Like all TVs, the best 120Hz TVs saw major discounts in the end-of-year sales. We've seen record low prices on the LG C2, which have only helped it to cement its place on top of this list as an incredible all-rounder TV.
However, the Samsung QD-OLED S95B has also hit unbelievably low prices considering it uses a next-gen screen, and it actually has an even higher 144Hz refresh rate that may tempt PC gamers.
Matt Bolton, Managing Editor – Entertainment
The best 120Hz 4K TVs are essential for both gamers and movie lovers. The 4K resolution they can deliver brings you extra pixels for better clarity. Combine that with the 120Hz refresh rate and your games and movies play buttery smooth.
If you're a gamer, a 120Hz refresh rate means you’ll be able to experience a much smoother and sharper picture compared to older TVs or those without these impressive refresh rates. You're also less likely to experience that nauseating motion blur you may find when you turn quickly within a game. With fast response times and several all-important HDMI 2.1 ports, you'll find that the best gaming TVs are mostly all 120Hz TVs.
Now admittedly some players may not notice a drastic difference when they first use a 120Hz TV, but we think that refresh rates are crucial for certain games. For example, you'll really be able to see a difference in fast-paced shooters, where quick reflexes and frame pacing counts. Meanwhile, 24fps movies will play without the frustrating 'judder' you may have noticed on some cheaper TVs.
We’ve reviewed hundreds of TVs, which means we know what we're looking for. In our guide below, you'll find a list of all the 120Hz 4K TVs we recommend. Several of our top picks feature a 144Hz refresh rate, but they also support 120Hz. This isn't an essential upgrade over 120Hz in our opinion – read our guide to whether 144Hz TVs are a big deal for why – but the option is there for hardcore PC gamers who might want to try it.
Some of our best gaming TV picks will get even better over time thanks to over-the-air software updates. However, all of the ones we've selected should work fantastically well right out of the box when you connect your consoles too. Remember, the best 120Hz 4K TVs don't come cheap, but it's worth investing and future-proofing your TV, and we're here to show you how.
The best 120Hz TVs 2023
The LG C2 is the latest in LG's line-up of crowd-pleasing OLEDs, and is the successor to the LG C1 that previously topped this list. It's improved in many ways, and it's now available as a 42-inch model, making it the smallest 120Hz TV here. That means it's ideal for gamers who want to fit the best tech into the smallest space. Whichever size you plump for you get a fully-equipped suite of four HDMI 2.1 ports, with support for 4K 120Hz (including Dolby Vision gaming at 120fps – still a rare feature), VRR (including FreeSync and G-Sync), and ALLM.
All models at 55 inches and above also feature a new brighter OLED panel, which means you get even better HDR performance than the LG C1, while a newer image processor subtly improves detail and texture in images. We were so impressed with the color saturation and subtle nuance in dark scenes during testing that we called it "one of the best OLED panels we’ve ever seen." But we did find that while the 42-inch and 48-inch models deliver the same excellent image quality their panels are not as bright. That's not a deal-breaker for us but it may be for you if you like to game in daylight.
The LG C2 is an incredible OLED TV – it just comes with a high price, because it's still very new. If you'd rather spend less, it's worth considering buying the LG C1 instead.
Read our full LG C2 OLED TV review
The Sony X90K is an excellent value TV, delivering top performance for the price. It has a full-array LED backlight, which features local dimming. The result is deep blacks. Paired with the LCD panel’s quantum dots, there’s enhanced brightness and color – although it's not the brightest TV on the market.
This TV is excellent for sports and movies. In our review, we wrote: "The X90K series can deliver deep, detailed blacks for movie watching, and its peak light output is high enough to make it a good option for daytime sports viewing as well."
However, it really shines as a gaming TV, especially for PS5 owners. The X90 has a fantastic suite of gaming features, which is why it's in second place in this guide. Aside from 4K/120Hz video support (available only on two of the set’s four HDMI inputs) it has both variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low latency mode (ALLM). Input lag as measured by our 4K test meter was 13.8ms, a very good result.
