DF - The Best 4K TVs For 4K HDR Gaming: 2020 Edition

Future proofing is a thing, and the new consoles and new GPUs for PC are probably less than a year out from now.

There are a lot of variables at play, and different people have different usage cases and prioritize different things. This isn't so black and white.

That's why there are different recommendations and not just one.
I actually can agree with this post.
 
The Sony X900H is a full featured HDMI 2.1 TV. Come again
No it's not. Well, not yet, anyway.



DSA9T9k.png
 

it is though...
Call Robert and discuss if need be.
It's a good TV, but if it needs a firmware upgrade to enable a feature in the future that other TVs have out of the box, that is a difference. This is a fact that says something about how future proof it is compared to other TVs that don't need firmware updates.

Granted, nearly no one will have much use for this now or in the near future, but that's not the point of future proofing. The point of future proofing is to specifically think about the future.



Which is why it's called future proofing.
 
Last edited:
I have to admit- whenever games properly support HDR, the C9 makes it sing. Even normal looking games, such as Sekiro, look stunning on my C9 with proper HDR implementation. RE2 and RE3 remakes are mind blowing. It has come to the point where I get severely disappointed if a game doesnt support HDR and would rather buy another game which does. Sometimes I boot games just to see how gorgeous they look in HDR. I admire lights and what now. Its a completely different thing and cant really be explained. One has to experience it. Though it is to be said that HDR implementation on PC, even in games which do support, is uneven. One game would look absolutely jaw dropping and other would look the same.
Hopefully next generation will bring standard HDR in all games (hopefully Dolby Vision) and then it would be glorious.
 
Last edited:
It's a good TV, but if it needs a firmware upgrade to enable a feature in the future that other TVs have out of the box, that is a difference. This is a fact that says something about how future proof it is compared to other TVs that don't need firmware updates.

Granted, nearly no one will have much use for this now or in the near future, but that's not the point of future proofing. The point of future proofing is to specifically think about the future.



Which is why it's called future proofing.
The C9 also needed a fw update...
The X900H is a full featured,full bandwidth HDMI 2.1 TV
 
I still love my KS8000. Had a full heart attack when I got wood cleaner on it the other day. Had to use..Windex. Luckily it doesn't seem to have ruined it.
 
The C9 also needed a fw update...
The X900H is a full featured,full bandwidth HDMI 2.1 TV
Does it? My understanding is that it works, but no commercial gear exists yet to test it.


First of all, we do not have HDMI 2.1 compliant test equipment. Some of this equipment does not exist yet and the HDMI licensing group is not even certifying all elements of HDMI 2.1 at this point. In other words, we cannot test all the facets of HDMI 2.1. We cannot test 4K120 via HDMI but we can confirm that the TV can handle HFR (High Frame Rate) video via HEVC decoding and through its processing engine. This is hardly a surprise because last year's LG TVs already did that (just not inputs via HDMI). In terms of HDMI bandwidth, we can at this time confirm only that 4K60 and 1080p120 work.

An HDMI 2.1 feature that doesn't need a firmware update on the LG OLEDs, however is variable refresh rate. That does exist right now and is testable.

As for the optional features, we were very eager to try out HDMI VRR (variable refresh rate), which is similar to FreeSync but not identical (confirmed by everyone involved, so don't conflate the two). To test this, we used the Xbox One X and it correctly identified LG C9 as VRR compatible. Unfortunately, enabling VRR on Xbox One X led to a black screen on LG C9 initially. We are not sure exactly what caused it but a full reset of the LG C9 fixed the problem and VRR engaged correctly, leading to a smoother gaming experience, with lower input lag, and no observed tearing or other artefacts. We do not have the tools to check full VRR range. We can read the EDID data of the HDMI feed but since Xbox One X is limited to HDMI 2.0 bandwith, it cannot go beyond 4K60 output. LG says that its 2019 OLED TVs has a VRR range of 40-120Hz at 4K resolution, which is not ideal (at the low end) but far higher than Samsung TVs's FreeSync range for 4K, which is effectively irrelevant in actual use. VRR will become far more relevant as we are transitioning to HDMI 2.1 capable game console and if you are planning on investing in a next-generation console, we think it would be wise to pick a TV with support for HDMI 2.1 and VRR.

The X900H does not support VRR yet. In that aspect, it is not as feature rich, and thus not as useful to gamers who want VRR now for their PC or Xbox One X.
 
Does it? My understanding is that it works, but no commercial gear exists yet to test it.




An HDMI 2.1 feature that doesn't need a firmware update on the LG OLEDs, however is variable refresh rate. That does exist right now and is testable.



The X900H does not support VRR yet. In that aspect, it is not as feature rich, and thus not as useful to gamers who want VRR now for their PC or Xbox One X.

It sure does scroll down..
 
The point is, does that exist now?

We're discussing options that gamers have at their disposal now. The LG is available right now. VRR is available now.
just give up he clearly hasn't seen the OLED in all its glory. Once he does he will be an OLEd convert 😂
 
just give up he clearly hasn't seen the OLED in all its glory. Once he does he will be an OLEd convert 😂
My TV cost over double the C9's price.
I am well familiar with OLED and that's why for gaming I don't spend my money on them.

They make good bedroom movie watching TV's though.
 
I guess that by now, is better to buy a cheap one to get a better one later (with HDMI 2.1 for example)
 
Nope it's part of the specifications.
Just like it was for the C9.
I think you're not seeing the difference between what's available to the consumer right now, what's already been demonstrated to work right now vs something that is only written down.

