The 6 Best TVs For The Xbox Series X – Summer 2023: Reviews
- Table of Contents
- Intro
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Best TV
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Best Mid-Range
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Best Bright Room
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Best Lower Mid-Range
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Best Budget
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Best Cheap
- Notable Mentions
- Recent Updates
- All Reviews
- Discussions
Updated Jul 18, 2023 at 12:28 pm
By Pierre-Olivier Jourdenais
If you have an Xbox Series X or are planning on getting one, you might need a new TV to use the Series X’s full potential. Preferably, you want to look for something with a 120Hz panel and HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, as the Series X can output up to 4k at 120 fps for smoother and more responsive gameplay. TVs with good motion handling and low input lag offer a responsive gaming experience. While this recommendation is focused on the Xbox Series X, the picks are the same for the Xbox Series S.
We’ve bought and tested more than 390 TVs, and below are our recommendations for the best 4k TV for Xbox Series X. For more options, check out our recommendations for the best gaming TVs, the best 120Hz TVs, and the best TVs. Most brands have started releasing their 2023 lineups, so vote on which ones you want us to buy and test. To learn more about the 2023 models, check out our 2023 TV lineup page.
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Best TV For Xbox Series X
Samsung S95B OLED
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Video Games
9.4
Type
OLED
Sub-Type
QD-OLED
Resolution
4k
Sizes
55″ 65″See all our test results
The best TV for Xbox Series X we’ve tested is the Samsung S95B OLED.
It’s a fantastic TV with incredible picture quality and useful gaming features. It has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, letting you take full advantage of the Xbox Series X as you can play 4k @ 120Hz games without issue. It also supports variable refresh rate (VRR) technology to reduce screen tearing and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) to automatically switch into Game Mode for the lowest input lag possible. It has incredibly low input lag for a responsive feel, and motion looks remarkably smooth thanks to its near-instantaneous response time.
Games look fantastic on the S95B thanks to its QD-OLED panel that produces perfect black levels with bright and vivid colors. It also has excellent HDR brightness in Game Mode, meaning highlights pop for a fantastic HDR gaming experience. If you want another option, the Samsung S95C OLED is a newer version with a slightly higher 144Hz refresh rate. However, because the Xbox can’t take advantage of that, it’s better to go for the S95B while you can find it for cheaper unless you’re shopping for a 77-inch model, as only the S95C is available in that size.
See our review
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Best Mid-Range TV For Xbox Series X
LG C2 OLED
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Video Games
9.3
Type
OLED
Sub-Type
WOLED
Resolution
4k
Sizes
42″ 48″ 55″ 65″ 77″ 83″See all our test results
If you want something cheaper in the mid-range price category, check out the LG C2 OLED. It’s another fantastic gaming TV with many of the same features and high-end gaming performance as the Samsung S95B OLED but with slightly worse picture quality. The LG uses a different type of OLED panel than the Samsung, resulting in less vivid colors and dimmer highlights.
However, it still delivers the same excellent picture quality in dark rooms thanks to its perfect black levels and no blooming around bright objects.
Besides the difference in picture quality, the LG still offers HDMI 2.1 bandwidth on all of its ports, which lets you take full advantage of the Xbox Series X, and it also has variable refresh rate (VRR) support to reduce screen tearing. There’s minimal blur trail behind fast-moving objects thanks to its near-instantaneous response time, and it has extremely low input lag in Game Mode, as well as Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), which automatically puts your TV in Game Mode when it detects the Xbox Series X as its input device.
The LG C3 OLED is now out, but it’s only a marginal improvement over the C2 while being significantly more expensive, so the older model is the value pick. However, the newer model has full DTS audio format support, so it could also be interesting if you like to watch movies on your Xbox, as they tend to use DTS as their audio track.
See our review
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Best Bright Room TV For Xbox Series X
Samsung QN90C/QN90CD QLED
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Video Games
8.7
Type
LED
Sub-Type
IPS
Resolution
4k
Sizes
43″ 43″ 50″ 50″ 55″ 55″ 65″ 65″ 75″ 75″ 85″ 85″See all our test results
If you want to game in a bright room and find that the Samsung S95C OLED and the LG C2 OLED are too dim, consider an LED-backlit display like the Samsung QN90C/QN90CD QLED. While it doesn’t deliver the same perfect black levels as the OLEDs, it gets much brighter in both SDR and HDR. Combined with its fantastic reflection handling, you won’t have issues using it in a bright room, and it makes highlights pop in HDR.
It doesn’t risk burn-in like on the OLEDs, so you won’t have to worry about static elements damaging your screen over time.
Like the Samsung S95B OLED and LG C2 OLED, it has all the gaming features you’d expect to find in a premium gaming TV. It has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, making it fully compatible with the Xbox Series X, and it also supports both variable refresh rate (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM). Its 43 and 50-inch model sizes have a worse viewing angle but with a 144Hz refresh rate, making them interesting if you want your TV to double as a PC gaming screen.
You won’t feel any delay as it has low input lag, and motion looks smooth thanks to its excellent response time, but it doesn’t have the same near-instantaneous response time as the LG. If you can find its now hard-to-find predecessor, the Samsung QN90B QLED, it’s nearly the same as its successor in terms of image quality, so you might want to get that instead if you can get it for a good price.
See our review
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Best Lower Mid-Range TV For Xbox Series X
Hisense U8H
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Video Games
9.
0
Type
LED
Sub-Type
VA
Resolution
4k
Sizes
55″ 65″ 75″See all our test results
If you’re looking for the best gaming TV for Xbox Series X in the lower mid-range price category, you can get a few great options, like the Hisense U8H. Stepping down to a lower mid-range TV brings a few drawbacks, though. It has worse processing than the Samsung QN90C/QN90CD QLED, so there’s some banding and posterization, but it isn’t present in all games, and you might not even notice it. It also has worse picture quality in dark rooms than the OLEDs on this list, with their near-infinite contrast ratio and perfect black uniformity. However, its picture quality in dark games in Game Mode is still fantastic. It even has excellent HDR peak brightness and displays a wide range of colors for a vivid and life-like experience.