The Sony X90K is also what's known as a Perfect for PlayStation 5 TV, which means when you're connected to the PS5, an Auto HDR Tone Mapping feature gets activated, along with an Auto Genre Picture Mode that optimizes the image for gaming.
This is a fantastic 120Hz gaming TV, especially for the price, and even fussy viewers should be satisfied with the performance on offer here.
Read our full Sony XR X90K review
The Samsung Q80B is a high value mid range 4K QLED screen that we consider to be a fantastic all-rounder as it's well-suited for everyday TV viewing and supports high frame rate gaming.
The Q80B is positioned just below the brand’s Mini LED Neo QLED models, offering a more conventional full array backlight instead. This means it doesn’t offer the black level performance or the HDR precision of its more expensive stablemates.
However, with four HFR (high frame rate) compatible HDMI inputs, useful Game Bar user interface, and a polished smart home interface, only serious home cinephiles are likely to feel shortchanged.
Indeed, the prominence of Samsung’s Game Hub, a full page portal to streaming games services, given it’s clear that’s where its key appeal lies. QLED, after all, is impervious to screen burn, which translates nicely to anxiety-free gaming sessions. The Samsung also has four HDMIs that all support 4K 120Hz playback. There’s also ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), Nvidia G-Sync and FreeSync Premium Pro support for gaming.
The set also has an above average Dolby Atmos compatible sound system. In our Samsung Q80B review we wrote: "Picture quality, particularly if you’re a bright room viewer, is impressive, and audio is immersive enough to stave off any additional soundbar purchase, at least until funds allow."
Read our full Samsung Q80B review
The Samsung QN95B is the company’s flagship 4K TV, featuring a Mini LED backlight that Samsung calls 'Neo QLED'. It's a bit pricier than most models in this list – but if you have the cash, it could serve you well as a well-specified HDMI 2.1 TV.
There’s a host of cutting-edge gaming features that’ll please next-gen console owners, and you'll find them in the new Slim One Connect box that ships with the QN95B.
The box houses four HDMI inputs, one of which (HDMI 3) supports eARC. All of the HDMI inputs are capable of handling up to 40Gbps, which means they can accept 4K/120Hz, VRR and ALLM. While not full HDMI 2.1 connections, they offer sufficient bandwidth, making this TV a great choice for next-gen gamers who want to take full advantage of their new console.
We were very impressed by the superb SDR and HDR images that deliver deep blacks and brighter highlights without blooming or loss of shadow detail (thanks to the Mini LED backlight). The inclusion of quantum dot technology delivers saturated and nuanced colours, too, bringing this very close to OLED quality. And the huge levels of brightness (this is as bright as any 4K TV gets) means this is ideal if you game during the day in rooms that get a ton of sunlight – we found that it's much better at overcoming those reflections than basically anything else, and the the OTS+ audio system packed into this 120Hz means you're getting some impactful multi-channel sound from your games too.
Read our full Samsung QN95B Neo QLED TV review
TCL’s 6-Series TVs are known for their combination of impressive picture quality and high value, and the latest version of the company’s flagship not just continues that tradition, but improves upon it. Available in 55- to 85-inch screen sizes, the new 6-Series arrived in late 2022, and it offers not just movie fans but gamers on a budget a great big-screen option.
In the 6-Series, mini-LED tech enables high brightness, while a quantum dot layer enhances color reproduction, and full array local dimming processing creates deep and detailed shadows. The set features Dolby Vision IQ to make high dynamic range images look good in both dim and well-lit environments, and HDR support extends to HDR10+ and HLG.
For gamers there is a pair of HDMI 2.1 inputs, with onboard support for 120Hz, Variable Refresh Rate (up to 144Hz), and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM). FreeSync Premium Pro is also supported, making TCL’s flagship an obvious choice for gaming.
