Best TV for Xbox Series X

Input lag is the most heavily weighted criterion because it directly determines how responsive a game feels. The delay between pressing a button on your controller and seeing the result on screen is the single most important factor for competitive and action-oriented gaming.

The LG OLED55C3 scores 10/10. With Game Optimiser enabled, it achieves approximately 9ms of input lag at 4K 120Hz. This is among the lowest figures measured on any consumer television. The near-instant pixel response time of OLED technology means there is virtually zero motion blur during fast camera movements, which is critical in first-person shooters like Halo Infinite and Call of Duty.

The Samsung S90C scores 9/10 with approximately 10ms of input lag at 4K 120Hz. The difference of 1ms is imperceptible to most players, but the Samsung's slightly higher processing overhead at 4K 120Hz with VRR active occasionally introduces micro-stuttering that the LG avoids.

The Sony X90L scores 7/10 with approximately 15ms of input lag. This is still good for casual gaming but noticeable in fast-paced competitive titles. The Hisense U8K scores 7/10 with approximately 13ms, which is impressive for its price point but trails the OLED options.

HDMI 2.1 is rated critical because the Xbox Series X requires it to output 4K at 120Hz, VRR, ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming. Without full HDMI 2.1 support, the console cannot use its most advanced display features.

The LG OLED55C3 scores 10/10. All four HDMI ports support the complete HDMI 2.1 specification at 48Gbps bandwidth. This means every port can handle 4K at 120Hz with VRR and ALLM simultaneously. It is also the only TV in this comparison that supports Dolby Vision gaming, an Xbox-exclusive feature that delivers dynamic HDR during gameplay.

The Samsung S90C scores 8/10. It has four HDMI ports but only two support full 4K at 120Hz bandwidth. It supports VRR and ALLM but lacks Dolby Vision gaming entirely, as Samsung does not licence Dolby Vision on any of its televisions.

The Sony X90L scores 7/10. Two of its four HDMI ports support 4K at 120Hz. It supports VRR and ALLM but, like Samsung, does not support Dolby Vision gaming output from the Xbox. The Hisense U8K scores 7/10 with two HDMI 2.1 ports, VRR and ALLM support, and no Dolby Vision gaming.

HDR gaming is rated important because the Xbox Series X supports multiple HDR formats including HDR10, Dolby Vision and Auto HDR, which retroactively applies HDR to hundreds of older titles. The quality of a TV's HDR processing affects every game that supports it.

The LG OLED55C3 and Samsung S90C both score 9/10 for HDR gaming but for different reasons. The LG excels with Dolby Vision gaming, delivering frame-by-frame dynamic metadata in supported titles. The Samsung excels in raw brightness, pushing HDR highlights to approximately 1300 nits. In games with bright explosions, sunlit landscapes and neon lighting, the Samsung's highlights are more impactful. However, the LG's infinite contrast means dark areas in HDR content retain more detail.

The Sony X90L scores 8/10. Its HDR tone mapping is well calibrated for gaming and its Auto HDR implementation looks natural on older back-compatible titles. The Hisense U8K scores 7/10 with strong brightness for its price but less refined HDR tone mapping in fast-moving game content.

The LG OLED55C3 scores 9/10 for picture quality during gaming. Its WOLED panel produces perfect blacks and infinite contrast, which creates a genuinely immersive experience in atmospheric games. Colour accuracy is excellent with 98.5% DCI-P3 coverage, and the near-instant pixel response eliminates ghosting during fast motion.

The Samsung S90C also scores 9/10. QD-OLED technology produces a wider colour gamut than standard WOLED, with particularly vibrant reds and greens. Games with vivid art styles benefit from the Samsung's colour volume advantage. However, Samsung's processing tends toward a more saturated, punchy look rather than the neutral accuracy that LG achieves.

The Sony X90L scores 8/10. Its Full Array LED backlight with local dimming produces good contrast but cannot match the per-pixel control of OLED. Its strength is upscaling, with the XR Cognitive Processor doing an exceptional job with Xbox One and Xbox 360 back-compatible titles. The Hisense U8K scores 7/10 with a Mini-LED backlight that produces strong brightness and decent local dimming but visible blooming around bright objects in dark scenes.

At approximately £1099, the LG OLED55C3 scores 7/10 for value. It is the most expensive option but delivers the strongest gaming feature set including exclusive Dolby Vision gaming support. The Samsung S90C at approximately £999 scores 8/10, offering QD-OLED picture quality and excellent gaming performance at a lower price. The Sony X90L at approximately £849 scores 8/10 with solid gaming features and the best upscaling. The Hisense U8K at approximately £549 scores 9/10 for value, delivering 4K 120Hz, VRR and ALLM at roughly half the price of OLED, making it the clear budget champion for Xbox gaming.