How We Ranked The 5 Best TVs For Sports

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Reviewed By

Evan Shephard
Updated Feb 20, 2024 2:28 PM
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A whopping 75% of electronic and appliance reviews are untrustworthy. That’s why every reviewer gets a Trust Rating so our True Score System filters out the fake reviews. See how we do it.

If you’re looking for the best sports TV, then you want to read product reviews by actual experts who have tested several TVs for sports in all price ranges – not fake reviews pushing you to purchase a TV that will crap out on the big game. That’s why we scour the web and certify 158 TVs as fully tested and then shortlist the best sports TVs to ensure you’re ready for game day (BTW, we were shocked to find 87% of TV reviewers aren’t trustworthy and many are faking their reviews).

The best TVs for sports have four essential features that are non-negotiable: lightning-quick response times to keep every action crisp and clear, eliminating any ghosting or blurs; wide viewing angles ensuring everyone gets a great view, no matter where they’re sitting; superior reflection handling and the right levels of brightness (both SDR and HDR) to keep the game visible in any light.

These features aren’t just nice to have; they’re the pillars of an immersive sports viewing experience, critical for anyone serious about their sports and tech. Plus, all our recommended top TV models come in sizes 55″ and up, perfect for large gatherings (on Super Bowl Sunday or any sporting event) without compromising on visual quality or performance.

How Did We Rank the Best TVs for Sports?

To assess how high or low quality a TV actually is for sports viewing, one must evaluate specific testing criteria against reference industry standards. Using our thorough TV Testing Methodology, we determined there are 2 minimum specs and 6 criteria below (3 required, 3 nice to have) that ensure your sports come alive and immerse you on game day.

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Minimum Specifications

  • Refresh Rate: Minimum 120 Hz to eliminate motion blur, capturing the swift movements of sports effortlessly.
  • Resolution: 4K for that ultra-clear, lifelike detail that brings the game to life.

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Test Criteria

  • Response Time: A TV’s response time needs to hit at least 10ms or less to ensure the action never blurs and no moment is ever lost.
  • SDR Brightness: SDR brightness needs to hit at least 300 nits to ensure the screen pops even in bright rooms.
  • HDR Brightness: HDR brightness must meet a minimum of at least 700 nits, highlighting every detail from the brightest brights to the darkest darks, regardless of lighting conditions.

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“Nice To Haves”

  • Reflectivity: Less than 4.5% reflectivity, because nothing should take away from those game-changing moments.
  • Color Gamut: Aiming for 97% DCI P3 xy or higher, to ensure a TV is bringing the most realistic colors to your screen, enhancing every match’s realism.
  • Viewing Angle: Greater than 45 degrees to ensure the picture stays perfect, without any color fading, even from the side.

Keep reading to discover the top TV for sports. We’ve got options for the budget conscious, the value driven shopper, the home theater buff, the competitive gamer and for rooms that have an almost unmanageable amounts of direct or indirect light.

We’ve redefined TV buying guides, setting us apart from any other site on the planet. Our unique approach combines in-house verification with a comprehensive dataset from over 200+ trusted sites, focusing on key testing metrics like response time, reflections, brightness, and viewing angle. We aggregate and analyze data from 158+ TVs, ensuring our recommendations meet your specific needs. In this case its for sports viewing, which means reducing or eliminating motion blur and reflections, overcoming bright lights and all the while providing wide audience viewing. Discover our data-driven methodology for precise, reliable TV recommendations.

Latest Updates

  • 02/1/2024: Completely and thoroughly overhauled the guide to include the best and latest TVs for sports.
  • 11/21/2023: Republished the list to include TVs based on our True Score system.

Our commitment to unbiased reviews is powered by our ‘True Score’ system, targeting low quality and fake reviews. Commissions fund this mission. No bias. No BS. Learn more

Top Sports TVs For 2024

Prices accurate at the time of publishing

See how we test the testers

Any TV that wants a chance at being considered needs to have a refresh rate of at least 120 Hz and a minimum resolution of 4K. If it doesn’t make the cutoff, you won’t find it on our list!

