Best TVs for Gaming 2018: A Look Back at Classic Favorites
2018 marked a significant year for gaming TVs, with several models offering groundbreaking features that elevated the console and PC gaming experience. While newer technologies have emerged, these 2018 classics retain their appeal, offering excellent value and performance for budget-conscious gamers or those seeking a reliable secondary display. This retrospective explores some of the top gaming TVs of 2018, highlighting their strengths and why they remain relevant choices even today. We’ll delve into their key features, picture quality, and overall gaming performance, providing a comprehensive guide for those considering these still-capable displays.
Leading the Charge: Premium 2018 Gaming TVs
LG’s OLED Dominance
LG’s OLED TVs dominated the high-end market in 2018, offering unparalleled black levels and vibrant colors. The C8 series, in particular, stood out with its near-instantaneous pixel response times, minimizing motion blur and input lag, crucial factors for competitive gaming. The deep blacks and infinite contrast ratio made dark scenes in games truly immersive, while the wide color gamut delivered breathtaking visuals.
The C8’s support for HDR further enhanced the gaming experience, providing a wider dynamic range and more realistic lighting. Combined with its sleek design and intuitive smart TV interface, the C8 was a complete package for gamers seeking the best visual experience.
Even today, the C8 remains a highly sought-after model in the used market, offering excellent performance for its price. Its impressive picture quality and gaming-centric features make it a compelling option for those on a budget.
Samsung’s QLED Contender
Samsung’s QLED technology provided a strong alternative to OLED in 2018. The Q9FN offered impressive brightness and vibrant colors, making it a great choice for brightly lit rooms. While not quite matching OLED’s black levels, the Q9FN still delivered excellent contrast and image quality.
The Q9FN also boasted low input lag and fast response times, ensuring a smooth and responsive gaming experience. Its FreeSync support was a welcome addition for AMD GPU users, eliminating screen tearing and stuttering for a more immersive gaming experience.
The Q9FN’s robust build quality and stylish design further added to its appeal. While newer QLED models have since surpassed it, the Q9FN still holds its own as a capable gaming TV.
Mid-Range Marvels: Affordable Gaming in 2018
Sony’s X900F Series
Sony’s X900F series offered a compelling balance of performance and affordability. Its excellent image processing and local dimming capabilities produced impressive picture quality, while its low input lag made it a great choice for gamers.
The X900F’s motion handling was also a highlight, minimizing blur and judder in fast-paced action sequences. Its Android TV platform provided access to a wide range of streaming apps and games, making it a versatile entertainment hub.
The X900F remains a popular choice in the used market, offering excellent value for its price. Its solid gaming performance and overall feature set make it a worthwhile consideration for budget-conscious gamers.
TCL’s 6-Series Value Proposition
TCL’s 6-Series offered incredible value for gamers in 2018. Its impressive picture quality, low input lag, and affordable price made it a standout option in the budget segment.
The 6-Series’ Roku TV platform was another strong point, offering a user-friendly interface and access to a vast library of streaming content. Its support for Dolby Vision HDR further enhanced the viewing experience.
Even today, the TCL 6-Series from 2018 remains a popular choice for those seeking a budget-friendly gaming TV. Its impressive performance and value proposition make it a worthy contender.
Key Features to Consider
Input Lag and Response Time
Low input lag is crucial for a responsive gaming experience. A lower input lag means that your actions on the controller translate to on-screen movements more quickly. Similarly, a fast response time minimizes motion blur, ensuring a clear and crisp image during fast-paced action.
Many of the 2018 models discussed above excelled in these areas, making them ideal for gaming.
These features remain important today and should be a primary consideration when choosing a gaming TV.
HDR Support
High Dynamic Range (HDR) technology enhances the visual experience by expanding the range of colors and brightness. This results in more realistic and vibrant images with greater detail in both dark and bright scenes.
Many of the 2018 TVs supported HDR, further enhancing their gaming capabilities.
Look for TVs that support HDR10, Dolby Vision, or HLG for the best HDR experience.
| TV Model | Input Lag (ms) | Response Time (ms) | HDR Support |
|---|---|---|---|
| LG C8 | Low | Excellent | Dolby Vision, HDR10 |
| Samsung Q9FN | Low | Good | HDR10+ |
| Sony X900F | Low | Good | Dolby Vision, HDR10 |
| TCL 6-Series | Low | Good | Dolby Vision, HDR10 |
- Low Input Lag: Crucial for responsive gameplay.
- Fast Response Time: Minimizes motion blur.
- HDR Support: Enhances visuals with wider color gamut and brightness.
Conclusion
2018 was a great year for gaming TVs, and many of the models released that year continue to offer excellent performance and value. While newer technologies have emerged, these 2018 classics remain viable options for budget-conscious gamers or those seeking a reliable secondary display. By considering the key features discussed above, you can find a 2018 model that perfectly suits your gaming needs.
What were the best TVs for gaming in 2018?
Some of the top contenders included the LG C8 OLED, Samsung Q9FN QLED, Sony X900F, and TCL 6-Series.
Are these 2018 TVs still good for gaming in [current year]?
Yes, many of these models still offer excellent performance and value, especially for budget-conscious gamers.
What should I look for in a gaming TV?
Key features include low input lag, fast response time, HDR support, and a good refresh rate.
What is input lag?
Input lag is the delay between pressing a button on your controller and seeing the corresponding action on screen.
What is HDR?
HDR stands for High Dynamic Range and expands the range of colors and brightness for more realistic visuals.
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