Whether you’re exploring in a fantasy world, racing through city streets, or competing in a fast-paced shooter, the right TV can turn good gameplay into wow gameplay. But what exactly makes an ordinary TV into a gaming powerhouse? Let's break it down.
What is a gaming TV?
A gaming TV is simply a television tuned for three things: 1. Smooth movement – so the picture never jerks or tears. 2. Fast response – so what you do on the controller shows up instantly. 3. Immersive sights and sounds – so everything looks and feels real. Think of it like a sports car for your living‑room: quick off the line, built for speed, but still comfortable for long journeys. Many advanced models now use AI processors—Philips’ P5 AI picture engine is one example—to analyse every frame, keep colours balanced, blacks deep and motion clear. For gaming, that means fewer distracting artifacts and a smoother-looking world—handy when you’re swinging a sword or cornering at 200 km/h—without adding extra lag.
Imagine this: you're playing an intense multiplayer game, and your on-screen movement is delayed by even a fraction of a second. That’s input lag, and it can be the difference between landing the winning shot and seeing the Game Over screen.
The must‑have gaming features (made simple)
| Feature | What it does | Why you care |
| Low input lag (< 10 ms) | Shortens the gap between pressing a button and seeing the action. | Keeps your reflexes in sync with the screen. |
| High refresh rate (120 Hz or 144 Hz) | Redraws the picture 120–144 times every second. | Motion looks silky‑smooth; less blur in racing and FPS games. |
| Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) | Lets the TV’s refresh rate follow your console/PC’s frame rate. | Eliminates “screen tearing” and stutter. |
| Auto Low‑Latency Mode (ALLM) | Detects a console and switches the TV to its fastest settings. | No menu‑hunting before you play. |
| HDMI 2.1 | Adds the bandwidth for 4K/120 Hz, VRR, ALLM and more. | Works natively with PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and high‑end PCs. |
| HDR10+ & Dolby Vision gaming | Expands brightness, colour and contrast. | Makes worlds look lifelike—sun‑soaked deserts, neon cities, spooky caves. |
| Adaptive‑sync standards (AMD FreeSync, NVIDIA G‑Sync) | Fine‑tunes VRR for specific graphics cards. | Extra‑smooth performance from consoles or PCs that support them. |
| Quick‑access game bar / dashboard | On‑screen overlay for key stats, shadow boosters, mini‑map zoom and more. | Tweak settings mid‑match without pausing the action. |
| Cloud & multiplayer readiness | Easy Bluetooth pad pairing, Wi‑Fi 6E, native cloud‑gaming apps. | Jump into co‑op or streaming services with zero fuss. |
| Ambilight (Philips exclusive) | Projects coloured light onto the wall, matching the on‑screen action. | Extends the picture, reduces eye strain and feels epic in dark rooms. |
Level‑up your audio: add a soundbar
Graphics pull you in, but it’s the audio that convinces your brain it’s real. Built‑in TV speakers are fine, yet they rarely have the muscle or spatial trickery today’s games mix in. Adding a dedicated soundbar unlocks: Prefer an all‑in‑one solution? Some TVs now integrate a soundbar in the stand or behind the screen. Philips’ OLED+ series, for instance, come with a Bowers & Wilkins speaker system onboard, delivering Dolby Atmos immersion without adding an external bar.
Refresh rate explained in one minute
A refresh rate is like the pages of a flip‑book: the more pages you flip every second, the smoother the cartoon. Standard TVs refresh 60 times per second (60 Hz). Gaming TVs double that to 120 Hz—or even 144 Hz when connected to a powerful PC—so fast‑moving objects stay sharp and clear.
What’s the sweet‑spot?
OLED, QD MiniLED, or QLED: which panel suits your style?
| | QLED | QD MiniLED | OLED |
| Picture quality | Bold colours, good brightness | Brighter highlights, deeper blacks | Perfect blacks, infinite contrast |
| Motion & response | Very smooth, tiny blur | Near‑instant, essentially no blur | Instant pixel response—best for twitch gaming |
| Input lag | ~10 ms | ~10 ms | ~8 ms |
| Viewing angle | Good, but dims off‑centre | Wide | Widest—picture stays perfect from the sofa corner |
TL;DR
Final thought
Gaming is more than a hobby— it’s an adventure you shape with every button press. Pick a TV that can keep up with you—low lag, high refresh, the right panel tech—and your skills will shine brighter than ever. Happy gaming!
So the next time you’re picking a screen, think beyond size. Think performance, compatibility, and immersion. Think about what kind of gamer you are—and choose the TV that lets you live it to the full.
So, which Ambilight TV will it be?
-
OLED
4K Ambilight TV
65OLED760/12
- 164 cm (65") Ambilight TV
- 4K OLED. 120 Hz
- P5 AI perfect picture engine
- Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos
-
The Xtra
4K QD MiniLED Ambilight TV
65PML9009/12
- 164 cm (65") Ambilight TV
- P5 Perfect Picture Engine
- TITAN OS smart platform
- Dolby Vision & Dolby Atmos
-
The One
4K Ambilight TV
65PUS9000/12
- 164 cm(65")AMBILIGHT tv
- 4K QLED. 120 Hz
- P5 Picture Engine
- Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos
-
QLED
4K Ambilight TV
65PUS8500/12
- 164 cm (65") Ambilight TV
- 4K QLED
- Pixel Precise Ultra HD
- Dolby Atmos®
This article was created with the assistance of AI, along with detailed input, careful editing, and fact-checking by our team to ensure accuracy and quality.
