1: Refresh Rate
You are probably wondering what Refresh rate means. A refresh rate is the speed of which a screen can redraw itself. The higher the refresh rate, the smoother an image will appear on your screen. However there's more to it than just what most would think. You have two types of Refresh rates in TVs these days, 60 Hz and 120 Hz. You want that 120 Hz all the time, but it's not always possible to have that speed on any game you play no matter what type of console or PC you are using.
2: Resolution (HD or UHD)
The difference between HD and UHD is the number of pixels your screen has to display. HD has 1920 x 1080 pixels, which is what most big screen TVs have now. 4K or UHD on the other hand has 3840 X 2160 resolutions meaning it's twice as good as HD. Just to put this in perspective an average computer monitor would have 2880 x 1800 so yes UHD is far better than what you are used to. Fortunately there are TVs out now that have 4K resolution, and it's still cheap as well.
3: Design
Design of TVs come in all sorts these days. Some are thin like a sheet of paper while others are big and sturdy like bricks. Remember to check the dimensions before you buy one because it's not easy carrying around a 40-inch TV on your own.
4: Smart
We keep saying smart here, but what exactly do we mean? A smart TV has a lot of features that take your entire experience to the next level. You have apps, games, streaming services if you are not satisfied with what your console or PC offers. There are plenty of options in this aspect so it's up to you which one is best for you.
5: Input Features
Input features vary from TV to TV. There are no "best" inputs for a gaming TV only because the variety of consoles and PCs out there keeps going up each day. You have HDMI slots which can accommodate all devices, but you also have USB ports if your console or PC has that instead. The specifications will tell you the number of inputs available on your TV, which will also let you connect more than one console or PC at a time.
6: Output Features
Unfortunately there's no standard output feature when it comes to gaming TVs. The number and type of connections your TV has will depend on the brand and model you choose in the end. There is a workaround for this which we explain below in more detail, but we'll just use HDMI as an example here. You want at least two HDMI slots, one for your console and another for your PC or even second console. Just so you know there are TVs now with three HDMI slots if you really want to connect all of your devices at once.
7: Performance
You want to make sure that your TV is worth the money you spend on it. There are some brands out there known for their quality more than others, but there are also some budget TVs with plenty of features as well. What we recommend is checking reviews first before buying anything, because having a bad experience with something sucks no matter what the situation is.
8: Brand
Last but not least, you want a TV from a brand that is known for producing TVs with excellent features and performance. There's nothing better than having a gaming experience where you can see the difference between your console or PC and what the TV has to offer as well. We recommend checking out the best brands out there like Samsung, LG and Sony for this one because they have been in the business for a very long time.
9: Accessories
We can't stress this enough, you want all of the accessories that come with your TV to be present and working. If it comes with a remote then make sure that batteries are included and they work properly. Some TVs might not have batteries included so we recommend buying spares just in case. The cables should also be there and of good quality.
10: Customer Service
Customer service is a big deal these days because things go wrong all the time with technology in general. You want a brand out there that will fix your TV if it breaks down in one year, two years or even more depending on how well you take care of it. We highly recommend going for a brand that has a good reputation in the industry when it comes to customer service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a difference between a HDTV and 4K TV?
Yes, an HDTV will have 1080 lines while 4K has twice that amount of lines. In short, if you want clarity then go for 4K if it fits your budget of course. You will start seeing 4K best gaming tv under 500 range soon enough, but right now their prices are too high for most people to afford even with Black Friday discounts.
What panel type is used in gaming TVs?
There are several types of panels including IPS and VA. IPS panels are known for their excellent color, but they lack in black performance. VA panels on the other hand will deliver more accurate blacks and that's what we recommend if you want your games to look more realistic than ever before.
Is it possible to play video games at 4K resolution?
It is not possible to play video games at 4K resolution because your graphics card and monitor must be compatible with 4K gaming. If you're using a PC then we recommend getting a 4K monitor that supports HDMI 2.0 or Display Port 1.2 and the latest AMD Radeon RX 400 series cards for this purpose.
Is it possible to get Chromecast on my regular HDTV?
Yes, there are several ways to stream stuff from your phone or PC to an HDTV with the help of some adapters. Chromecast is one of these adapters and it's by far the easiest way to cast anything on your TV. You can also get a Miracast dongle which will work in a similar fashion, but you only need the dongle and no additional apps.
What's the difference between 60 Hz and 120 Hz?
There is a big difference between these two refresh rates. Games will seem smoother with a TV that has at least 120 Hz and this is because there are more images displayed each second to create the illusion of movement.