It’s an amazing gaming TV with superb low input lag and a quick response time, delivering a smooth and responsive gaming experience so you can perform at your best.
It has a great selection of gaming features, including HDMI 2.1 bandwidth on two ports, so you can take full advantage of your Xbox and still have room to hook up another HDMI 2.1 device, like a gaming PC.
See our review
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Best Budget TV For Xbox Series X
TCL 5 Series/S555 2022 QLED
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Video Games
8.1
Type
LED
Sub-Type
VA
Resolution
4k
Sizes
50″ 55″ 65″ 75″See all our test results
If you’re on a budget, you can save money by getting the TCL 5 Series/S555 2022 QLED. As you get into budget TVs, the main difference with higher-end TVs is that you usually won’t get a 120Hz refresh rate or HDMI 2.
1 bandwidth. That’s the case with this TV, as you’re limited to playing games up to 60 fps from the Xbox, but you’ll have to spend more if you want a higher refresh rate. It also has worse picture quality than the Hisense U8H, as it doesn’t get as bright, and there’s more blooming around bright objects, but it’s still good enough to enjoy your games with a ton of details and life-like images.
It’s an impressive TV for gaming thanks to its low input lag and fast response time, resulting in a responsive gaming experience and clear motion, with very little blur behind fast-moving objects. It even has a backlight strobing feature to reduce persistence blur, but it causes some duplication in motion. Luckily, it supports variable refresh rate (VRR) technology, delivering a smooth, nearly tear-free gaming experience.
See our review
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Best Cheap TV For Xbox Series X
Hisense A6H
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Video Games
6.
2
Type
LED
Sub-Type
IPS
Resolution
4k
Sizes
43″ 50″ 55″ 65″ 70″ 75″See all our test results
If you’re looking for the best gaming TV for Xbox Series X and need something cheap and simple, the Hisense A6H is a good choice. It’s a decent TV that’s a step down from the TCL 5 Series/S555 2022 QLED as it has an IPS panel with a worse contrast and worse dark room performance than the TCL. However, that means it also has a wider viewing angle, making it the better choice if you have a wide viewing area and enjoy co-op gaming. If you prefer something with better dark room performance instead, the Insignia F50 QLED is a good gaming TV with fewer features.
What makes the Hisense a stand-out option in terms of its price and performance is that it’s one of the few cheap TVs that supports VRR to reduce screen tearing from the Xbox.
It also has fantastic low input lag for a responsive gaming experience. Unfortunately, it has a worse response time than the more expensive models on this list, so you’ll see a bit more blur behind fast-moving objects, but it’s still decent enough for slower-paced games.
See our review
Notable Mentions
- Sony A95K OLED:
The Sony A95K OLED is comparable to the Samsung S95B OLED because it’s a QD-OLED TV. However, it has lower input lag, so gaming feels less responsive.
See our review - Hisense U6H:
The Hisense U6H is a budget TV in the same price range as the TCL 5 Series/S555 2022 QLED, but it has worse motion handling, meaning the TCL is the better budget gaming TV.
See our review - TCL 6 Series/R655 2022 QLED:
The TCL 6 Series/R655 2022 QLED is a competitor of the Hisense U8H, and while it’s also an excellent gaming TV, the Hisense has a quicker response time.
See our review - TCL QM8/QM850G QLED:
The TCL QM8/QM850G QLED is a fantastic TV for the Xbox Series X. It’s extremely bright and has amazing contrast. Unfortunately, while its response time is generally great, the TV’s overdrive tuning is done in ‘brackets’, and its behavior changes dramatically when the framerate fluctuates. The best way to bypass this is to disable VRR and lock the framerate so it doesn’t fluctuate. Ultimately, the Hisense U8H performs almost as well, doesn’t have the QM8’s refresh rate issue, and is significantly cheaper, so it’s the better buy.
See our review - Samsung S90C OLED:
The Samsung S90C OLED is a great choice for the Xbox Series X. It’s almost identical to the Samsung S95B OLED but is a bit brighter and is available in a 77-inch format. Unless you’re looking for that bigger size, the S95B is less expensive for nearly the same performance.
See our review - LG G3 OLED:
The LG G3 OLED is LG’s 2023 flagship OLED and is a very bright TV. It’s a brighter LG C3 OLED but without a stand; the G3 comes with a slim wall mount. However, it’s significantly more expensive than the C3 or LG C2 OLED, and while very bright highlights are brighter on the G3 than on the C3 or C2, the difference isn’t that noticeable in actual usage.
See our review
Recent Updates
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Jul 18, 2023:
Replaced the Samsung QN90B QLED with the Samsung QN90C/QN90CD QLED as ‘Best Bright Room TV For Xbox Series X’. Added the Samsung S90C OLED, TCL QM8 QLED, and LG G3 OLED to the Notable Mentions, and refreshed the text for accuracy and consistency. -
May 15, 2023:
Added the Samsung S95B OLED as the ‘Best TV For Xbox Series X’; renamed the LG C2 OLED as the ‘Best Mid-Range TV’, the Samsung QN90B QLED as the ‘Best Bright Room TV’, and the Hisense U8H as ‘Best Lower Mid-Range TV’; updated Notable Mentions based on changes. -
Feb 14, 2023:
Replaced the Insignia F50 QLED with the Hisense A6H, as the Insignia is discontinued and hard to find. -
Dec 14, 2022:
Replaced the TCL 6 Series/S546 2021 QLED with the newer TCL 6 Series/S555 2022 QLED. -
Oct 25, 2022:
Added the Sony A95K OLED and the Samsung S95B OLED to the Notable Mentions, and refreshed the text.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best televisions for the Xbox Series X. We factor in the price (a cheaper TV wins over a pricier one if the difference isn’t worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no TVs that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here is the list of all our TV reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no TV is perfect, most TVs are great enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.
