy and viewing angles make up for this in our eyes. Input lag is also a strong point for this television with HDR content at 4K responding in an impressive 10ms while game mode is enabled at 5ms when playing at 120Hz. FreeSync support is included too, which is handy when playing games on the Xbox Series X, Xbox One or PC. Of course, this TV does have some minor flaws as well, with no G-Sync Compatible support for use with Nvidia graphics cards and only one HDMI 2.1 port. Still, given its strengths, the Q80T makes a compelling argument against OLED. Note: The 49-inch Q80T has a 60Hz panel instead of the 120Hz panel used in the larger sizes. It also lacks support for variable refresh rates and suffers from worse viewing angles, so we recommend the 55-inch size or larger for most people. Pros Support for 4K 120Hz (albeit only on one HDMI port)

Extremely low input lag in game mode

Good motion handling with black frame insertion

Variable refresh rate (FreeSync) support on Xbox One and PC

No risk of burn-in Cons Black levels and viewing angles don't compare to OLED

No DolbyVision support, but HDR10 and HDR10+ are supported

Sony X900H/ XH9005: Best mid-range 4K TV for HDR gaming Specs: 55, 65, 75 or 85 inches. HDMI 2.1. HDMI VRR. DolbyVision. The Sony X900H (known as the XH9005 in the UK) is an excellent choice for next-gen gaming, with four HDMI 2.1 ports suitable for gaming at 4K 120Hz on the PS5, Xbox Series X and next-gen PC graphics cards. It's also Sony's official 'Ready for PlayStation 5' TV; you'll even be able to control the PS5 using the TV's remote (and vice versa) which is a neat trick. The X900H distinguishes itself with low input lag (~15ms at 60Hz and ~7ms at 120Hz), excellent contrast (4800:1 with full array local dimming) and impressive colour accuracy. As with other VA panels, viewing angles are relatively narrow but peak brightness is respectable (500 nits in SDR, around 550 nits in HDR) and as this isn't an OLED there's no chance of burn-in. The X900H runs Android TV, which is responsive to navigate and boasts a deep app library. Pros Incredibly low input lag and full HDMI 2.1 support

Great motion handling with fast response times

Good contrast ratio (4800:1) and great colour accuracy Cons HDMI 2.1 features coming in later firmware update

Narrow viewing angles due to the VA panel used

No FreeSync or G-Sync Compatible support for PC gaming.

TCL R635 Mini LED: Best budget 4K TV for HDR gaming (USA) Specs: 55, 65 or 75 inches. HDMI VRR. DolbyVision. The new TCL R635 is an excellent choice for 4K HDR gaming, thanks to its Mini-LED backlight, 120Hz QLED panel and support for some HDMI 2.1 features, including variable refresh rate support from 48 to 120Hz and auto low latency mode (ALLM). These features make it a surprisingly future-proof choice given its low price, and it should support 1080p or 1440p 120fps gameplay in HDR on PS5 and Xbox Series X. Input lag is low in the THX-certified game mode too. Finally, contrast is excellent, as you'd hope from a VA-based panel. This TV's lower price point is only really evident in its viewing angles, which result in colour shifts if you're sitting even slightly off-centre. Motion handling is solid though, with the option for black frame insertion, while colour accuracy is also strong for its price point. Overall, this is a super strong choice for the US audience - we only wish it was available in Europe! Note: In an early iteration of this article we mistakenly identified this TV as supporting HDMI 2.1, but it appears to only support some HDMI 2.1 features and not 4K at 120fps. We regret the error. Pros Mini-LED backlight provides high contrast with excellent local dimming

120Hz panel, allowing 1080p or 1440p 120fps HDR gaming

Variable refresh rate support via HDMI VRR

Incredibly good value Cons No HDMI 2.1 ports for 4K 120fps gameplay

Relatively narrow viewing angles

No FreeSync or G-Sync support

Not available in the UK or Europe