Top 6 Best HDMI 2.1 TVs

If you’re looking to buy a new TV, here are our top recommendations for the best HDMI 2.1 TVs to get the best out of the upcoming gaming consoles and Ampere builds. TVs with HDMI 2.1 provides advanced features such as Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), enhanced ARC, and 4K passthrough at 120 frames per second, which delivers the best gaming experience.

With the next-generation gaming consoles, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, expected to start shipping this November, the demand for displays that can take advantage of the 4K at 120fps gameplay is increasing. Already different gaming enthusiasts have access to HDMI 2.1 through Nvidia Ampere builds. The new RTX 3000 Series GPUs support 4K120 and up to 8K resolution with HDMI 2.1.

Now, it’s time to upgrade your display. Many TV makers have released their HDMI 2.1 TV lineup in 2020, consisting of the best TVs from LG, Samsung, and LG. Another interesting manufacturer VIZIO has also launched its first OLED TV with full HDMI 2.1 support. There are many TVs with HDMI 2.1 support out there, but we’ve only picked the best options, including the best HDMI 2.1 4K TV, best budget, and future-proof 8K TV with HDMI 2.1.

OLED vs QLED HDMI 2.1 TVs

When choosing the best HDMI 2.1 TV, you’ll most likely have to pick between an OLED or QLED TV. Both TVs offer excellent picture quality and full HDMI 2.1 support, but there are some differences.

OLEDs can turn off individual pixels on the dark scenes of a picture to achieve perfect blacks and, theoretically, infinite contrast ratio. They are the best for use in dark rooms and have very wide viewing angles. However, all OLEDs have one downside—risk of permanent burn-in when displaying static content for too long. They are also not the best for very bright environments.

QLEDs, on the other hand, uses a Quantum Dot layer on top of a VA panel to split the backlight into colors. QLEDs (Quantum LED) can get very bright and produce vibrant and crisper colors with more coverage of the cinema-standard DCI-P3. They are excellent in bright rooms, and some may perform well in dark environments, but not as good as OLEDs.

While the black level of QLED TVs may not match OLED TVs, the best options with Full Array Local Dimming produce incredibly deeper blacks who are perfect for watching HDR content.

So, it all comes down to your needs. If you want the best HDR experience with perfect blacks and excellent picture quality in dark rooms, OLED is the way to go. QLED TV will give you vibrant colors and higher brightness, ensuring superb picture quality even in very bright environments. Plus, QLED TVs don’t have any risk of a permanent burn-in.

The Best HDMI 2.1 TVs Available in 2020

Image	Product	Details	Check Price
	LG OLED CX	Resolution: : 4K (3840 x 2160), 120Hz Display Type: : OLED Dimming Technology: : Pixel Level Dimming HDR: : Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG FreeSync: : Yes (G-Sync Compatible) Sizes: : 48", 55", 65", 77" Smart TV: : WebOS HDMI 2.1 Port: : 1,2,3,4 (40Gbps) Other Features: : ALLM, VRR, eARC	Check on Amazon
	Samsung Q90T QLED	Resolution: : 4K (3840 x 2160), 120Hz Display Type: : QLED Dimming Technology: : Full Array Local Dimming HDR: : HDR10+ FreeSync: : Yes Sizes: : 55", 65", 75", 85" Smart TV: : Tizen OS HDMI 2.1 Port: : 4 Other Features: : ALLM, VRR, eARC	Check on Amazon
	VIZIO OLED Smart TV	Resolution: : 4K (3840 x 2160), 120Hz Display Type: : OLED Dimming Technology: : Pixel Level Dimming HDR: : Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG FreeSync: : Yes Sizes: : 55", 65" Smart TV: : VIZIO SmartCast HDMI 2.1 Ports: : 1,2,3,4 Other Features: : ALLM, VRR, eARC	Check on Best Buy
	LG NanoCell 85 Series	Resolution: : 4K (3840 x 2160), 120Hz Display Type: : NanoCell Dimming Technology: : Edge Lit Local Dimming HDR: : Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG FreeSync: : Yes Sizes: : 49", 55", 65", 75" Smart TV: : WebOS HDMI 2.1 Ports: : 3,4 (40Gbps) Other Features: : ALLM, VRR, eARC	Check on Amazon
	Samsung QLED Q800T Series	Resolution: : 8K (7680 x 4320), 120Hz (4K) Display Type: : QLED Dimming Technology: : Full Array Local Dimming HDR: : HDR10+ FreeSync: : Yes (G-Sync Compatible) Sizes: : 65", 75", 85" Smart TV: : Tizen OS HDMI 2.1 Ports: : 4 Other Features: : ALLM, VRR, eARC	Check on Amazon
	Sony XBR X900H Series	Resolution: : 4K (3840 x 2160), 120Hz Display Type: : LCD Dimming Technology: : Full Array Local Dimming HDR: : Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG FreeSync: : No Sizes: : 55", 65", 75", 85" Smart TV: : Android TV HDMI 2.1 Ports: : 3,4 Other Features: : ALLM, VRR, eARC (Requires firmware update)	Check on Amazon