  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Samsung S90C TV

    • Best For 55-inch

    The Samsung S90C excels with its unparalleled color accuracy and swift response, offering a versatile, high-quality viewing experience for sports, gaming, and more.

    Samsung S90C TV Review →

    True Score

    89
    94
    8

    Experts

    92
    4k

    Customers

    SAVE $840
    $1,997.99
    $1,157.99
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    LG G3 OLED TV

    • Best For 80-inch

    The LG G3 OLED TV excels in sports viewing with top-notch HDR, wide viewing angles, and Dolby Vision, making it an ideal choice as a versatile home theater centerpiece.

    LG G3 OLED TV Review →

    True Score

    88
    93
    15

    Experts

    92
    3k

    Customers

    SAVE $1,303
    $3,299.99
    $1,996.99
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    Samsung S95C OLED TV

    • Best For Best Overall

    The S95C excels in brightly lit rooms with high SDR brightness and color accuracy, making it ideal for sports, gaming and home theater content.

    Samsung S95C OLED TV Review →

    True Score

    87
    92
    15

    Experts

    90
    1k

    Customers

    SAVE $153
    $1,797.99
    $1,645.00
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    LG C3 OLED TV

    • Best For 50-inch

    The LG C3 OLED offers premium LG quality for sports, gaming, and movies with excellent color accuracy and quick response, all at a more accessible price point.

    LG C3 OLED TV Review →

    True Score

    85
    86
    9

    Experts

    93
    13k

    Customers

    SAVE $1,010
    $2,499.99
    $1,490.00
  • Runner Up

    Best Value

    Best Budget

    gr recommended award

    Best Mid-Range

    TCL QM8/QM850G QLED TV

    • Best For Android

    The TCL QM8/QM850G shines in brightness and value, perfect for sports in bright rooms, with notable compromises in contrast and viewing angles.

    TCL QM8/QM850G QLED TV Review →

    True Score

    82
    83
    7

    Experts

    89
    816

    Customers

    SAVE $138
    $1,135.99
    $998.00

Our Approach to Testing TVs For Sports

Evan Shepard/Gadget Review

We’ve redefined TV buying guides, setting us apart from any other site on the planet. Our unique approach combines in-house verification with a comprehensive dataset (150+ TVs) from trusted sites (200+), focusing on key testing metrics like response time, reflections, brightness, and viewing angle.

We aggregate and analyze this data, ensuring our recommendations meet the specific needs. In this case it’s for sports viewing, which means reducing or eliminating motion blur and reflections, overcoming bright lights and and offering wide audience viewing angles. Discover our data-driven methodology for precise, reliable TV recommendations.

You may notice some of our graphs contain “Source: RTings”. This is to indicate that the data we’re showing off in a graph has come from a single source – because it’s the only source that actually tested the criteria and had data for it! Normally, our data is an average out of all of the various publications that test and provide data to give you a good idea of how a product is going to perform on average.

Which Criteria Matter for Testing Sports TVs?

By focusing on these criteria (3 required, 3 nice to have), anyone can quickly and easily compare these TVs and how they perform when watching sports content. This helps you make an informed decision and purchase a TV that we can guarantee will deliver smooth action and crisp visuals to immerse you on game day.

CRITERIARANGEREQUIREDDEFINITION
Response Time<=10msYesMeasures the amount of time it takes for a pixel to change from one color to another and then back.
SDR Brightness300+ nitsYesMeasure of how luminous your screen is in SDR mode.
HDR Brightness700+ nitsYesMeasure of how luminous your screen is in HDR mode.
Reflections<= 4.5%No (nice to have)Measures what percent of light is reflected off the screen when subjected to light.
Color Gamut (DCI P3 xy)>= 97%No (nice to have)Measure how much of a given spectrum of color can be reproduced by the TV.
Color Washout> 45°No (nice to have)Measures the viewing angle on a TV before colors drop to 80% of the set’s chroma.