Samsung QN85B review: lavish 4K HDR images, but OLED TVs have it beat
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(Image: © Samsung)
TechRadar Verdict
The Samsung QN85B is a brilliantly accomplished TV in so many ways for movies and gaming, but it lacks the across-the-board excellence of its best rivals at the same price, such as the LG C2.
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
Pros
- +
Slim and elegant design
- +
Bright and lavishly colourful images
- +
Great gaming support
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Samsung QN85B: two-minute review
The Samsung QN85B looks like an incredibly competitive TV on paper, and while the battle is never won on paper, you have to start somewhere. Its Mini-LED technology (which Samsung calls Neo QLED) is apparent both in the slimness of the screen’s profile and in its high levels of brightness peak brightness.
For gamers, the Samsung QN85B has HDMI 2.1 features across all its HDMI sockets and can exploit every feature of your next-gen console. It’s also fitted with a state-of-the-art picture processor, a redesigned version of the Tizen smart TV interface that’s been a highlight of Samsung TVs for a while now, and it’s got six speaker drivers that want to give you a tiny taste of spatial audio.
And it’s got all of this at a price that looks competitive against high-end TVs among the larger sizes – we tested the 55-inch model, but we also want to pick out the 75-inch version as being among the best 75-inch TV and undercutting the OLED competition on price. (We’ll cover the rest of the sizes in a moment.)
On paper, all this is enough to make you overlook Samsung’s usual refusal to include Dolby Vision HDR.
In practice, though, things aren’t so cut and dried. Yes, this is a bright screen – and yes, its contrasts are wide as a result. But despite the numerousness of its backlighting zones, it can’t bring convincing levels of detail to the black tones it generates – and it’s not immune to backlight bloom or smear, either. It simply doesn’t match the best OLED TVs for precision.
The new smart TV software is most definitely not improved compared to last year’s model – quite the opposite, in fact. And its sound, though quite expansive, is predictably undynamic and short of low-end extension.
The Samsung QN85B is far from bad, and in some ways it’s a bit of a bargain. But there’s no doubt Samsung has left the door open for the likes of the LG C2 to tempt you away for an extremely similar price, with an overall better picture… even if the QN85B does have some advantages of its own.
- Samsung QN85B (55-inch Black) at Walmart for $1,497.99
Samsung QN85B review: Price and release date
- Released in spring 2022
- Available in 55-inch, 65-inch, 75-inch and 85-inch sizes
- Prices start from £1,399/$1,499/AU$2,499
The Samsung QN85B is on sale now, and it’s available in four different screen sizes. The 55-inch 55QN85B we tested for our review costs £1,399 / $1,499 / AU$2,499, while the 65-inch version is priced at £2,199 / $1,999 / AU$3,299, and the 75-inch version will set you back £3,299 / $2,799 / AU$4,499. Those with an especially large viewing room can bag the 85-inch model for £4,699 / $3,999 / AU$6,299.
Clearly, the bigger the QN85B you want, the more sense it makes to just be American. But no matter where you end up making your purchase, you know there are similarly sized screens from the obvious big-hitters – the LG C2 and Sony A80K in particular – available at similar money. The TV market is about as fiercely contested as they come, which is nothing but good news for consumers.
The Samsung QN85B is impressively feature-packed, with one or two notable exclusions. (Image credit: Future)
Samsung QN85B review: Features
The QN85B range is based on Mini-LED technology (or Neo QLED, as Samsung’s marketing department insists). We’ve explained Mini-LED technology here, but for now it’s enough to know the QN85B uses many thousands of tiny LEDs to backlight its quantum-dot LCD panel.
The advantages of this are obvious, in theory anyway. Having such a huge number of small LEDs covering the rear of the pixel panel allows the backlighting array to be divided into hundreds of dimming ‘zones’, all of which are individually controllable. So the backlighting can be very precisely targeted to be bright in some zones and dark in others, which should mean better black levels, more convincing contrasts and better control of those scenes of candlelit darkness and what-have-you. And this arrangement allows the QN85B to be impressively slim in profile, too.
Overall picture quality is governed by Samsung’s Neo Quantum Processor 4K. This processor uses some machine learning in an effort to make content of all types and all resolutions look its best on the 55-inch 4K screen. Naturally a lot of effort is expended in bringing HD or SD content up to size, but the Neo Quantum 4K is also designed to exploit the HDR element of any native 4K stuff it’s dealing with.
As far as HDR is concerned, incidentally, it’s Samsung business as usual here – which, though predictable, is a pity. The QN85B supports HLG, HDR10 and Adaptive HDR10+ – but as usual there’s no sign of Dolby Vision. It’s only the most popular HDR format of them all, Samsung…
All four of the QN85B’s HDMI inputs are at 2.1-standard with eARC, and support 4K 120Hz, VRR and ALLM – which is uncomplicatedly excellent news for next-gen gamers, and makes this unquestionably one of the best gaming TVs around. In addition, there are a couple of USB sockets, a digital optical output, an Ethernet socket and TV tuners. Wireless connectivity runs to Bluetooth 5.2 and dual-band Wi-Fi.
As far as audio is concerned, the QN85B is fitted with six little speaker drivers, powered by an all-in total of 60 watts. Two fire dead-ahead, a couple are angled out to the sides in a drive for greater sonic width, and the last two fire upwards from the rear of the chassis – so not only can the QN85B deal with Dolby Atmos soundtracks, it wants to offer a little suggestion of spatial audio as it does so.
Samsung’s also deployed its ‘Object Tracking Sound’ technology is an effort to have sound follow on-screen action even more closely. And if you use an appropriate Samsung soundbar, not only will an eARC connection take care of the data transfer but Samsung’s ‘Q Symphony’ technology allows the TV’s audio system to join in with, rather than be overridden by, the efforts of the soundbar, for a more expansive sound.
- Features score: 4.5/5
The brightness of the Samsung QN85B puts OLED TVs to shame. (Image credit: Future)
Samsung QN85B review: Picture quality
- Beautifully bright and colorful
- Capable of uniformly deep black tones
- Detail in nuance in darkness is lacking
If it’s brightness you want, you’ve come to the right place. When it’s fresh from the box, ‘searing’ is not too strong a word to describe the QN85B’s image quality.