1. LG OLED CX – Best HDMI 2.1 TV Overall

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The LG OLED CX is the best HDMI 2.1 TV available right now. It has a gorgeous OLED panel for those perfect blacks and next-generation specs like 4K120, VRR, low input lag, and HDR. It’s great for gaming on the upcoming PS5 and Xbox Series X. The LG OLED CX also makes a perfect daily productivity PC monitor thanks to its wide viewing angles and sharp, crisp display.

One of the best features of the LG CX (pronounced C10) is its OLED panel, which can turn off individual pixels in darker sections of the screen to achieve perfect blacks and infinite contrast ratio. It can display vibrant and vivid content in dark environments, making it the best HDMI 2.1 TV for watching movies and gaming in dark rooms.

The α9 Gen3 AI Processor 4K engine does a great job of upscaling 1080p content to near 4K quality for detailed and colorful visuals. LG OLED CX also supports different HDR standards such as Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos, to bring you a cinema experience to your home. It’s a smart TV running on webOS, providing you the best entertainment apps in one place, including Apple TV. Control your LG OLED CX using voice without requiring separate devices with built-in Alexa and Google Assistant.

The main reason to pick the LG OLED CX for your PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X is HDMI 2.1 specification support. The TV supports 4K120, VRR, ALLM to automatically switch on Game Mode when you connect your gaming console for incredibly low input lag, and HDMI eARC to deliver the best gaming experience. Onboard you also get G-Sync and FreeSync support for a tear-free and stutter-free gaming experience and near-instant response time perfect for competitive gaming.

The LG OLED CX is the best HDMI 2.1 TV available and the best TV for your PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. It’s great for both worlds, whether playing video games, watching movies, or using it as a PC monitor. With its full-featured HDMI 2.1 specs, OLED panel, and remarkable HDR performance, the LG OLED CX is the ultimate HDMI 2.1 to buy in 2020.

2. Samsung Q90T QLED – HDMI 2.1 TV Best Alternative

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Samsung Q90T QLED is the best HDMI 2.1 TV alternative to the LG OLED CX. It has very high brightness and superb reflection handling, making it the best HDMI 2.1 TV for bright environments. The performance in dark rooms may not match the OLEDs, but rest assured of the best picture quality in bright rooms without the possibility of burn-in. The Q90T QLED meets all the HDMI 2.1 specs, making it an excellent pick for the next-gen consoles.

The significant advantage of the Q90T QLED over the Sony OLED CX is the performance in bright environments. It uses a VA panel with an additional quantum dot layer that results in 100% DCI-P3 coverage for breathtaking and saturated colors, better than OLEDs. It can get very bright, producing accurate colors in both dark and bright environments. On top of that, the Q90T QLED has Full Array Local Dimming to deliver deep blacks and better contrast to make those colors and highlights pop when watching HDR content.

Onboard you get native 4K120 support, FreeSync, eARC for digital audio passthrough (this TV supports Dolby Atmos), and superb motion handling for a responsive and immersive gaming experience. The Samsung Q90T also features an Automatic Low Latency Mode, Real Game Enhancer+, that automatically turns on when you connect your gaming console without having to switch picture modes.

Elsewhere you get an outstanding smart TV with all the features to bring you the best entertainment experience to your home. The Q90T has an ambient mode to blend the display with the surrounding walls, supports multiple voice assistants with Alexa built-in, and a Multi-View feature to project your mobile screen side-by-side.

The Samsung Q90T QLED is the best HDMI 2.1 TV for use in bright environments. It has outstanding picture quality, great viewing angles, and deeper blacks for the best HDR viewing experience. Motion handling is excellent. You get fast response time, low input lag, FreeSync, and ALLM, ideal for competitive and immersive gaming. It’s great for gaming, entertainment, and productivity as a PC monitor.

3. VIZIO OLED Smart TV – Affordable 4K OLED TV with HDMI 2.1

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With the LG OLED CX demanding in price, VIZIO’s first OLED TV can be an excellent budget alternative for the upcoming next-gen consoles and powerful PC rigs with HDMI 2.1. VIZIO OLED Smart TVs provide full HDMI 2.1 features and a breathtaking OLED display for perfect blacks and infinite contrast ratio. Like the LG CX, VIZIO OLED TVs perform excellently in dark environments, producing crisper colors and highlights.

