Best TV for World Cup (OLED, QD-OLED, 120Hz)
Set your World Cup alight with these stunning high refresh rate TVs
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While the FIFA World Cup is still a few months away, now might be the perfect time to purchase a new TV for the occasion – especially now TV prices are starting to drop as new QD-OLED technology is arriving. Let’s be honest, there’s nothing worse than watching a high-quality game of football on a low-quality display, it simply doesn’t do it justice. And with the current pandemic still causing havoc, more people will likely be staying home and watching this year’s World Cup instead of venturing out.
Unfortunately, if you aren’t that tech-savvy, you may find it difficult choosing the best TV for the World Cup. There are also a bunch of factors to take into consideration when purchasing the perfect TV for sports, as they usually display fast-moving images that can fall victim to smear and blur. Luckily, we’ve got a tonne of experience when it comes to testing and reviewing displays, having reviewed over 100 TVs and monitors over the years.
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In this guide, we’ll be handpicking the best TVs for the World Cup, or just any big sports event really. We’ll also be discussing some of the key specifications to look out for if you want a smooth, artifact-free visual experience.
Best TV for World Cup: reviews
Sony Bravia Master XR A95K
Sizes
55″, 65″
Screen Technology
QD-OLED
Resolution
4K Ultra HD 3840 x 2160p
Refresh rate
120Hz
Panel type
QD-OLED
HDMI standard
HDMI 2.1
- Exceptional image quality
- Decent gradient handling
- Good motion handling
- QD-OLED technology
- Expensive
Our number one TV for sports goes to the hugely impressive Sony Bravia XR A95K. This TV set is a superb choice for any individual who prioritizes high-end features and stunning image quality. The A95K delivers exceptional image quality in daytime and night-time scenarios thanks to its high peak brightness. Best of all, the Sony A95K will be one of the first QD-OLED TVs on the market, merging the best qualitie4s of both QD (Quantum Dot) and OLED (Organic Light-emitting Diode).
The A95K performs to an incredibly high standard whether it be SDR or HDR content. The QD-OLED panel delivers a high peak brightness that allows for the best HDR experience in this guide. Like other displays in this guide, the A95K will also feature a 120Hz refresh rate, low response time, and excellent input lag – meaning it’ll be great for gaming and content consumption alike.
To help with motion handling and upscaling, the new Bravia XR A95K will also feature the latest XR processor too. Users can expect exceptional viewing angles too, allowing a wide range of people to view the panel without color degradation.
With this being a brand new TV, there’s still a bit of time left to wait until you can purchase it – with Sony A95K official release dates available from June onwards.
LG G2 OLED Series
Sizes
55″, 65″, 77″, 83″ 97″
Screen Technology
OLED (Evo)
Resolution
4K Ultra HD 3840 x 2160p
Refresh rate
120Hz
Panel type
WOLED
HDMI standard
HDMI 2.1
- Excellent gaming performance
- OLED image quality
- Gaming-tailored features
- Near instantaneous response time
- Evo OLED panel technology
- Not as bright as QD-OLED or LED models
Our best OLED TV for sports has to go to the popular LG G2 OLED TV series – LG’s brand new Evo OLED TV lineup. The LG G2 was an immediate hit when it was announced back at CES 2022, sparking excitement amongst fans of the brand thanks to its impressive array of features and specifications.
The LG G2 comes in a variety of sizes, allowing you to handpick a size that best suits your entertainment room. This TV is set to deliver excellent versatility for both gamers and everyday consumers, equipped with a high-performance Evo OLED panel that is far brighter than its G1 predecessor. It offers up new build materials too, making it easier to unbox and wall mount – while maintaining LG’s sleek and premium design language.
Looks aside, the LG G2 performs at the highest level, featuring the brand’s latest Evo OLED panel technology. The Evo OLED panel allows this TV to become much brighter than the G1, improving the quality of daytime viewing and HDR scenes across the board. Better yet, with a near-instantaneous response time, users will be able to enjoy fast-moving images without losing out on quality.
Of course, with this TV offering a plethora of gaming features, users won’t have any issues watching football – with many of the features actually improving the visual quality of sports. Best of all, this TV is incredibly well-priced, making it a great purchase for this year’s World Cup.
Samsung Neo QLED QN90A
Sizes
65″
Screen Technology
Mini LED LCD (1344 – 2340 zones)
Resolution
4K Ultra HD 3840 x 2160p
Refresh rate
120Hz
Panel type
VA (US)/ IPS (EU)
HDMI standard
HDMI 2.1
- Exceptional image quality for sports and movies
- HDMI 2.1 support
- Packed with features
- Easy to use platform
- Expensive
If you’re looking for a brighter alternative to the above picks, why not take a look at Samsung’s popular QN90A series. The QLED-based TV series has impressed ever since its release, with the Neo QLED variant offering up some improvements to image handling and upscaling. The Samsung QLED QN90A delivers truly excellent image quality that is head and shoulders above other LED-based panels.