It’s always possible to have too much of a good thing, of course, as the lividity of the Samsung’s pictures is easily regulated in the set-up menus. In fact, spending a bit of time investigating your set-up options is the wise move, as the QN85B is a more subtle and nuanced picture-maker than its out-of-the-box appearance might suggest.
The impressive brightness levels don’t come at the expense of white-tone detail, though. Gradation and variation is always apparent, and the Samsung is able to distinguish between even the most minor differences in shade and tone.
Despite the (endlessly irritating) lack of Dolby Vision HDR compatibility, native 4K content is vibrant and convincing throughout the color palette. There’s tangible depth to primaries, and seemingly limitless nuance of shade and tone – even when dealing with something like a sports field, which might reasonably be considered to be quite uniform in color. Fine detail retrieval is impressive, and the certainty with which the QN85B describes color saturation is remarkable too.
The Samsung retains all of these positive attributes even when viewed quite radically off-axis, too. It doesn’t have the preposterously wide viewing angles of the Samsung S95B QD-OLED TV, naturally, but nevertheless there’s no need to get into a dispute about who’s getting to sit in the sweet spot. The consistency of the QN85B’s color performance is remarkable.
Black tone performance is not quite so successful. The multitude of dimming zones (there are 720 by all accounts, in a 40 x 18 array) means the zones that are not being illuminated are good and black, but the drive for deeper-than-expected black tones also results in some crushing of detail in darkness. There’s an unwelcome uniformity to the black military clothing during the opening scenes of Christopher Nolan’s Tenet, for example, and this general lack of insight into the darkest areas of the screen never really goes away.
The upside to this is how well the Samsung controls its backlighting, though. Unless you’re watching a black screen with some white text on it, there’s negligible bloom or bleed of white tones – control is generally pretty impressive. Transitions between dimming zones is rapid too, though very small areas of brightness against black backgrounds can get lost entirely in a way that they wouldn’t with an OLED TV.
Edge-definition is pretty impressive, the QN85B managing to keep even complicated outlines stable and smooth, and equally good work gets done with tight and/or complicated patterns. Motion-control is a slightly more qualified success – or, more accurately, motion-control is just slightly hit-and-miss unless you switch on ‘LED Clear Motion’ in the set-up menus. For some reason, enabling this setting has an impact on the overall brightness of the Samsung’s images (which is a pity), but the trade-off is most definitely worth it.
The Samsung’s Neo Quantum Processor 4K proves adept at upscaling 1080p content to fit the QN85B’s 4K panel, with some minor and fairly obvious caveats. There are mild-but-appreciable drop-offs where detail retention, edge definition and color balance are concerned, but they’re in no way problematic. It almost goes without saying that the rather unknowable nature of the Samsung’s black tones doesn’t get any better, either. But motion remains composed, and the QN85B is never less than eminently watchable.
No matter what you’re watching, though, the QN85B is distractingly reflective. Samsung has deployed a semi-gloss coating to try and mitigate reflections, but while they’re quite diffuse there’s no unseeing them – especially in the darkest moments. If your TV is facing a white painting or something like that, don’t imagine you won’t be seeing it reflected in your television screen.
A big advantage of the brightness of a Mini-LED TV is to make it more visible than dimmer OLED TVs in light rooms where reflections might be an issue. And overall that’s probably the case here, yet the reflectivity is still stronger than we’d hope.
- Picture quality score: 4/5
Speakers around the edge give the Samsung QN85B the power to provide some positional audio. (Image credit: Samsung)
Samsung QN85B review: Sound quality
You can’t fault Samsung as far as ‘making the effort’ is concerned. The QN85B’s six speaker drivers, along with its Object Tracking Sound technology and Q Symphony compatibility, all point to a TV that’s had more care lavished on its audio performance than is the norm.
Most importantly, the midrange – where the voices exist – sounds clear, believable, and detailed enough to let character and diction apparent. There’s not a great deal of potency or dynamism to the Samsung’s sound, though, which puts it at odds with the vibrancy of its images more than somewhat. There’s a lack of outright power to the QN85B’s sound, too, which puts it at an even greater remove from the picture quality it accompanies.
The Object Tracking Sound arrangement is a low-key success, though, with a little suggestion of sound emanating from particular areas of the screen adding to the unity of the audio/video presentation. It’s a little more successful than the suggestion of ‘spatial’ audio the TV’s driver array is supposed to deliver, which is mild in the extreme.
Unsurprisingly, the QB85B can’t summon much by way of bass presence – and what low-end activity it can muster starts to sound quite stressed at even quite modest volumes.
The sound here is clear enough to mean you’ll never struggle to know what’s going on, and the OTS system adds some positional dynamism, but what’s here won’t replace one of the best soundbars for home theater punch.
- Sound quality score: 3/5
The stand of the QN85B is solid and looks better than most similar options. (Image credit: Samsung)
Samsung QN85B review: Design
No sensible person wants their nice new television to look anything other than modern, slim and basically all screen – do they? And it’s these ‘sensible people’ Samsung is catering for with the QN85B.
At a mere 27mm / 1.1 inches deep, this 55-inch model is more than slim enough to hang easily on the wall, and at 17.2kg / 38 lbs it’s not too much of a burden where weight is concerned for wall mounting either. The bezels surrounding the screen are minimal when viewed from dead ahead, and are nicely finished in what Samsung is calling ‘bright silver’ when seen in profile.
If you decide against wall-hanging, the TV can instead sit securely on a sturdy, vaguely hexagonal, foot that’s also finished in ‘bright silver’. It has a little rudimentary cable management built in, it elevates the bottom of the screen sufficiently for a soundbar to sit happily beneath, and it adds another three kilos to the overall kerb-weight. There’s no cable management on the rear of the screen itself, though, no click-on plastic panel to hide the numerous connections you’re bound to have made.