If you want perfect blacks and the best picture quality, OLED is the way to go. VIZIO’s first OLED TVs offer exceptional picture quality and overall excellent performance for gaming and multimedia. The TV has a wide color gamut up to 98% DCI-P3, producing stunning color accuracy. With support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HLG, the VIZIO OLED is outstanding for watching movies and HDR content. 4K upscaling is excellent. You can still buy this TV if you don’t have a 4K source yet and experience near 4K visuals.

One of the best features of the VIZIO OLED TV is the four HDMI 2.1 ports. This TV supports the full 48Gbps bandwidth of HDMI 2.1 specification allowing 4K passthrough at 120fps, eARC, and HDR tone mapping. The TV also supports HDMI VRR, FreeSync, low-input lag, and near-instant response time, ideal for avid gamers. However, the VRR isn’t well implemented, and you may see some tearing in some games. It’s something VIZIO can fix with a firmware upgrade. We will update the article when VIZIO issues an update.

VIZIO OLED Smart TV is an affordable HDMI 2.1 TV that’s great for gaming and watching movies in dark environments. Its infinite contrast ratio and perfect blacks deliver the best HDR experience, and you get exceptional motion handling for gaming. However, this TV isn’t the best in bright environments, and it has the possibility of permanent burn-in.

4. LG NanoCell 85 Series – Best budget HDMI 2.1 TV

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If you don’t want to spend big bucks on the best HDMI 2.1 TVs, LG NanoCell 85 Series offers the cheapest path to HDMI 2.1 upgrade. The NanoCell 85 Series has the most affordable 4K HDMI 2.1 TVs in the market. Available in 49 inches to 75 inches, NanoCell 85 TVs provide impressive picture quality and excellent gaming performance, thanks to the HDMI 2.1 features.

The TV comes with a 10-bit IPS panel with NanoCell technology to deliver vibrant and stunning colors. NanoCell 85 uses α7 Gen 3 Processor 4K processor to upscale lower resolution to 4K like quality for detailed and crisper picture quality. Onboard you get premium features like Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos to give you that cinema experience at the comfort of your home. While the NanoCell 85 Series has local dimming, the edge backlighting won’t give you deeper blacks like full array and OLEDs. It is not the best for use in dark rooms.

LG NanoCell 85 Series supports the latest HDMI 2.1 specs, including HDMI Forum VRR, eARC for uncompressed Dolby Atmos, ALLM, and higher refresh rates up to 120fps at 4K, ideal for the upcoming gaming consoles. Competitive gamers will appreciate the low input lag, fast response time, and FreeSync support, which delivers smooth gameplay with no screen tearing or stuttering. This TV also comes with a black frame insertion to reduce motion blur.

With premium features such as Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, and HDMI 2.1, LG NanoCell 85 Series delivers an unbeatable value to budget upgraders. Even the more expensive Samsung Q90T don’t support Dolby Vision, you’re getting the best deal available. The only downsides with the NanoCell 85 Series are the low contrasts and poor performance in dark rooms. Otherwise, you’re getting all the features you would want in an HDMI 2.1 TV.

5. Samsung QLED Q800T Series – Best HDMI 2.1 8K TV

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Samsung QLED Q800T Series offers the best HDMI 2.1 TVs when 4K just doesn’t cut it. With more than 33 million pixels, only the next-gen consoles PS5 and Xbox Series can push those whopping pixels, or if you managed to get hold of the new NVIDIA Ampere GPUs. The Q800T is an affordable offering from Samsung’s latest 8K TV lineup. If you want to go big, the Q900T is what you need, but be ready to spend more.

Samsung Q800T delivers very impressive picture quality with its excellently implemented Full Array Local Dimming and a powerful processor for upscaling content to 8K. The FALD with 480 backlight zones results in deeper blacks and an even higher contrast ratio to display your images with unprecedented realism. The display gets bright in HDR to bring out highlights and great picture quality even in bright environments. Samsung includes an additional Ultra Viewing Angle layer to combat reflections and improve viewing angles.

The gaming performance on this TV is equally impressive. Samsung Q800T has a native 120Hz refresh rate and supports HDMI Forum VRR, FreeSync, and G-Sync with the latest Nvidia cards. Motion handling is excellent. You get low input lag and faster response time, especially in game mode. The TV automatically switches to Game Mode when you connect your console and fire up any game. HDMI eARC delivers uncompressed Dolby Atmos via Dolby True HD for immersive surround sound to enjoy your games.

