As if getting a new console wasn't hard enough (and expensive enough), apparently just having an Xbox Series X and a 4K TV isn't the best way to game

LG has now teamed up with Microsoft to extol the benefits of gaming on OLED displays rather than QLED or the more common LCD panels; did I mention that LG's least expensive OLED TV is $1,300? And that's with a Black Friday discount

The Xbox Series X has a massive 12 teraflops of processing power that can handle 8K games, and we're told 4K resolution is a cinch Naturally, we want to play our games on the best TVs

Even though the partnership is limited to the EMEA region, it is a bit odd that the Xbox Series X is tied to a specific TV brand in this way; the Xbox Series X is already being talked about for being incredibly comprehensive where technical standards are concerned A good example of this is its support for competing HDR standards, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision HDR, rather than picking one or the other, or limiting HDR output to simple HDR10 as the PS5 does

And also, in general, corporate partnerships are more about marketing than anything else; LG could gain status as the "official" TV brand for Xbox, and Microsoft would probably get a financial incentive as well

Of course, LG's OLED TVs have many gamer-friendly features All of these TVs support Dolby Vision, which is arguably better received than rivals HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos, and they have four HDMI 21 ports, which are limited to one on most TVs

HDMI 21 has many features that gamers will want to take advantage of: not only does it support 4K and HDR, but it also has an automatic low-latency mode that greatly reduces input lag, adapts the screen to the game refresh rate to improve smoothness and reduce screen tearing The system also supports variable refresh rate, which adapts the screen to the game refresh rate to improve smoothness and reduce screen tearing

This does not mean that other TVs, including OLED displays from other companies, cannot provide a great experience, as LG does not have a monopoly on superior screen technology In general, OLEDs may offer a better experience than LCDs and, according to our tests, QLEDs, thanks to their improved color and contrast This is especially true if you just upgraded your TV The difference is not big enough to immediately invest $1,000 or more in a new screen

LG obviously wants to convince you that their OLED TVs will be the best accompaniment to your Xbox games, but you shouldn't jump right in without first thinking about what you want to get from your TV