As is becoming commonplace these days, the QN85B ships with a couple of remote control handsets. One is a slim, elegant, solar-powered item covering the most common functions, the other is plasticky and has a lot of very small buttons on it. You’re bound to need it at some point, though, so try to remember where you ditched it in favour of its solar-powered partner.
Because Samsung is still pushing its ‘SmartThings’ control app quite hard, and willing you to incorporate your TV into your wider network of (ideally Samsung) connected products, the QN85B is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant voice-control. It works well, and happily predictably, no matter if your television is a stand-alone item or just one element of your smarter-than-smart home.
- Design score: 4.5/5
You get two remotes with the QN85B – one simpler, and one with all the buttons. (Image credit: Future)
Samsung QN85B review: Smart TV and menus
Samsung’s Tizen-based smart TV interface has been among the best around for a good few years now – but despite it being demonstrably not broken, Samsung has gone ahead and tried to fix it anyway.
So now the smart interface covers the entire screen rather than knowing its place (which was a couple of decks at the bottom of the screen). And it uses all the extra space to make recommendations of curated content that takes an awfully long time to catch up with the sort of stuff you might have actually been watching.
It’s not as responsive as it used to be, either, which makes navigating the whole area a less pleasant and more frustrating experience than previously where Samsung TVs are concerned. Still, at least this ‘upgrade’ brings with it Samsung TV Plus, a free selection of hard-to-come-by streamed TV services – which is undeniably a good thing.
Set-up menus are decently extensive but not intimidatingly so. It’s easy to get perfectly serviceable quality for both picture and sound without spending much time or effort, while those who prefer a deep dive into the minutiae have plenty of options.
The ‘smart calibration’ feature in the ‘Picture’ set-up menus allows a sort of quasi-professional level of tweakery using just your smartphone.
- Smart TV and menus score: 3/5
With four HDMI 2.1 ports, the Samsung QN85B is positively spoiling us. (Image credit: Future)
Samsung QN85B review: Gaming
With HDMI 2.1 support across all four HDMI inputs, compatibility with 4K 120Hz and support for ALLM, VRR and FreeSync Premium Pro, the QN85B looks equipped to make the most of a next-gen console. And when you add in the popping brightness, assured motion tracking and mile-wide color palette already discussed, that’s how it proves. Mostly, anyhow.
Not unreasonably, the screen defaults to ‘Game’ mode when it detects the relevant signal. The results in the screen giving you everything it’s got, color-wise, reduces response and input lag times down to impressively low levels indeed, and lets the TV use its remarkable brightness to make the most of the lavish lighting effects apparent in, say, Gran Turismo 7.
But it also results in backlighting seeming less focused and responsive than when watching other input sources. The processor is obviously balancing working its magic without adding delay to the image, and a knock-on effect is the increase in white-tone blooming and the drop-off in zone-by-zone control.
It’s a shame you don’t get Nvidia G-Sync or Dolby Atmos gaming support here too (though the former is only relevant for PC gamers, and the latter for Xbox Series X gamers).
- Gaming score: 4/5
The QN85B is an impressive performer… but at its launch price, it’s beaten in a few key ways by competitors. (Image credit: Samsung)
Samsung QN85B review: Value
It goes without saying that you’re far from short of choice when it comes to picking a premium TV that costs around this sort of money. Our particular favourite remains the LG C2 OLED TV, which has already dropped to similar prices to the QN85A at times with discounts. But there’s also the (slightly more expensive) Sony A80K, while UK buyers can find the Philips OLED806 available for very aggressive prices now.
The price/specification/screen-size ratio is pretty aggressive for the QN85B, though, and specifics such as the full-fat nature of all four HDMI inputs are bound to make some consumers’ minds up for them. The slim and relatively elegant nature of the television itself doesn’t do any harm either – and who doesn’t approve of a solar-powered remote control?
Samsung’s taken a backward step with the reworking of its Tizen smart TV interface, mind you, and while OLED-fanciers will be blown away by the sheer raw brightness of the QN85B’s Mini-LED panel they’ll be far less enamored of its rather flat and guarded nature of its black-tone response. And just because we’re all used to Samsung ignoring Dolby Vision HDR, that doesn’t mean we approve of it.
- Value score: 4/5
Should you buy the Samsung QN85B?
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
---|---|---|
Features | Excellent connectivity and great audio tech, but shame about the lack of Dolby Vision. |
4.5/5 |
Picture quality | Wonderfully bright and colorful, with great detail, but struggles with detail in darkness and reflections. | 4/5 |
Sound quality | Perfectly clear, with good matching to on-screen action, but it’s thin. | 3/5 |
Design | Impressively thin, with a nice stand and excellent finish. | 4.5/5 |
Smart TV and menus | The new Tizen is a bit slow and overbearing, but is well-equipped. We like the remotes. | 3/5 |
Gaming | Four HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 120Hz and VRR, plus super-low lag make this very well-equipped. | 4/5 |
Value | Right in line with premium competition for features, but lacking the fully refined image quality of some of them. |
4/5 |
Buy it if…
You’re after a TV brighter than the brightest OLED
As far as straightforward ‘punch’ goes, OLED can’t lay a glove on Mini-LED.
You’ve got game
Full-on HDMI 2.1 smarts on all four HDMI ports, plus low response times and that lovely brightness, make for a great gaming experience.
Don’t buy it if…
You want the full nuance of HDR images
With no Dolby Vision for Netflix/Disney+ and limited detail in black areas, its cinematic chops are a bit behind similarly priced OLEDs.
You have issues with patience
The changes Samsung has made to its smart TV interface are not exactly intuitive.
Also consider
LG C2
A 55-inch C2 is now yours for under £1,500 / $1,600 / AU$2,600– and that money buys respectable (if not Samsung-bothering) brightness, balanced and refined overall image quality, and a smart TV interface that doesn’t go out of its way to wind you up.
Samsung QN90B
The next TV up from the QN85B features better reflection handling, more brightness and better handling of dark scenes. Basically, all the QN85B’s biggest issues get fixed, for a bit more money.
