My 9 year old 1080p living room TV was starting to feel a bit creaky with the PS5 connected to it so I've been looking into televisions that can support the next generation of game and video content. Additionally, since Covid seems like it will continue to keep us from enjoying public activities for at least another six months, it seemed like a good time to invest a bit more into my primary source of in-home entertainment as well.
There is a lot more to consider than I was aware. Of course the PS5 can support 4k, but it also pretty prominently features 120Hz as well. Looking for a 4k/120Hz television already begins to knock a lot of the more affordable models out of the running. Once you start asking for things like full array back lighting, HDMI 2.1 support, low input lag and VRR, the choices shrink, the price goes up and honestly it all gets a bit confusing.
I don't know I can write a primer on it all, but I can at least share with you a few hints and the choice I made. From what I've seen, it seems like your main filter should be ensuring that the television has at least one HDMI 2.1 port. HDMI 2.0 does not officially support 4k/120Hz (though it may be able to support it in some cases) so in general, supporting HDMI 2.1 should ensure that you get a display that can handle the maximum video quality from the next gen of consoles. That said, I have seen some exceptions here and there, especially with TVs on the cheaper end of the spectrum. TCL's 6 series, a very popular mid-priced television, supports HDMI 2.1 input but some other component of the TV limits the display to 1440p/120Hz or 4k/60Hz.
That said, how many games will actually run at that maximum possible limit, I do not know. No doubt a lot will not and it will be up to the developer to ensure support. You may not miss very much with a less capable television.
Anyway, after all the research, I bought the Vizio PQ series. Rtings, Techradar and CNET all gave it solid scores across the board and I'm sure it will be a huge upgrade for me. I haven't actually received it yet, but it seems to hit all the specs I was looking for. Some of the user reviews are a bit hinkey, but Costco provides an extended 3 year warranty for free so I feel confident in the purchase.
I'll update the thread when I have some experience with the device.
Anybody else on the same hunt? What have you discovered or purchased?
There is a lot more to consider than I was aware. Of course the PS5 can support 4k, but it also pretty prominently features 120Hz as well. Looking for a 4k/120Hz television already begins to knock a lot of the more affordable models out of the running. Once you start asking for things like full array back lighting, HDMI 2.1 support, low input lag and VRR, the choices shrink, the price goes up and honestly it all gets a bit confusing.
I don't know I can write a primer on it all, but I can at least share with you a few hints and the choice I made. From what I've seen, it seems like your main filter should be ensuring that the television has at least one HDMI 2.1 port. HDMI 2.0 does not officially support 4k/120Hz (though it may be able to support it in some cases) so in general, supporting HDMI 2.1 should ensure that you get a display that can handle the maximum video quality from the next gen of consoles. That said, I have seen some exceptions here and there, especially with TVs on the cheaper end of the spectrum. TCL's 6 series, a very popular mid-priced television, supports HDMI 2.1 input but some other component of the TV limits the display to 1440p/120Hz or 4k/60Hz.
That said, how many games will actually run at that maximum possible limit, I do not know. No doubt a lot will not and it will be up to the developer to ensure support. You may not miss very much with a less capable television.
Anyway, after all the research, I bought the Vizio PQ series. Rtings, Techradar and CNET all gave it solid scores across the board and I'm sure it will be a huge upgrade for me. I haven't actually received it yet, but it seems to hit all the specs I was looking for. Some of the user reviews are a bit hinkey, but Costco provides an extended 3 year warranty for free so I feel confident in the purchase.
I'll update the thread when I have some experience with the device.
Anybody else on the same hunt? What have you discovered or purchased?