The only real negative here, which is common among more affordable TVs, is that the audio performance isn't stellar: there's virtual Dolby Atmos but we really think you're going to want a soundbar so the TCL sounds as good as it looks.
Read our full TCL 6 Series Roku TV (2022) review
Samsung's S95B combines Samsung's impressive quantum dot technology with OLED to create something that promises to offer the best of both worlds: the color and contrast of OLED with the dazzling brightness of QLED. Bright highlights of mostly dark scenes look stunningly intense and pure, bringing such AV treats as night time cityscapes and star-lit skies to more natural, HDR life than we’ve seen them exhibit on any TV technology bar Samsung’s expensive MicroLED screens. The brightness applies across the whole screen: sun-drenched scenes in particular are dazzlingly bright.
Samsung's Mini-LED TVs are brighter still, but they don't have the same benefits for dark areas as OLED. This TV is visibly better at handling the dark stuff at which OLED excels.
The S95B makes a good gaming TV too, with 10.4ms lag – very low for a TV of this size – and support for FreeSync and G-Sync on all four HDMIs. It delivers 4K at 120Hz and is generally very impressive, although if you prefer more natural visuals we think you might prefer the slightly less vivid LG C2.
Read our full Samsung S95B review
The Hisense U8H is a solid choice if you're looking for a 120Hz TV that offers great picture quality and exceptional brightness at a good price. Although Hisense doesn't specifically market this TV as a gaming display, there's a lot of support for next-gen gaming consoles here. Its 4K/120Hz, VRR, and ALLM support, along with FreeSync Premium Pro, makes it one of the better options for gaming, particularly in its price class.
We measured the Hisense’s input lag at 111ms when its in Filmmaker mode, and an impressive 11.2ms in Game mode, a result that puts it in the same league as the TVs in this guide, even those explicitly pitched as gaming TVs.
The Hisense U8H shines in other areas, too. During our testing, we found the U8H delivers exceptional brightness thanks to its mini-LED backlight. There's also rich color here courtesy of Quantum Dots. With support for Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive, and HLG, the U8H series is ready for all HDR formats, too.
There's a lot to love about the Hisense U8H, but if you're looking for an affordable gaming TV that excels in color and brightness, this is the choice for you. In our Hisense U8H review we wrote: "Most OLED TVs with the same screen size will cost around twice as much as the U8H while offering considerably lower picture brightness. So if that specific attribute is important to you, you will find the value proposition of Hisense’s U8H to be irresistible."
Read our full Hisense U8H review
LG's B-series TVs are among its more affordable models, with a step up in specification from the even cheaper A series. The B2 doesn't get the same bright panels as its more expensive siblings, but it offers a decent specification for a very good price – including a good set of HDMI 2.1 gaming features including 120Hz, Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), auto low latency mode (ALLM), and more.
Audio performance isn't brilliant, which is par for the course at this price bracket – you're going to want a subwoofer or surround sound system here – but the picture quality is very good with exceptional contrast, great HDR and vibrant, detailed images.
If you're buying a TV for gaming as movie watching, this is one of the most affordable OLED options and it performs very well for the price. It's much better than the A2 without costing much more money, and while it'd be nice if it were a little brighter we can't fault the picture quality or speedy response times.
Read our full LG B2 OLED TV review
Let's get something clear from the start, this is not one of the best gaming TVs or 120Hz TVs for several reasons. It's lacking Dolby Vision gaming with 4K 120Hz signals—if you want Dolby Vision you have to stick with 4K at 60Hz. What's more, only 2 of the 4 HDMI 2.1 ports support 4K 120Hz and variable refresh rates—all of this is disappointing for such a cutting-edge TV.
However, the set does still support regular HDR10 with 4K 120Hz. Because it's a Sony TV, it also has the exclusive-to-PS5 Auto HDR Tone Mapping feature, which is basically Sony's own proprietary Dolby Vision setup for its own gaming tech.
