Last November, the new generation consoles from Sony and Microsoft were released in Spain that without a doubt you will all know, PlayStation 5 y Xbox Series X/S. These are new platforms that are committed to 4K resolution and new technologies to offer us new experiences at a technical and playable level.
With the arrival of these consoles, many players have thought about buy a new TV and in Vandal We wanted to review some of the most interesting models of televisions that can be purchased today in addition to reviewing some of the basic characteristics that must be taken into account before buying them.
The key points of a good television to play
The panel
The first important or key point is the panel type and its size. Starting with the first, we currently have two groups of recommended panels to play, the televisions YOU ARE and the LCD LED. The former have a large image quality in all conditions, faster response time and substantial improvement in black quality refers, although they are more expensive, there are fewer sizes available and in the long term there are areas where holds can be shown with the fixed markers of video games.
On the other side of the scale we have the LCD LEDs which are cheaper, are available in more sizes and usually have more brightness and high quality and precision in colors. The problem with these televisions is that their viewing angles are narrower (you can lose color and image quality if you see it from the side), a lower contrast and, of course, the quality of the blacks that are less “deep” than OLEDs.
The second thing to take into account in the panel is its size and this will depend on where we are going to place the television. If we have to be in a small room where we also play the computer and there is not much space, we may have to consider buying a high-end monitor. If we are in a small room with a distance of one meter between the sofa and the TV, the logical option would be to opt for a LCD LED with a smaller size. In other circumstances where let’s have a good distance from the sofa to the TV we are going to choose the “big ass walk on the walk“, that is, by televisions at least 55 inches (which in fact is the reference we have taken for this report).
HDMI 2.1 y VRR
Another point when choosing the television is to see that it has HDMI 2.1 to take full advantage of the features of PS5 y Xbox Series X/S that will allow us to play video games at 4K y 120 fps, something that we can only enjoy through this connection, which is the only one that has enough data width to move all the information of that resolution and that refresh rate. On the personal level of the one who writes you, I think it is something to take into account if you are going to buy a high-end television but that is a more secondary detail if your budget is small and you are going for a cheaper TV because I doubt that we will see many games that allow 4K and 120 fps except for some indies.
The same goes for technology VRR, essential in a high-end television but more “secondary” if we go for a cheap one. This technology Available now on Xbox Series X / S and coming soon to PS5 through a firmware update. The VRR allows synchronize the refresh rate of the TV (measured in Hz) with the fps offered by games on console. Thanks to this synchronization, certain graphic problems in video games are avoided, the best known of which is the tearing.
Game mode
Today the vast majority of televisions include a game mode to reduce latency and allow us to better enjoy our favorite titles. This game mode normally eliminates all the filters and processes that the television does to improve the quality of the image to reduce this latency and improve the time you play. It would be strange if today I did not have it but take a look especially if you are going to buy a cheap TV or some model from a few years ago that goes on sale to clean stock.
HDR
Another key is technology HDR (High Dynamic Range) that allows us to enjoy high contrast images by improving the exposure levels and the intensity of the colors, that is, whites will be whiter, blacks will be blacker and colors will be represented more accurately and ntida. Within HDR there are also different qualities, variants and alternatives but we will make sure that the television we choose has at least HDR10 or HDR10 + in case we want to go to a high range.
Resolution
It seems obvious and that is why we have saved it for the end but we still mention it. We are going to buy a television for a PS5 or an Xbox Series X so we must make sure that we are facing a 4K UHD panel of 3840 x 2160 pixels which is the resolution to which the new generation is aiming and also in which a good part of the most important series and films are being produced.
El mejor TV OLED: LG CX OLED – 1499.99
It is time to talk about some models. There is a good handful in the market and we can search and search but in this article we are going to talk about the most outstanding ones starting with the LG CX OLED, a television that has a good part of our writing and that stands out for a high-quality 4K panelwithout reflections, with a more than remarkable precision in color and a HDR fantstico in addition to having 120 Hz natively, as well as HDMI 2.1 and compatibility with technologies FreeSync, VRR y G-Sync what makes television to play definitively both on consoles and on PC.
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Best LED TV: Samsung Q80-1250
If we go to the LED alternative we go to another of the queen brands of televisions, Samsung and its Q80. Yes, his older brother is Q90 but we opted for this one because at the time of playing the difference is not perceptible due to the extra financial outlay. This time we go to the models from the 55 inches which are the ones with a panel 120 Hz y VRR (those with less inches lack all this), in addition to finding ourselves HDMI 2.1 and a 4K panel with great results in HDR and colors with little need to calibrate the TV. The only downside is that it is currently something difficult to find in Spain and, therefore, we will continue to propose alternatives below.
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The alternative OLED: LG BX OLED – 1199.99
To offer you an OLED alternative, we go back to LG (which is the only one that manufactures these panels, although it later sells them to other brands) with its models BX, the “little” brothers of the CX that allow us to enjoy high quality televisions to play with a good contrast, VRR support, very, very low response time and HDMI 2.1. Of course, this television does not have too much brightness so it is advisable to go to this cheaper alternative if we play in rooms that are normally quite dark.
The LED alternative: Sony XH90 – 1200
An interesting alternative within LED televisions is the Sony XH90 which we already talked about a few weeks ago in a complete analysis finding a TV 4K with a large color calibration, very deep and precise blacks and good HDR, all for a range below 1200 euros making it a cheaper and easier to find alternative to Samsung’s Q80s. The negative part, which in fact makes it not our first option as an LED TV (despite having probably the best panel and being the most complete), is that it does not currently have VRR support although it will come in the future thanks to an update.
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Cheap economic alternatives
Finally, we want to offer you some cheaper alternatives even if we do not go into them so deeply. TLC is starting to offer quite interesting models in Europe highlighting the TCL U49C7006 which is very attractive and is available in a 49-inch version by 359,99 euros and available aqu in Amazon. Quite a treat.
Another television to consider is Xiaomi, the well-known Chinese brand that is beginning to expand quite well in this market and that stands out in relation to quality / price with its My LED TV 4S from 349 euros With a 4K LED panel, HDR although, yes, you do not expect miracles in the reproduction of dark tones or blacks. If you want you can buy on Amazon the 55 “ for a little more price.
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If we continue with these televisions with good value for money we have to mention the Philips 58PUS7555 / 12, a television with 58 inch 4K resolution LED panel very interesting with HDR10 + in exchange for not reaching 120 Hz (it only reaches 60) and that its operating system is quite closed, some applications such as Movistar TV are not available. Even so, little more can be asked of a 449,99 euros available in Amazon.
Finally, as always when choosing a television (and almost any product in hardware or peripherals) is to know the opinion of other users, so we invite you to share your experiences with the televisions that we have mentioned in this report or with other models that you think are interesting in the comments. This is just a small selection from the great catalog that is available out there.
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