Our Trusted Data Sources

(Publication category Score is 80%+)

We looked at 210+ TV reviewers and while 24 are trustworthy (60%+ Trust Rating), we only use data from the testers that are “very trusted” which means a Trust Rating above 70%. The three we have listed below are our most trusted for TVs, along with our own in-house TV expert.

  1. Evan Shepard – Gadget Review
  2. Matthew Lopes – RTings, MuckRack
  3. Will Greenwald – PCMag, MuckRack, Twitter
  4. David Katzmaier – CNET, MuckRack, Twitter

Interested in a comprehensive analysis of our data sources? We’ve got you covered. Below, you’ll find a detailed list of every TV review website we’ve identified, organized by their respective Trust Ratings from highest to lowest. But we didn’t stop there. We’ve meticulously reviewed each publication and verified the data by checking whether the authors have bio links to MuckRack or LinkedIn. We’re committed to not only checking the facts but ensuring their veracity.

TV Test Data & Results

1. Response Time TV Test Results

Response time is particularly important for sports TVs due to the fast-paced nature of live sports events. Quick pixel transitions are necessary to accurately render the swift movements of players, balls, and other elements of the game without motion blur.

A lower response time ensures that these rapid movements are displayed clearly and sharply, enhancing the overall viewing experience by providing crisper, more fluid images.

This is essential for maintaining the integrity of the live action, allowing viewers to follow the game without losing detail or experiencing visual lag, which can detract from the excitement and immersion of watching sports.

Response Time (lower is better)

2. SDR & HDR Brightness TV Test Results

SDR brightness ensures that standard broadcast sports events appear clear and visible, even in well-lit rooms. HDR brightness, on the other hand, elevates the viewing experience by enhancing the contrast and vibrancy of colors in more modern, high-quality sports broadcasts.

In both cases, brightness directly impacts how bright the image being shown on the TV is, with higher brightnesses creating a more vivid picture that will generally look more appealing.

Generally speaking, SDR brightness values of 300 nits or higher, and HDR brightness values of 700 nits or higher make for a TV that will deliver an engaging experience for any kind of sport. Higher levels, however, are always welcome because they help enhance the vibrancy and contrast of the colors. For a user-friendly interface and clear visuals, also consider the best TVs for seniors, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the game.

SDR Brightness (in nits, higher is better)

HDR Brightness (in nits, higher is better)

3. Reflections TV Test Results

Reflections handling on TVs is critical for sports fans, ensuring that glare from lights or windows doesn’t wash out the action. It’s about how well a TV can minimize the impact of ambient light on its screen, preserving the quality of the image during bright day games or well-lit room conditions.

Technically, this involves the TV’s screen surface and coatings designed to reduce the reflection of external light sources without affecting picture brightness and contrast. The effectiveness of reflections handling is often measured in percentage; the lower the percentage, the better the TV is at minimizing reflections.

Ideally, a TV reflects no more than 4.5% of light. TVs that boast advanced anti-reflective properties, such as matte screens, help to improve this capability.

Reflections (as a %; lower is better)

4. Color Gamut (DCI P3 xy) TV Test Results

Color gamut refers to the range of colors a TV can display, directly impacting how vibrant and lifelike the images appear. A wide color gamut means more vivid greens of the field, richer team colors, and a more immersive viewing experience that closely mimics being at the event.

Technically, color gamut is measured against standard color spaces, with DCI P3 xy being a common reference for high-definition content; covering more of the color space means the colors shown are more accurately reproduced.

For sports enthusiasts, seeking out a TV with a color gamut of 97% or higher on the DCI P3 xy scale means the action looks like it would there in the stadium. This criterion guarantees that the action on screen is as true to life as possible. And in case your vibrant TV screen encounters an unfortunate accident, knowing how to fix a broken TV screen can save you from the hassle of an expensive replacement.

DCI P3 XY Color Gamut (as a %; high is better)

5. Viewing Angle (Color Washout) TV Test Results

Bad view angles during a big game can sideline your viewing experience. Imagine everyone crammed in, but only those front and center get the vivid, action-packed view. It’s crucial for the whole crew to catch every play in complete clarity, no matter their spot in the room. To ensure everyone in the room has the best view possible, also consider learning about how high your TV should be mounted for the optimal viewing experience.

