If you're in the market for an excellent, future proofed TV that can bring out your PS5 and Xbox Series games to their fullest potential and won't cost you an arm and a leg, here are three TVs that fit the bill. They're equipped with a high-end Mini-LED QLED panel featuring a native 120Hz refresh rate and HDMI 2.1 inputs, perfect for both HDR content and games.
55" TCL R646 4K Mini LED QLED TV for $549.99
HDMI 2.1 for 4K @ 120Hz
55" TCL R646 4K Mini-LED QLED Google TV 8% off $599.99$549.99
Unlike the other two 2022-released TVs on the list, the R646 was TCL's flagship TV of 2021. That shouldn't turn you away, however, because this TV performs every bit as well but at a lower price. It boasts a Mini-LED panel with quantum dot (QLED) technology, wide color gamut, and full-array LED backlight with 240 zones of local dimming. The 120Hz native refresh rate and two HDMI 2.1 ports means that this TV is capable of 4K@120Hz gaming with the PS5 or Xbox Series X consoles. It also has variable refresh rate and auto low latency mode. For the smart interface, the R646 stays with the tried and true Google TV.
55" TCL R655 4K Mini LED QLED TV for $649.99
HDMI 2.1 for 4K @ 120Hz
55" TCL R655 4K Mini-LED QLED Roku TV $649.99
The TCL R655 is the 2022 refresh of the R646. The improvements are minimal but so is the price discrepancy. There are two main changes with the newer R655. Whereas the R646 can do 4K @ 120Hz, the R655 can actually go all the way up to 4K @ 144Hz. Also, whereas the R646 uses the Google TV smart interface, the R655 uses a Roku smart interface. I personally think Roku is more user friendly.
55" Hisense U8H 4K Mini LED QLED TV for $648
HDMI 2.1 for 4K @ 120Hz
55" Hisense U8H 4K Mini LED QLED Google TV 7% off $699.99$648.00
The U8H was Hisense's flagship TV of 2022 and pricing is pretty much identical to the TCL R655. Although the featureset between the two is nearly identical, the Hisense offers a few subtle advantages. The Hisense U8H has more local dimming zones so it's able to deliver a better image when bright and dark elements are present in the same image. The Hisense TV is also a bit better for games because it has a faster response time. Unlike the R655, the Hisense U8H uses the Google smart TV interface. Even if you find the older 2021 U8G on sale, you shouldn't consider it because that TV does NOT have a Mini-LED panel.
What's good about "Mini LED", "QLED", and "Local Dimming"?
The QLED panel enables this TV to retain strong color accuracy and good dynamic range even at peak brightness levels. The local dimming feature allows different zones to dim or brighten independent of each other, thus allowing the TV to deftly handle scenes where the brightest whites and the darkest blacks occur simultaneously. Mini LED panels allow for even more precising local dimming because the controller zones are smaller and more numerous.
Why is this a good gaming TV?
Gone are the days where most games were locked at a sluggish 30fps. The PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles are able to output games in 4K at a full 120Hz refresh rate. However, that's only possible if the TV can also support it. Most 4K TVs actually cannot. The TV must have a native 120Hz panel and at least one HDMI 2.1 input. Fortunately, all three TVs listed above are fully 4K@120Hz capble. Other welcome gaming features include low input lag, variable refresh rate (VRR), which is this TV's version of adaptive sync technology, as well as auto low latency mode (ALLM), where the TV automatically switches to a lower latency when it detects gameplay.
For more sales on TVs, check out our best TV deals of 2023.