Samsung QN85B: Price Comparison
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Simon Lucas is a senior editorial professional with deep experience of print/digital publishing and the consumer electronics landscape. Based in Brighton, Simon worked at TechRadar’s sister site What HiFi? for a number of years, as both a features editor and a digital editor, before embarking on a career in freelance consultancy, content creation, and journalism for some of the biggest brands and publications in the world.
With enormous expertise in all things home entertainment, Simon reviews everything from turntables to soundbars for TechRadar, and also likes to dip his toes into longform features and buying guides. His bylines include GQ, The Guardian, Hi-Fi+, Metro, The Observer, Pocket Lint, Shortlist, Stuff T3, Tom’s Guide, Trusted Reviews, and more.
Best 120Hz Smart TVs for PS5 and Xbox Series X
Now that we have 4K TVs for under €500, consumer inquiries are especially focused on finding a Smart TV that can meet all the needs created by one of the most advanced devices we can find in stores today. new generation consoles . If you are currently immersed in an endless search, we are going to leave you with a few models that can take you to the next level.
Index
- 1 What features should a Smart TV have?
- 2 Best Smart TVs for PS5 and Xbox Series X
- 2.1 LG C1 OLED TV
- 2.2 Samsung QN90A QLED
- 2.3 Sony X91J
- 2.4 LG G1 OLED
- 2.5 HiSense ULED 65U8QF
- 2.6 Sony XH9096
- 2.7 LG G2 OLED
- 2.8 Samsung q80t
- 2.
9 LG Nano90 Nanocell
- 2.10 Sony A80J OLED
- 2.11 LG CX 9 OLED TV0010
- 2.12 Samsung QNQ70T
- 3 Ideal for PS5
- 4 And if you prefer to play in the cloud?
What features should a Smart TV have?
The first thing you need to understand is that in addition to good image quality, in order to enjoy gaming, you need to take into account a number of important characteristics that will determine the final performance. These advantages in some cases make a huge difference between a particular model, so you should take them into account if you want to get best gaming experience . Here are the features you should consider:
- 4K resolution : It’s very hard not to buy 4K resolution these days, but it’s something you should be aware of when looking at the panel. PS5 and Xbox Series X offer 4K at the highest quality and at least 60fps, so that’s the bare minimum you should have on your next TV.
- HDMI 2.1 : Holy Grail. Within a few months, new models on the market have begun to include a new version of the HDMI port that offers a large number of new features that new consoles will take full advantage of. If your TV has HDMI 2.1, you will have just about everything you need.
- 120Hz : This is one of the features implicitly present in HDMI 2.1. This refresh rate will allow you to get smoother images and indirectly allow you to get lower latency which can improve your gaming experience. This is a feature that improves vision and feel while playing.
- Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) : This quality is responsible for automatically adjusting the refresh rate that the console is currently sending. In this way, strange effects on the image caused by sampling imbalance are avoided.
- HDR: Like 4K resolution, HDR TV is something we will find in almost all models, however, not all manufacturers offer all standards.
HDR10, HDR10+, LHG, Dolby Vision, Advanced HDR…
Best Smart TVs for PS5 and Xbox Series X
Knowing the specs you need to take into account, we’re going to leave you with a range of models that will fit right in with the ideal options to pair with your next generation console.
LG C1 OLED TV
It’s impossible not to start this post by recommending the best LG model. The OLED panel is updated with more brightness and new features in the software layer, and although it retains all the features of the CX in general terms, the ability to make the leap to the latest generation is always a plus at the level of future updates. These new models already have sections in the menu specifically designed for gamers, so you can quickly adjust the image from them.
View offer on Amazon
Samsung QN90A QLED
At Samsung, we are also going to find an extremely interesting option in the new 2021 models as this Neo QLED, the QN90A, offers us an impressive 120Hz panel with HDMI 2. 1.
The new interface has included many features specially designed for gamers, with a choice of aspect ratio and other features. It’s not an OLED panel, but Samsung has achieved impressive results with its panels.
View offer on Amazon
Sony X91J
Without a doubt, this is the best TV you can buy if you want to play Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5 on the biggest possible screen. The Sony X91J is only available in 85 Pulgadas , so video game immersion is more than guaranteed.
This Sony model has a feature and it is that it has low latency auto mode which is activated as soon as you connect PlayStation 5. Game Mode will also be activated automatically so you don’t have to worry about changing settings when you’re ready to play.
View offer on Amazon
LG G1 OLED
Newly released in 2022, this model is equipped with OLED EVO technology, panels are even brighter than the C1. Its game optimization mode is great if you are going to enjoy action and shooting games. Its image quality is almost unsurpassed today, and its fluidity is impressive. Its latency is also very low and it’s a totally recommended TV if you’re looking for a game. Its only drawback – to eliminate the defect – is that it has some problems with the warehouse, so it will not be easy to get a unit. It is available in 55″ and 65″ sizes.
View offer on Amazon
HiSense ULED 65U8QF
This very interesting HiSense model offers 65 inches with 4K resolution and 120Hz. giant hole in your wallet. Big inches and a very complete feature set at one of the best prices.
View offer on Amazon
Sony XH9096
A Sony variant currently available at a very good price. Reaching 120Hz requires the latest system update, but after that you’ll have a full-fledged Full Array LED TV with HDMI 2.1 and 4K resolution.
View offer on Amazon
LG G2 OLED
This TV is LG’s brightest OLED TV to date. Its brightness level is . This is made possible by the combination of OLED Evo technology and a new heat dissipation element. All this was achieved without sacrificing contrast because, as LG usually teaches us, this OLED screen has impressive black levels.
General specifications for gaming they are also invincible. LG TVs are the only ones that support games with Dolby Vision up to 120Hz, this model has four HDMI inputs and supports streaming at 4K@120Hz resolution with VRR and ALLM support. Level input delay of this TV is about 9.4 ms.
