What makes a TV good for gaming?

The must‑have gaming features (made simple)

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:

• Bigger, cleaner dynamics – explosions slam, engines growl and foot‑steps stay pinpoint‑sharp.

• Dolby Atmos & DTS:X audio – up‑firing or side‑firing drivers bounce sound off your ceiling and walls, creating a 3D bubble where a helicopter circles overhead or rain sweeps all around you.

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.