Samsung QLED Q800T Series is a great 8K TV with HDMI 2.1 connectivity and great picture quality in dark and bright rooms. It’s also great at handling reflection and glare. The lack of Dolby Vision is the only downside, but you get a powerful upscaling processor, advanced HDMI 2.1 specs, and full-array local dimming for deep blacks and better contrasts. It’s a great TV for everyday use and competitive gaming.

6. Sony XBR X900H Series – Best HDMI 2.1 TV for PlayStation 5

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What’s the best HDMI 2.1 TV to pair with the PS5 than Sony’s very own Sony XBR X900H? The Sony XBR X900H is a mid-range 4K TV released in 2020 with HDMI 2.1 connectivity, ready for the PlayStation 5. However, to enjoy the full HDMI 2.1 specifications such as 4K120 and eARC, a firmware update is required.

The X900H comes with a 10-bit VA panel that delivers rich blacks and higher contrasts perfect for watching HDR content. It supports Full Array Local Dimming, but with only 32 backlight zones, you may experience blooming around bright objects in dark pictures and scenes. Performance in bright rooms is decent but does not match the Samsung QLEDs. The X900H also has narrow viewing angles, but you can’t ask much at this budget.

To bring the best out of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, the X900H supports Auto Low Latency Mode, HDMI VRR, and up to 120fps at 4K resolution. eARC allows for uncompressed Dolby Atmos via Dolby True-HD for multidirectional audio, providing cinema-standard movie experience and immersive gaming. However, the response time isn’t the best compared to the other HDMI 2.1 TVs. It’s not the ideal pick for competitive games and eSports.

Sony XBR X900H Series is an outstanding and affordable HDMI 2.1 TV great for the PlayStation 5 and powerful Ampere builds. With full HDMI 2.1 support and Full-array local dimming, the X900H rivals the best HDMI 2.1 4K TVs. Viewing angles aren’t that great, and it may have some blooming on dark pictures, but if you let those downsides slide, the X900H makes the perfect TV for your PlayStation 5.

HDMI 2.1 Specification. Why You Need an HDMI 2.1 TV.

The latest HDMI 2.1 Specification brings advanced features to your TV, allowing you to get the best of the upcoming gaming consoles and next-gen GPUs such as the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3000 series. HDMI increases the bandwidth to 48Gbps, which allows for up to 4K120 and higher resolutions up to 10K. You can now get up to 120 frames per second at 4K, which results in immersive and ultra-clear gameplay compared to 60fps.

On top of that, HDMI 2.1 supports dynamic HDR, such as Dolby Vision, which delivers optimized HDR content for increased realism and better highlights. You also get enhanced ARC (eARC) for multi-dimensional audio or uncompressed high-bitrate audio formats such as Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS. eARC is handy if you have a surround sound system at home.

If you’re preparing your TV for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, or an Ampere build, here are top features to look out for:

Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). HDMI Forum VRR works like FreeSync or G-Sync. It eliminates screen tearing and stuttering by syncing the TV’s refresh rate to the frame rate pushed by a GPU or a gaming console, resulting in smooth and fluid gameplay. HDMI 2.1 sources like the PS5 support HDMI VRR.

Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM). ALLM automatically switches to the Game Mode on your TV for reduced input lag and faster response time, so you don’t have to change picture modes. The TV automatically goes to picture mode when you connect a gaming console.

All the HDMI 2.1 TVs featured in this roundup meet the HDMI 2.1 Specification and are ready for next-gen gaming. However, you should know that some TVs such as the LG 4K lineup don’t support full 48Gbps HDMI 2.1 bandwidth. If you’re looking for other options outside our recommendations, make sure to do thorough research to ensure you get all the HDMI 2.1 features.

Best HDMI 2.1 TVs Frequently Asked Questions

Is HDMI 2.1 needed for PS5?

No. You can use any HDMI TV with the PS5 since HDMI is backward compatible. But if you want advanced features such as 4K120, HDMI Forum VRR, ALLM, and dynamic HDR, you need HDMI 2.1.

Do you need HDMI 2.1 for 4K 120hz?

Yes. HDMI 2.1 increases bandwidth to 48Gbps, capable of handling 4K resolution at 120 frames per second and 8K at 60fps uncompressed.

Do you need HDMI 2.1 for eARC?

No. eARC can work with High Speed HDMI cables with Ethernet or the new Ultra High Speed HDMI cables.

Will an HDMI 2.1 TV give me 4K120 with last-gen consoles?

No. Only HDMI 2.1 sources offer 4K120 gameplay with an HDMI 2.1 TV. So, you can only get 4K120 with the upcoming PS5 and Xbox Series X.