Best TV for Gaming: Top Recommended HDTVs for Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii Gaming

By: Phil Conner

Gaming can prevent a dilema for TV purchases. Gaming requires a television that can display fast action well and do it quickly in response to input from the controller. Casual gamers may not notice delays resulting from picture processing but serious gamers will be discouraged by a picture that is noticeably behind what they are doing with their hands. To compensate for what gamers call input lag, some HDTVs come equipped with a game mode. Not to be confused with a game mode picture setting, this function will bypass some or all of the TV's processing to get the action happening on screen as soon as you press the button or move the stick.

A good gaming TV will also be able to handle having parts of the image, such as the Heads Up Display, remain static for extended periods. With the burn in protection in modern plasmas this shouldn't be a problem as long as you stick with a name brand.

120/240Hz LCD and LED TV's tout their ability to cut down on motion lag but this form of picture processing doesn't work well with gaming in the TVs we tested, especially with first person shooters such as Call of Duty Black Ops and Battlefield 3. It adds strange artifacts and a screen tearing effect and is much more distracting than the small bouts of motion lag associated with having it off. This is personal preference and won't be a problem with a plasma but we recommend not using this feature with video games.

Samsung UN46D6000     
46" LCD TV 1080p

In last years C6500 we noticed inconsistency across gray scales especially in blue tones. Those mistakes are corrected in the D6000. Color rendition in the D6000 is accurate, realistic and vibrant - all three traits we look for in color quality. In scenes from the Blu Ray version of Troy we noted greens and blues as spot on with the odd turquoise and gold uniform colors of the Spartans. Blacks appear inky and saturated from front and center. Dark Shadow detail is also above average. Color uniformity looked good to us except at side angles. See the full review and video review of the UN46D6000

Samsung UN55D7000      Editor's Choice: Quality
55" LED TV

The UN55D7000 uses a 1080p, 240Hz LCD panel with LED edge lighting, the edge lighting is capable of local dimming for increased contrast in dark scenes and better contrast than LED or LCD televisions with constant back lighting.

These Samsung LED panels can get very bright and they produce rich, saturated color. Sometimes the colors can appear oversaturuated but many viewers like that look and broadcast and cable networks comply by oversaturating their content. Color leap off the screen but if you desire more realistic color you can use the wide variety of picture controls to tone down the appearace to one more suitable for your viewing.

Panasonic TC-P42S30 Plasma      Editor's Choice: Value
42" Plasma TV

Panasonic continues to offer plasmas that have great picture quality but lack bell & whistles to come in at a low price. This model, which replaces the S2 series from last year is a bargain. See our review of the Panasonic TC-P42S30

Samsung LN32D450      Editor's Choice: Quality
32 inch LCD TV

See our Review The 2011 D450 line of LCDs from Samsung replaces the C450 line. These are a line of small, 720p, 60Hz, CCFL backlit LCDs. We found the picture quality of the C450 series to be rather good for a line of budget TVs and think the LN32D450 would make an excellent TV for the bedroom, kitchen, office or student dorm room. The D450 can also double as a computer monitor but the 720p resolution will feel a little low in the larger models.

Samsung PN64D8000      Editor's Choice: Quality
63" Plasma TV

The new, one inch larger screen retains many of the pircture features from last year, it appears to be a case of not messing with a good thing. The Real Black Filter returns, providing rich, deep blacks that enhance all the other colors sharing the screen. The warmth and realism that the picture offers is nothing less than stunning.

For 3D the PN64D8000 uses active shutter glasses and is Full HD 3D, sending 1080 lines of vertical resolution to each eye. Some televisions sacrifice some resolution to show 3D images and Full 3D HD provides the best 3D experience.