Alongside its QLED panel technology, the QN90A also featured mini-LED backlight technology – increasing the TV’s ability to showcase HDR content. The QN90A also delivers higher peak brightness than many of its competitors, giving it a wider contrast ratio and better colors on average. Of course, the QN90A can’t match the infinite contrast ratio of the OLED C2, but don’t let that put you off, it excels in areas where the OLED alternative struggles.
Watching sports on this TV shouldn’t be an issue either, equipped with a fast 120Hz refresh rate and low response time. Inside the QN90A’s menu, users will find what feels like infinite options for fine-tuning the visual experience to their exact needs. Furthermore, the Mini-LED backlight technology will help produce stunningly accurate color which will help users immerse even further into the game.
Unfortunately, this is a pretty expensive TV, meaning you will have to fork out for the premium features it does offer. That being said, if you want a brighter visual experience than the OLED, there aren’t many that do it as well as the QN90A.
Hisense U8G
Size
55″, 65″
Screen Technology
VA FALD
Resolution
4K Ultra HD 3840 x 2160p
Refresh rate
120Hz
Panel type
VA
HDMI standard
HDMI 2.0
- Great value for money
- Decent gaming features
- Supports 4K@ 120Hz gameplay
- Motion clarity could be better
If you’re looking for a budget-tailored gaming TV for this year’s World Cup, look no further – Hisense has you covered. This great budget TV set comes in a number of different sizes and features enough motion handling performance to make it excellent value for money. Despite the U8G being the cheapest TV in this guide, don’t let that put you off, it still offers a great visual experience thanks to its fast 120Hz refresh rate and passable response time.
Unfortunately, the Hisense U8G doesn’t feature the same OLED/Mini-LED backlight technology as other TVs in this guide. Instead, the U8G utilizes a 120Hz VA panel that features an excellent native contrast ratio and inky blacks. That said, general picture quality won’t be as good as the other TVs on offer here and viewing angles can be a little underwhelming.
Additionally, motion handling can be a little problematic, with small amounts of blur found when watching fast-moving images. When compared against similarly priced alternatives, however, you can’t really argue with the performance this TV brings to the table.
Overall, what we have here is a very efficient LED TV that performs great as an all-round TV. Can’t afford the Samsung QN90A? don’t worry – Hisense has you covered.
LG C1 OLED Series
Sizes
48″, 55″, 65″, 75″, 83″
Screen Technology
OLED
Resolution
4K Ultra HD 3840 x 2160p
Refresh rate
120 Hz
Panel type
WOLED
HDMI standard
HDMI 2.1
- Excellent motion handling performance
- Great value
- Sleek and stylish design
- VRR support for FreeSync and G-Sync systems
- Brightness could be better
Lastly, we have the LG OLED C1 series, the best value TV for World Cup. This mid-tier OLED TV offers up fantastic value for money, great motion handling, and a tonne of gaming features that make it an excellent all-round TV.
As you can imagine, the picture quality of this TV is sensational thanks to the OLED panel found at its core. That said, it doesn’t feature LG’s best Evo OLED panel, meaning brightness can be a little underwhelming at times. That said, watching movies and sports on this TV is a very enjoyable experience.
Best of all, however, is the TV’s HDMI 2.1 capabilities and VRR support. This combination means that users will be able to take full advantage of the latest next-gen consoles (PS5 and Xbox Series X) to achieve 4K gameplay at 120Hz. The LG C1 also features native VRR support for FreeSync systems and G-Sync compatibility for everything else. This is particularly useful when it comes to gaming as it reduces annoying screen artifacts such as screen tear.
Annoyingly, like all OLED panels, the LG C1 is at risk of permanent burn-in. However, LG has implemented some handy anti-burn-in features that detect when your TV isn’t being viewed and starts to rotate an image gallery instead. Furthermore, out-of-the-box colors aren’t great for this TV, meaning you might need to calibrate it for true accuracy.
All being said, the LG C1 still produces excellent value for money in today’s market. If you want the best value TV for the World Cup experience, look no further.
What to look for when buying a TV for sports?
Looking at a TV’s spec list can be incredibly overwhelming, especially if you aren’t fully up to speed with the latest display technology. From all the jargon, how are you meant to know which specifications actually affect the performance of the TV when it comes to watching sports?
For that reason, in the following section, we’ll be going over some of the core specifications that will affect how a TV performs when watching this year’s hugely anticipated World Cup.
If you want a liquidy smooth visual experience when watching your team smash through the groups, here’s what you need to look out for.
Refresh rates
Refresh rates refer to the number of times your TV refreshes its image per second. Refresh rates are measured in hertz (Hz) and have a direct impact on the overall smoothness and fluidity of video.
Refresh rates are particularly important when viewing fast-moving images as the chances of visual artifacts are heightened – a feature that often occurs when watching sport. Ultimately, the faster the refresh rate the smoother your visual experience will be.
