Best TV for the PS5: What Actually Matters
Screen size matters less than Game Mode and HDMI bandwidth if you want to actually get the most out of a PS5.
Game Mode changes everything
On most modern TVs, turning on Game Mode disables some of the image processing (noise reduction, motion interpolation) that adds tens of milliseconds of delay between pressing a button on the controller and seeing it happen on screen. That delay, input lag, is nearly invisible watching a movie or show, but it's felt immediately in a fast-paced game, especially online or competitive ones. A TV with high input lag even in Game Mode is a poor choice for a PS5, no matter how good it looks otherwise.
4K/120Hz and HDMI 2.1: the bandwidth that unlocks everything
The PS5 can display some games in 4K at 120 frames per second, but that requires a TV that supports 4K at 120Hz and an HDMI port capable of carrying that data rate — which is where the HDMI 2.1 standard comes in. A TV equipped only with HDMI 2.0 ports will cap the PS5 at 60 frames per second in 4K, even if the panel itself is theoretically capable of more. Check that the TV explicitly advertises HDMI 2.1 on at least one port, not just "4K compatible."
VRR and ALLM: the duo that kills stutter
VRR (variable refresh rate) syncs the TV's display refresh with the actual frame rate the console is outputting, which prevents stutter and screen tearing when a game isn't running at a perfectly stable frame rate. ALLM (auto low latency mode) automatically switches the TV into Game Mode the moment it detects the PS5, no manual menu digging required. Both features also require HDMI 2.1 and aren't always available on every port of the same TV — some models only wire it up on one.
HDR isn't just a logo on the box
The PS5 supports HDR on many games, but the actual result depends heavily on how bright the panel can actually get and how well it handles local contrast. An HDR logo on the packaging doesn't guarantee an impressive picture: two "HDR compatible" TVs can look very different depending on peak brightness and backlight technology.
Compare PS5-ready models on our best TVs by display quality ranking.