Think of viewing angle as how far you can move from the middle before the screen starts to fade and lose its punch. You want a TV that keeps the game’s color and , from any angle.

Ideally aim for a TV with a 45-degree minimum for a wide viewing angle. This is the sweet spot ensuring the game stays sharp and vibrant. And for an even more immersive experience that mimics stadium viewing, explore the best curved TVs, which offer superior viewing angles.

Viewing Angle (as degrees; higher is better)

Data Source: rtings.com

Sports TVs: Mistakes To Avoid

  1. Ignoring Refresh Rate: A TV with a low refresh rate can result in motion blur during fast-paced scenes common in sports. Look for a TV with at least a 120 Hz refresh rate to ensure smoother motion. This is also crucial when considering the best gaming TVs, as it ensures clarity and responsiveness during intense gaming sessions.

  2. Neglecting Viewing Angles: Especially for group viewings like sports events, wide viewing angles are important. OLED TVs typically offer better viewing angles than LCD/LED TVs, ensuring the picture remains consistent from different seating positions.

  3. Compromising on Brightness and Contrast: TVs with poor brightness levels or contrast ratios might not deliver the vivid and dynamic images needed to truly appreciate sports. HDR support can significantly improve contrast and color range.

  4. Skipping Over Size and Resolution: Choosing a TV that’s too small for your viewing distance or one with low resolution can hinder your ability to catch all the action details. Ensure the TV is large enough and has a high resolution, such as the top-rated 4K TVs (4K is standard now). For those looking to future-proof their setup or desire even more detail, exploring the best 8K TVs can be worthwhile. Understanding the difference between 4K vs 8K is important, as 8K offers even more detail and clarity but requires suitable content to fully appreciate its advantages

  5. Not Considering the Room’s Lighting Conditions: A TV that performs well in a dark room might not do as well in a brightly lit room, and vice versa. Reflective screens can be problematic in bright rooms, so consider your room’s lighting and choose a TV with appropriate anti-glare properties.

  6. Overlooking Connectivity Options: Ensure the TV has enough HDMI ports for all your devices, like cable boxes, game consoles, and streaming devices. Smart TVs can also access sports streaming services directly, which can be a plus. Additionally, if you want to improve the audio quality of your TV, you will need to make sure you have enough of the correct ports when connecting a soundbar to it.

The Best Sports TV Tests Compared

Product
True Score
Response Time
SDR Brightness
HDR Brightness
Reflections
Color Gamut
Viewing Angle

Samsung S90C TV

  • Best for 55-inch

89
  • 1.4 ms

  • 373 nits

  • 1,058 nits

  • 1.2%

  • 99.98%

  • 70°

$1,157.99
$1,998
$840

LG G3 OLED TV

  • Best for Gaming

88
  • 2.6 ms

  • 503 nits

  • 1,385 nits

  • 0.9%

  • 97.55%

  • 70°

$1,996.99
$3,300
$1,303

Samsung S95C OLED TV

  • Best for Best Overall

87
  • 5.5 ms

  • 704 nits

  • 1,383 nits

  • 1%

  • 99.81%

  • 70°

$1,645.00
$1,798
$153

LG C3 OLED TV

  • Best for 50-inch

85
  • 2.3 ms

  • 383 nits

  • 795 nits

  • 1.1%

  • 98.98%

  • 63°

$1,490.00
$2,500
$1,010

TCL QM8/QM850G QLED TV

  • Best for Android

82
  • 8.9 ms

  • 2,076 nits

  • 2,005 nits

  • 1.8%

  • 94.59%

  • 24°

$998.00
$1,136
$138

TV for Sports Questions (FAQ)

What TV refresh rate is best for sports?

Our recommendation is a 120Hz rate LED TV or better. The higher the number, the smoother the overall picture will look with no blur, critical when watching a running back plow through a sea of linebackers.

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