Luckily, modern TVs don’t feature the wide array of refresh rates that come with gaming monitors, so it’s pretty easy to choose which one best suits your needs. The best gaming TVs (which are also great for sports) feature 120Hz refresh rates – so be sure to prioritize this feature when purchasing a TV for this year’s World Cup.
Response times
Response time refers to how quickly the pixels in a display change color – usually using the GTG (grey to grey) transition. Response times impact image quality and the perceived blur of moving objects in a video. If you’re TV features a slower response time, you’ll often experience annoying screen artifacts such as ghosting, smearing, and blur.
Modern TVs feature a wide range of response times, so it’s worth keeping an eye on this specification as it can affect your visual experience dramatically. On average, you want to be looking for a response time that is 5ms and under.
Fortunately, with modern TVs offering excellent performance in this department, you shouldn’t experience too many issues finding a TV that offers these response times.
Better yet, OLED TVs offer some of the fastest response times on the market – with 0.1ms not out of the question. This results in an incredibly smooth video that is clearly noticeable when doing side-by-side comparisons with slower alternatives.
Motion interpolation
Motion interpolation, or the soap opera effect, is a feature criticized by the cinematic industry as it makes movies feel like they’ve been shot on smartphones.
Luckily, motion interpolation was created to help TVs perform better when watching content with fast-moving images – smoothing out the video exponentially. We have a complete guide on how to disable motion interpolation, however, if you’re watching sports, it’s definitely advantageous to keep it enabled.
Resolution & pixel density
Resolution refers to the physical number of pixels that your TV display. Pixel density, by contrast, is how many pixels your TV displays per inch, or PPI for short. While almost every large-screen TV now features a 4K resolution, not all feature the same PPI (pixels per inch).
To get the highest levels of sharpness from your TV, remember that a higher PPI is much better – as the TV is physically showing more data in a smaller area.
Best TV for World Cup: buying tips
If you aren’t interested in learning the ins and outs of TV technology, don’t worry, we’ve compiled this shortlist of buying tips to make the buying process that little easier.
Here are our top buying tips for purchasing a TV for sports:
- Prioritize a fast refresh rate: As we’ve already eluded to, refresh rates are hugely important when it comes to buying a TV for sports. With the World Cup just around the corner, try to prioritize a fast 120Hz refresh rate
- Find a 5ms (or under) TV: Response times really can make a huge difference when it comes to viewing fast-moving images and should be high on your list of considerations. Look for a 5ms (or under) TV to get the best visual experience. Luckily, many TVs feature low response times so this shouldn’t be too difficult.
- Pick the right size for your room: While an 85″ TV might seem like the perfect choice, remember to take into consideration your seating distance. An 85″ TV may end up looking a little silly if you put it in a room that’s only 8ft long. Use our handy ‘recommended seating distance’ guide above to find the perfect TV size for your room.
- Wait for deals: Many seem to assume that the only time good deals are available is Black Friday. Well, luckily, that’s exactly when the World Cup will be starting this year. With deals going early as October, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for a deal to save yourself a heap of cash on your TV purchase.
- Consider color: Seems obvious, but with a wide array of color gamuts now available in modern TVs, you should always consider the color quality of your TV before making a purchase. Try to find a TV that showcases a wide color gamut to give yourself the best visual experience.
- Pair it with a soundbar: What’s good picture quality without stunning sound to go with it? Watching any form of entertainment can be increased with a good quality soundbar, so don’t skimp when it comes to your audible experience. Better yet, with many retailers doing bundle deals, you’ll also be able to pick up a cracking deal on a TV soundbar bundle.
Why buy a TV for World Cup?
The main reason for buying a TV for the World Cup is to experience a great sporting event in the best possible image quality. The World Cup only comes round once every four years and, for some, it’s one of the only sporting events they’ll watch.
Unfortunately, as football often features fast-moving images, older TVs can fall victim to annoying screen artifacts such as smearing and perceived blur. A modern TV won’t produce the same visual inaccuracies, instead, providing a clear, sharp, and accurate picture.
Better still, like all major events, chances are, you’ll likely be able to snag a cracking deal for the World Cup as retailers like get rid of last-gen products. And don’t let that put you off, there are plenty of high-end TVs that fall into this category.
TV for World Cup FAQs
What is the best TV For World Cup?
Sony’s Bravia Master XR A95K is the best TV for World Cup.
It features Samsung’s latest QD-OLED panel technology, a speedy 120Hz refresh rate, 4K screen resolution, and HDMI 2.1 support – making it a great choice for both entertainment and gaming scenarios.
Related TV pages
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Final word
So, there you have it, our comprehensive breakdown to the best TVs for the World Cup. Choosing the best TV for sports can be a little tricky, however, once you understand the fundamental features and specifications that affect a TV’s performance, the selection process becomes a whole lot easier.
For us, the Sony A95K gets our top spot thanks to its high-end performance and QD-OLED panel technology. It features a fast refresh rate, low pixel response time, and comes with stunning color accuracy and peak brightness.
If you have any questions regarding the best TVs for World Cup, feel free to drop us a commen in the section below.