During our testing, we were also impressed by the Sony A95K's super fast response, which means you won't see any gaming motion blur. Input lag isn’t as low as some TVs in this list, measuring just under 17ms with 1080p 60Hz sources and 9.4ms with 4K 120Hz sources. However, unless you’re a pro gamer this is unlikely to affect your performance.
All in all, this TV is impressive for all kinds of reasons, its beautifully polished performance, stunning picture and exceptional build. It's not the best gaming TV, but if you want gaming—especially for a PS5—alongside all of those qualities that make this such a high-end set, then it's a solid choice.
Take a look at the Samsung S95B higher up in this guide if you're after a TV with a similar top performance that fares better in respects to gaming, with 10.4ms lag and support for FreeSync and G-Sync on all four HDMIs.
Read our full Sony A95K review
This mid-range OLED from Sony packs an impressive punch, with excellent HDR and colour saturation and the deep blacks only OLED can deliver. Despite the relatively low price tag it's an excellent performer with the usual Sony alphabet soup of tech: XR OLED Contrast Pro, XR Triluminos Pro and Cognitive Processor XR. Upscaling and motion processing are excellent, and while the panel isn't quite as bright as some of its OLED rivals such as the very latest LGs it's still quite happy in daylight as well as exciting in darker rooms.
In addition to the 120Hz video there are twin HDMI 2.1 ports with variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low latency mode (ALLM), and there's Auto HDR Tone Mapping for PS5 gaming. In the US there's also a built in ATSC 3.0 tuner, so it's ready for next-gen digital TV broadcasts.
This Sony is an excellent option for buyers who want the deep contrast of an OLED TV but don't want to pay top dollar for the tech: it's considerably less expensive than the flagship A90K and A95K models but delivers an inviting and exciting picture no matter whether you're streaming or gaming.
Read our full Sony A80K review
This Samsung TV uses Mini-LED, which delivers the high brightness of traditional LED TVs with much more precise control and contrast. It's not quite OLED quality but it's very close, and that brightness is extraordinary: if you use the vivid preset on this TV you'll probably get a tan. Turn it down a bit and spend some time tweaking the settings, though, and you get a much more pleasant experience that won't burn out your retinas. It's impressively detailed, great for gaming and does a really good job of upscaling HD content.
It sounds pretty good for a flat screen too. The QN85B’s six speaker drivers, along with its Object Tracking Sound technology and Q Symphony compatibility, all point to a TV that’s had more care lavished on its audio performance than is the norm. It's not very bassy – as ever, we'd recommend a soundbar or AV receiver – but it's better than many rivals.
We're not big fans of Samsung's latest smart TV interface, but it does include Samsung TV plus, a collection of free streaming channels, and while it's not as simple as before it's generally straightforward to use. This is a particularly good choice for gaming thanks to HDMI 2.1 support across all four HDMI inputs, compatibility with 4K 120Hz and support for ALLM, VRR and FreeSync Premium Pro, but as always with Samsung there's no Dolby Vision support.
Ultimately this TV is all about that mini-LED panel, which delivers a punch that OLED displays can't match. If anything it's too bright by default, although that does mean it's a great TV for daytime viewing of things such as sporting events.
Read our full Samsung QN85B (55QN85B) review
120Hz TVs FAQ
How to choose the best 120Hz 4K TV
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Choosing the best TV for you can prove to be challenging. If you know you want a 120Hz 4K TV there's even more to consider. However, don't get caught up in the specs too much, also consider some of the fundamentals of buying any new TV.
For example do you want an OLED or an LED TV? We've written a an OLED vs LED vs LCD guide that covers the tech types in depth, but in summary, LED has a backlight whereas OLED pixels produce their own light.