Things to consider before buying best gaming tv under 500
You are probably wondering what Refresh rate means. A refresh rate is the speed of which a screen can redraw itself. The higher the refresh rate, the smoother an image will appear on your screen. However there's more to it than just what most would think. You have two types of Refresh rates in TVs these days, 60 Hz and 120 Hz. You want that 120 Hz all the time, but it's not always possible to have that speed on any game you play no matter what type of console or PC you are using.
2: Resolution (HD or UHD)
The difference between HD and UHD is the number of pixels your screen has to display. HD has 1920 x 1080 pixels, which is what most big screen TVs have now. 4K or UHD on the other hand has 3840 X 2160 resolutions meaning it's twice as good as HD. Just to put this in perspective an average computer monitor would have 2880 x 1800 so yes UHD is far better than what you are used to. Fortunately there are TVs out now that have 4K resolution, and it's still cheap as well.
3: Design
Design of TVs come in all sorts these days. Some are thin like a sheet of paper while others are big and sturdy like bricks. Remember to check the dimensions before you buy one because it's not easy carrying around a 40-inch TV on your own.
4: Smart
We keep saying smart here, but what exactly do we mean? A smart TV has a lot of features that take your entire experience to the next level. You have apps, games, streaming services if you are not satisfied with what your console or PC offers. There are plenty of options in this aspect so it's up to you which one is best for you.
5: Input Features
Input features vary from TV to TV. There are no "best" inputs for a gaming TV only because the variety of consoles and PCs out there keeps going up each day. You have HDMI slots which can accommodate all devices, but you also have USB ports if your console or PC has that instead. The specifications will tell you the number of inputs available on your TV, which will also let you connect more than one console or PC at a time.
6: Output Features
Unfortunately there's no standard output feature when it comes to gaming TVs. The number and type of connections your TV has will depend on the brand and model you choose in the end. There is a workaround for this which we explain below in more detail, but we'll just use HDMI as an example here. You want at least two HDMI slots, one for your console and another for your PC or even second console. Just so you know there are TVs now with three HDMI slots if you really want to connect all of your devices at once.
7: Performance
You want to make sure that your TV is worth the money you spend on it. There are some brands out there known for their quality more than others, but there are also some budget TVs with plenty of features as well. What we recommend is checking reviews first before buying anything, because having a bad experience with something sucks no matter what the situation is.
8: Brand
Last but not least, you want a TV from a brand that is known for producing TVs with excellent features and performance. There's nothing better than having a gaming experience where you can see the difference between your console or PC and what the TV has to offer as well. We recommend checking out the best brands out there like Samsung, LG and Sony for this one because they have been in the business for a very long time.
9: Accessories
We can't stress this enough, you want all of the accessories that come with your TV to be present and working. If it comes with a remote then make sure that batteries are included and they work properly. Some TVs might not have batteries included so we recommend buying spares just in case. The cables should also be there and of good quality.
10: Customer Service
Customer service is a big deal these days because things go wrong all the time with technology in general. You want a brand out there that will fix your TV if it breaks down in one year, two years or even more depending on how well you take care of it. We highly recommend going for a brand that has a good reputation in the industry when it comes to customer service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a difference between a HDTV and 4K TV?
Yes, an HDTV will have 1080 lines while 4K has twice that amount of lines. In short, if you want clarity then go for 4K if it fits your budget of course. You will start seeing 4K best gaming tv under 500 range soon enough, but right now their prices are too high for most people to afford even with Black Friday discounts.
What panel type is used in gaming TVs?
There are several types of panels including IPS and VA. IPS panels are known for their excellent color, but they lack in black performance. VA panels on the other hand will deliver more accurate blacks and that's what we recommend if you want your games to look more realistic than ever before.
Is it possible to play video games at 4K resolution?
It is not possible to play video games at 4K resolution because your graphics card and monitor must be compatible with 4K gaming. If you're using a PC then we recommend getting a 4K monitor that supports HDMI 2.0 or Display Port 1.2 and the latest AMD Radeon RX 400 series cards for this purpose.
Is it possible to get Chromecast on my regular HDTV?
Yes, there are several ways to stream stuff from your phone or PC to an HDTV with the help of some adapters. Chromecast is one of these adapters and it's by far the easiest way to cast anything on your TV. You can also get a Miracast dongle which will work in a similar fashion, but you only need the dongle and no additional apps.
What's the difference between 60 Hz and 120 Hz?
There is a big difference between these two refresh rates. Games will seem smoother with a TV that has at least 120 Hz and this is because there are more images displayed each second to create the illusion of movement.
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