Is this screen ideal for gaming? Yes and no. Its price is really high so it is only worth it if you have enough budget and think you are going to use it to justify your purchase. Another downside is that it doesn’t have support. LG believes that this screen should be wall-mounted yes or yes, although it does not include a mechanism for mounting it, which must be purchased separately. LG OLED G2 not available in sizes smaller than 55 Pulgadas . Also has options in 77, 83 and 97 inches . We’re missing an alternative around 65 inches, but that doesn’t mean we have an outstanding product in front of us.
Samsung q80t
As we told you before, we don’t need to buy the next generation model to have the features our console needs. A striking example are several models of the Korean manufacturer in 2020. In particular, we are interested in Q70T, Q80T, Q90T and Q950TS. They all have HDMI 2.1 port , los
120Hz Dashboard, HDR and 4K Resolution . But in our opinion, the one that is best positioned in terms of price / quality ratio is Q80T , that we can get it for a few 1.099 euros, depending on the inches in which we choose it.
View offer on Amazon
LG Nano90 Nanocell
Although this is not an OLED TV, it does have a screen. High quality IPS LEDs and very interesting price. If you find this TV at a good price, it’s not a bad idea to buy it. However, we recommend that you also evaluate the Samsung QN90A as it has better contrast than this panel and for the same price, you will get a better experience. gaming with Samsung.
View offer on Amazon
Sony A80J OLED
The A80J is one of Sony’s success stories and the second level of its OLED range . As such, it boasts incredible image quality in both SDR and HDR formats thanks to its impressive XR processor. Your dashboard has the exceptional contrast of thanks to OLED technology. This is a TV that lets you enjoy vibrant colors and absolutely deep blacks. Of course, as is usually the case with this type of television, this is not the brightest model in the world. It looks good during the day, but not as good as the Samsung models currently on the market. Despite this, the A80J OLED looks good even in adverse situations and with reflections.
But let’s move on to video games . This model has none other than four HDMI 2.1 ports, two of them are compatible with ALM and BRR for 4K@120Hz gaming. PS5 and Xbox Series X games look very good on this screen thanks to the 120Hz refresh rate and low latency that is below ‘s 10ms. This model recently received a firmware update from VRR, but its implementation is not as smooth and seamless as LG or Samsung TVs. Unlike the competition, there is no dedicated Game Mode interface for adjusting the TV’s game settings.
As for the operating system, this TV has a Google TV interface, so there are many applications, games and streaming services available. The operating system runs quickly and smoothly, making Google Assistant and voice commands accessible to users.
View the offer on Amazon
LG CX OLED TV
LG’s CX line is in line with the 2020 versions of OLED TVs, but we’re faced with a screen so impressive in picture quality and features that it’s impossible not to recommend it if you find it at a good price.
The 55-inch model can in some cases be found at a great price below 1.500 euros, so basically we are facing one of the best options to evaluate.
View the offer on Amazon
Samsung QNQ70T
This model does not have local illumination and really belongs to the 2020 QLED line, but for this it should not be missed from the top. This TV is one of the most affordable you can still find for gaming on next-gen consoles. 4K and 120fps because it’s one of the cheapest models you’ll find this feature on. The QNQ70T isn’t perfect, but it has a very dynamic picture and feels like it was made for the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5.
All in all, we’re dealing with a TV that meets the minimum requirements to be able to play properly on next generation consoles. It has one HDMI 2.1 port and the rest will serve you in 4K resolution and 60 FPS.
An interesting feature in this model is Mobile Multi View with Casting, which allows you to see the image on your TV and your smartphone at the same time, which is useful if you are playing an online game and watching YouTube while waiting. times and charge.
Like all Samsung QLEDs, there are several game modes. Mode Game Motion Plus get bass input delay but supports image processing elements to get the best image quality. He input delay in this mode is a solid 20 milliseconds. This mode can be turned off, resulting in an incredibly fast 9ms lag if you’re playing at 1080 and 60fps.
View offer on Amazon
Perfect for PS5
Sony’s latest range includes the “Perfect for PS5” nomenclature, a label that certifies that the specified smart TV works perfectly with the brand’s own console. This can be confusing to many users who might think that the most compatible smart TV with PS5 would be a Sony TV, but this is not entirely true. All smart TVs with the above specifications are perfectly compatible with PS5, the detail is that models Ideal for PS5 Sony’s features an automatic setting that makes life easier for users and ultimately allows you to achieve optimal image quality without having to go through complicated settings.
These specified models are able to communicate with the console to adjust the HDR values to the optimum level, which can produce some very amazing lighting effects that make the most of both the console and the display panel. Automatic mode is able to recognize whether we are playing or watching a movie, and thus act according to the settings of the console. As we say, this is an automatic process that greatly facilitates the user’s work, but this does not mean that with the necessary knowledge (and tools) it cannot be done on other TVs of other brands. After all, these are the benefits of playing at home.
What if you prefer to play in the cloud?
They’ve made their way in recent years with some really serious alternatives such as Microsoft’s with their Xbox Cloud Gaming, Google with Stadia, Amazon with their Luna (which has yet to arrive in Spain) and Nvidia with GeForce NOW. Well, you should know that some Smart TV models already include hubs to use them all and that we only have to worry about connecting a network cable, Ethernet and pairing a compatible wireless controller.
This applies to Samsung Smart TV models released in 2022, which are already They have what they call the Gaming Hub and this gives us access to applications capable of real-time streaming on the services we subscribe to. And the Xbox One is by far the most interesting due to the many new features it usually adds every month, with game premieres being major new releases in many cases and tied into the Game Pass that Redmond has been pushing ever since. a few years ago.
and Android TVs have easier access to Stadia , for example, as well as other apps that just need a fast internet connection and the ability to pair a compatible gamepad to handle everything.
The links you see in this article are part of our agreement with the Amazon Associates Program and may earn us a small commission on your sale (without affecting the price you pay, of course). The decision to publish them in any case was taken voluntarily, in accordance with the editorial criteria of El. Output, and not paying attention to offers or requests from the brands involved.
KEY | VALUE |
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Are you ready for a new generation… And your TV?