OLED might seem like the better, cooler type of tech — and in many ways it is — offering excellent contrast and viewing angles but you might get better brightness and color. The best one for you will depend on your space and your preferences as OLED TVs do tend to be more expensive. However, response times do tend to be better with OLED TVs, too, which means if you're after the best TV for gaming, we'd usually suggest you pick OLED.
We've already stressed the importance of HDMI 2.1 ports, but your gaming experience depends on them. You'll need at least one HDMI 2.1 port for a next-gen gaming console, like a PS5 or Xbox Series X. But picking a new TV with more than one HDMI 2.1 port ensures it's future-proof if you want to add more devices to your home entertainment set-up.
It might seem like an obvious consideration, but bear size in mind when you're looking for a new 120Hz 4K TV. If you're going to be using it as your main screen, you'll need to be sure it fits into the space you have available. If it'll be in a second room specifically for gaming, you might not want to go for the biggest available size but instead choose a small display, like the LG C2, which is available in 42-inches.
120Hz panel: why does it matter?
Do refresh rates really matter enough to justify buying a new television set? We'd argue that without an advanced television, the upgraded hardware in your new Sony or Microsoft console becomes superfluous. All that power won't translate into better performance unless your TV can support it.
Hertz, or refresh rate, determines the number of frames that your television can display per second. Because both the PS5 and Xbox Series X can generate 120 frames per second (fps) in 4K UHD resolution, you need a television panel that works up to 120 Hertz to make that mode work.
Your current 4K TV likely can only support 60Hz/4K. That worked perfectly well with the Xbox One X and PS4 Pro, both of which could hit 60FPS in 4K for some games. Yet if you upgrade to the latest console, your frame rate can't substantially improve unless you play at a lower resolution like 1440p. So you won't see the performance boost you might be expecting.
With a higher max Hz in 4K, you'll see a smoother and sharper output on the television with less nauseating motion blurring when you turn the camera quickly in-game. This is particularly handy for fast-paced shooters like Call of Duty where you need to turn on a dime and react quickly to threats. But the visual boost from increased frames isn't limited to any one genre of game.
That's why we'd strongly recommend buying one of the televisions in this guide if your budget can afford it and a next-gen console.
HDMI 2.1: What does it do?
HDMI 2.1 is a more powerful data transfer standard that improves your television's capacity to handle high refresh rates and resolutions simultaneously. That said, this new standard also adds two other important gaming features by default: Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM).
VRR is a tool that enables your TV to automatically adjust its Hz based on the output from your gaming console. While the Xbox Series X and PS5 offer a 120Hz 4K maximum, individual games' frame rates will fluctuate and drop based on what's happening on screen. The more frames you drop, the more tearing and stuttering you'll see as the television tries to adjust.
With VRR activated, your television will adjust its refresh rate on the fly so it never deviates from the game's fps output. That way, even if the game performance is struggling, the gameplay will remain smooth and seamless.
As for ALLM, it detects when you're playing a video game and adjusts your TV settings on the fly to reduce input lag as much as possible. It's a simple but essential feature that ensures you don't need to switch manually from Game to Cinema mode over and over.
If you're looking to buy a new television for gaming, HDMI 2.1 future-proofs your set so it can handle the latest in console tech for years to come.
For more on the differences between refresh rate, input lag and refresh time, read our guide: Input lag and monitor speed explained.
Why are 120Hz devices important?
It's worth noting that, just as 4K TVs require 4K sources to output in native 4K, a 120Hz TV will need 120Hz gaming or video to really get the most of out of its capabilities.
Many of the best streaming devices will come with 120Hz as standard, as with the Apple TV 4K (2021) or Nvidia Shield TV – though many more budget models and streaming sticks may be capped at 30fps or 60fps. So it's important to make sure that every link in the chain can match the specs you're hoping to utilise in your screen.
Confused about 120Hz and 120fps? Don't be. The former refers to the number of frames a game outputs while the latter refers to how many frames the associated screen can display.