Reality vs theory.

You can play games in reality better than you can in theory.,
 
I think you're not seeing the difference between what's available to the consumer right now, what's already been demonstrated to work right now vs something that is only written down.

Reality vs theory.

You can play games in reality better than you can in theory.,
Sony is lying?
 
Sony is lying?
That's not what I'm implying.

1. The TV isn't even for sale yet.

2. The LG is.

3. The LG has already proven in some ways that it can handle future proofing by enabling some HDMI 2.1 features right now.

4. A customer walks in and says, I want to play games on a nice big TV using variable refresh rate on my Xbox today, what can I buy? It ain't gonna be the Sony.
 
That's not what I'm implying.

1. The TV isn't even for sale yet.

2. The LG is.

3. The LG has already proven in some ways that it can handle future proofing by enabling some HDMI 2.1 features right now.

4. A customer walks in and says, I want to play games on a nice big TV using variable refresh rate on my Xbox today, what can I buy? It ain't gonna be the Sony.
The Sony is available now in Canada and early May in The States.
It likely don't have VRR right now for Xbo X but who's buying for that?
How many full featured HDMI 2.1 devices are available?
If not delayed the consoles are coming years end.
 
The Sony is available now in Canada and early May in The States.
It likely don't have VRR right now for Xbo X but who's buying for that?
How many full featured HDMI 2.1 devices are available?
If not delayed the consoles are coming years end.
That's not an answer to the question I asked.

You said you agreed with my post that some users have different needs than others. For a user who wants VRR and future proofing, and a TV that they can buy now in the USA, some choices are objectively better than others at this point in time. It's facts, dude.

Saying that not a lot of people buy a TV for VRR is moving the goalposts and not responding to a specific fact.
 
Sony makes the best TVs imo, rocking a PVM and 2 Bravias in this home. I love how they look once they are calibrated.

There is another advantage using Bravia: They normally require less calibration because the factory settings are pretty close to what tech sites reach. Maybe thats why Sony professional cameras are so good.
 
Thanks for this I am really wondering if getting a next gen console is worth the investment unless u have a 4K television.

Now, my other question is if one should wait until black friday to score a good deal? Not sure. I could probably get one now but I feel like there is no point until the next gen consoles arrive.
 
Last edited:
That's not an answer to the question I asked.

You said you agreed with my post that some users have different needs than others. For a user who wants VRR and future proofing, and a TV that they can buy now in the USA, some choices are objectively better than others at this point in time. It's facts, dude.

Saying that not a lot of people buy a TV for VRR is moving the goalposts and not responding to a specific fact.
No I'm saying buying a TV for VRR for XB isn't a big deal,this gen is over.

Wanting it for the next gen is a bigger deal and the Sony does support VRR and should have it enabled by time those consoles release.
 
Thanks for this I am really wondering if getting a next gen console is worth the investment unless u have a 4K television.

Now, my other question is if one should wait until black friday to score a good deal? Not sure. I could probably get one now but I feel like there is no point until the next gen consoles arrive.
The consoles will downsample on non 4K TV's but you will miss out on much especially HDR.

What's your budget?
 
If you're not buying a CX or C9/B9 I wouldn't even consider a TV unless you actually need one, personally. Wait until there are more options with VRR and HDMI 2.1. You're going to end up regretting it if you don't
 
The consoles will downsample on non 4K TV's but you will miss out on much especially HDR.

What's your budget?

i prolly would drop the $1500 for the 55" C9 thats on Amazon, but not more than that. if I can score it at a lower price on black friday I'm definitely willing to wait. That plus a next gen console is like the cost of a new PC lol
 
and the Sony does support VRR and should have it enabled by time those consoles release.
And that's the difference I'm getting at.

"should be enabled in the future" (Sony) vs. "it's enabled right now" (LG)

That is a pretty significant distinction for gamers who live in the present and look towards the future.
 
i prolly would drop the $1500 for the 55" C9 thats on Amazon, but not more than that. if I can score it at a lower price on black friday I'm definitely willing to wait. That plus a next gen console is like the cost of a new PC lol
They had the 65 for around that price and the 55 for about 1200.. so look around.
It will cover all your bases.
 
The Q90R confuses me. It apparently supports 120hz at 4K and Freesync, but doesn't have HDMI 2.1?

I thought HDMI 2.1 was required for that. What's it missing out on by not having 2.1?

If the answer is in the video ignore this, I'll be watching it later.
 
The Q90R confuses me. It apparently supports 120hz at 4K and Freesync, but doesn't have HDMI 2.1?

I thought HDMI 2.1 was required for that. What's it missing out on by not having 2.1?

If the answer is in the video ignore this, I'll be watching it later.

It supports 4K 120 8 bit at 4:2:0, since that fits within HDMI 2.0's bandwidth. HDMI 2.1 supports 4K/120 10 bit at 4:4:4
 
My TV cost over double the C9's price.
I am well familiar with OLED and that's why for gaming I don't spend my money on them.

They make good bedroom movie watching TV's though.
Damn if your tv is that expensive and not an oled (c9 which is rated as the best tv on the market) you got robbed 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
 
you got robbed
You're a thief of your own wallet if you buy a Sony and not an LG, especially as a gamer.
The former has better color accuracy but almost everything else the Koreans got them beat - price, features, hardware, os.

I wanted a Sony because of brand and experience with it since early 1990s.
But all things considered (especially the ui) I'll go with LG GX 65, did not like LG before but gotta give them credit where due.
 
Top Bottom