The premiere of the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles is imminent, and with it the start of a new generation of graphics features, including super-high frame rates, low latency, amazing extended dynamic range. But is your TV ready for what the new consoles have to offer?
This thought led us to realize that it’s time to share some basic information on how to figure out what your TV is capable of, what to look out for if you’re planning to get a new 4K TV specifically for Xbox Series X, like the Samsung Q90T QLED 4K TV or LG CX 4K OLED TV.
What resolution and refresh rate can the TV have?
4K TVs come in many varieties: 4K, 4K Ultra HD, UHD, UHD 4K, SUHD TV, Ultra HD, Ultra UDTV, 2160p. If your TV has this mark, congratulations! You have a 4K TV. In other words, you can output up to 3840 x 2160 resolution (yes, that’s 4K) with Xbox Series X at 24 Hz, 50 Hz, 60 Hz, or 120 Hz. But everything is not so simple.
Some displays only support 120 Hz refresh rate at certain resolutions (eg 1080p) or only when connected to a specific HDMI port that supports HDMI 2.1. The capabilities of TVs vary widely, so we advise you to carefully study the characteristics of your screen before connecting a new console (or before you decide on a new purchase). This can be helped, for example, by the English-language site RTINGS.com, which collects data on many different TVs (first of all, look at the Supported Resolutions section for your model).
How to understand that everything is set up correctly?
If your TV meets the specifications above, it’s time to make sure your Xbox Series X is set up correctly. Launch your console and check if your TV supports 4K and HDR by pressing the Xbox button. Open the relevant settings: Settings -> General -> TV & Display Options -> 4K TV details . If everything is good, then you will see a series of green checkmarks. If not, you should think about troubleshooting.
How to make sure your screen supports HDR ?
Most of today’s games support High Dynamic Range (HDR) to improve overall graphic quality with significantly more colors and increased brightness. For Xbox Series X|S consoles, we’re introducing a new feature called Auto HDR that will automatically enable HDR capabilities for games that run in standard dynamic range. Trust me, you’ll notice the difference right away, but you’ll need an HDR10 capable TV. Look for the names HDR Premium, High Dynamic Range, HDR, UHD Color, Ultra HD Premium, Ultra HD deep color. All these markings indicate that the TV supports HDR10, and therefore displays content using HDR.
What about Dolby ?
The Xbox Series X and Series S will be the first consoles to support both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. Xbox Series X|S will support Dolby Vision in entertainment apps like Netflix, Disney+ and Vudu right from the start, and games coming out in 2021 will support ultra-bright graphics quality – incredible brightness, contrast, color reproduction and detail. Most major TVs support Dolby Vision, so be sure to check the documentation.
Let’s get the sound settings in order!
Sound can completely change your gaming experience – making it deeper and more realistic. Xbox Series X|S consoles support 3D Spatial Sound for Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Windows Sonic, allowing you to hear all the nuances of sound with meticulous positioning in the space around you.
When connecting an HDMI device that supports Dolby Atmos or DTS:X, be sure to enable the appropriate settings in the Xbox Audio section:
- Press the Xbox button to open the menu and select Profile & system > Settings > General > Volume & audio output.
- Under HDMI audio, select Bitstream out . In Bitstream format, specify Dolby Atmos for home theater or DTS : X for home theater depending on what your HDMI device supports.
If you want to take advantage of 3D Spatial Sound with headphones, please follow the instructions below:
- Press the Xbox button to open the menu and select Profile & system > Settings > General > Volume & audio output.
- In the Headset audio section, select the desired option from the Headset format drop-down menu.
Make sure your TV software is up to date
As noted above, Xbox Series X|S consoles support 120 Hz refresh rates, as well as Automatic Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), new technologies in the world of 4K TVs. Many manufacturers add support for these features through software updates that can be downloaded directly to your TV (if it supports an Internet connection) or via a USB drive connected to your TV. Now is the time to make sure you are using the latest software available.
Make sure you’ve connected your console to the correct port.
While the Xbox Series X can output 4K content when connected to any HDMI port, you’ll need to use an HDMI 2.1 port to access the most advanced features. On some TVs, only specific ports support HDMI 2.1, so it’s worth reading your user manual to make sure which port you need. In general, you can also just try connecting to different ports and see at what point you see a green checkmark in your console menu ( Settings -> General -> TV & Display Options -> 4 K TV details ) . If you are using a computer monitor with various available ports, please note that the desired resolution and refresh rate can only be supported when connected to the DisplayPort . Please refer to the user manual for the exact specifications of your equipment.
The importance of a good connection
To make sure you get the most out of your new console, we’ve bundled the Xbox Series X with an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable. It may look like a regular Xbox One cable, but inside they are completely different. We highly recommend using the included Ultra High Speed HDMI cable so you can enjoy the full HDMI 2.1 experience for years to come.
Whenever possible, try to connect your Xbox directly to your TV using the included cable, and then stream audio using ARC/eARC technology to your receiver or home theater system. If you want to enjoy the sound of your soundbar or receiver, check if it (and your TV) supports ARC/eARC technology.
Troubleshooting your 4K TV
If your system supports 4K and HDR but it doesn’t work (you can’t select 4K UHD resolution, 4K is not supported, according to the 4K TV Details menu, 4K content won’t play or you see problems when watching video), try the following:
9 0012
Fine-Tuning
Once you’ve figured out the overall 4K and HDR setup, you’re left with more options on how to customize your TV’s picture to your personal tastes. Xbox Series X consoles have advanced tools that let you fine-tune the image with brightness, clarity, contrast, and more. All of them are available in menu Settings -> General -> TV & Display Options -> Setup -> Calibrate TV .
We’ve also created a new calibration tool that will allow you to tweak HDR for gaming. You can find it here: Settings -> General -> TV & Display Options -> Setup -> Calibrate HDR for Games .
How to enable 4 K / HDR on popular TV brands?
Each TV range has its own unique settings. We have chosen to list the common points for the most popular brands, however we always recommend that you first consult the owner’s manual for your specific model in order to be as accurate as possible.