The PS5 and Xbox Series X have both finally released. New TVs or monitors are apart of the next-gen buying plan for so many gamers, and with HDMI 2.1, it’s more confusing than ever to know which TV, so we’ve put together a little guide explaining why HDMI 2.1 could be important and what TVs you need to buy in order to get it.
WHAT IS HDMI 2.1 AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR PS5/XBOX SERIES X
HDMI 2.0 is what 95% of TVs on the market currently use and is likely what you have on your 4K TV. It’s been all that we’ve needed for quite some time now, but it’s only capable of delivering 4K at 60 FPS.
HDMI 2.1 unlocks the ability to provide an output from your PS5/Xbox Series X/RTX 3080 GPU at 4K/120FPS but that’s not all it does. It also provides Variable Refresh Rate which allows your TV to sync up with your console in real-time in order to prevent screen tearing, meaning that that your TV will match the exact display rate of your console. HDMI 2.1 also allows Auto Low Latency Mode, so that your TV can automatically switch to game mode when detecting a console or graphics card. From an audio point of view, HDMI 2.1 unlocks eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) for higher audio bandwidth for sound bars and other audio devices.
TLDR: Most games obviously won’t surpass that 4K/60FPS threshold, but if you’re buying a new TV in 2020, and you’re not after something super low-budget, it’d be wise to go for one of the below HDMI 2.1 compatible TVS.
THE BEST HDMI 2.1 COMPATIBLE TVS FOR PS5/XBOX SERIES X
Currently in Australia, there’s six TV sets that are HDMI 2.1 compatible, and they all have their pros and cons. Whilst we’ll do our best to tell you these, all TVs have little quirks that you should definitely be researching yourself.
SONY X9000H 4K TV
The Sony X9000H is the cheapest HDMI 2.1 TV we have in Australia. It comes in 55 inch – 75 inch variations. It’s 4K Full Array LED and will play your games in 4K at 120FPS with a low input lag of 7.2ms. The TV has 2 x HDMI 2.1 ports meaning that you’ll be able to connect both your PS5 and Xbox Series X and have them take advantage of 4K at 120FPS. It’s worth mentioning that these HDMI 2.1 ports aren’t active and will be in a firmware update shortly. Head HERE to view the full range.
LG CX/BX OLED 4K TV
As noted in our review, the LG CX OLED is probably the TV you’ve heard about the most. It’s the most expensive but that’s because it really is the safest bet at this point. It has four HDMI 2.1 ports, it has an OLED screen so it produces beautiful inky blacks. It also had Dolby Vision which will be compatible with the Xbox Series X for games in the future. Obviously, being an OLED, there is the risk of burn-in down the line (although this has been improved vastly over the last few years) and it’s also quite a reflective screen, so if you have a bright living room, the other options may be better. You can find the full range HERE.
If you want an OLED but can’t afford the CX, the BX is a little bit below the CX in price, and still has four HDMI 2.1 ports. It’s a little bit less bright and doesn’t upscale content as well as its bigger brother, but it’s still a damn good future-proof TV. You can find the full range HERE.
SAMSUNG Q95T/80T/70T 4K TV
The Samsung Q70T, Q80T and Q95T all have one HDMI 2.1 port each (important to note if you’re picking up both the PS5/Xbox Series X). These are QLED TVs, so there’s no risk of burn-in. We’d probably recommend going for either the Q80T or Q95T if you’re going to spring for one of these. Both the Q80T and Q95T have Direct Full Array meaning it can produce a brighter picture whilst still producing deep blacks.
None of these TVs will be able to produce the inky blacks that an OLED will, but the Q95T gets pretty close, and also produces a brighter image. The Q95T also has a one-connect box, meaning you can route all your connections away from your TV. Head HERE to see the full range.
A GREAT NON HDMI 2.1 4K TV OPTION
HISENSE Q8 4K TV
By all reports, the Hisense Q8 is a really great option if you’re not super fussed on HDMI 2.1. It has an incredibly bright display 1000-nits, it has Dolby Vision, a Dolby Atmos speaker and it also has Full Array dimming making it perfect for gaming and watching a movie. You can find the full range HERE.
THE BEST GAMING MONITORS FOR PS5/XBOX SERIES X
Whilst we expect this to change in the near future (several have already been announced), there currently aren’t any monitors with HDMI 2.1, so the most you’re going to be able to get is 4K/60FPS (or 1080p/1440p 120FPS). Here are a couple of 4K/60hz, 1440p/144hz monitors & 1080p monitors that we know and love.
1440P/144Hz (OUR PICKS)
- LG Ultragear 27GL850-B 27″ 1440p/144Hz HDR Gaming Monitor (Amazon)
- eBay – BenQ EX2780Q 27″ 1440p/144Hz HDR Gaming Monitor (eBay)
4K/60Hz
- BenQ EL2870U 27″ 4K/60Hz Gaming Monitor (Amazon)
- BenQ EW3270U 32″ 4K/60Hz Gaming Monitor (Amazon)
- LG 32UK550-B 32″ 4K/60Hz Gaming Monitor (Amazon)
1080p/144Hz
- LG Ultragear 27GL63T-B 27″1080p/144Hz Gaming Monitor (Amazon)
- LG Ultragear 27GL650F-B 27″ 1080p/144Hz Gaming Monitor (Amazon)
