Input lag is the delay between pressing a button on your controller and seeing the result on screen. To reduce input lag on a TV for gaming, turn on Game Mode first, plug your console into a full bandwidth HDMI 2.1 port with an Ultra High Speed cable, switch off motion smoothing, then enable ALLM, VRR and 120Hz where your TV supports them. These five steps cut most TVs from 60 to 100ms of lag down to 10 to 30ms, and they cost nothing.
If your games feel sluggish on a TV but fine on a monitor, the TV is almost certainly the problem. Modern TVs run heavy picture processing on every frame, which looks great for films but adds delay that ruins fast games.
What Is Input Lag and How Much Is Too Much?
Input lag is measured in milliseconds (ms). It covers the whole chain from your button press to the picture changing: controller, console, HDMI cable, TV processing, and the panel. Your TV is usually the biggest contributor.
Under 15ms feels instant and suits competitive shooters and fighting games. From 15 to 30ms is fine for almost every game. From 30 to 50ms is playable, but fast games start to feel slightly soft. Over 50ms feels noticeably mushy.
Independent testers such as RTINGS measure input lag for hundreds of TVs. Their results show the same pattern: a TV that measures 80ms in its standard picture mode can drop below 15ms with Game Mode on.
Step 1: Turn On Game Mode (The Biggest Win)
Game Mode is the single most effective setting for cutting input lag. It bypasses the heavy picture processing that delays each frame, including motion interpolation and noise reduction. On most TVs it cuts lag by 30 to 60ms in one toggle.
Find it on the UK’s most popular TV brands. On Samsung, go to Settings, then General, then External Device Manager, then Game Mode. On LG, open Settings, then Game Optimizer. On Sony, go to Settings, then Picture, then Game Mode. On Hisense and TCL, go to Settings, then Picture, then Picture Mode, then Game.
One warning matters: Game Mode is per input, not global. If you move the console to a different HDMI port, turn Game Mode on again for that port.
Step 2: Use the Right HDMI Port and Cable
Not all HDMI ports on a TV are equal. Most modern TVs have only one or two full bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports. The others are HDMI 2.0 and cap you at 4K at 60Hz, which blocks VRR and 120Hz.
Plug your PS5 or Xbox Series X into the port labelled HDMI 2.1, 4K 120Hz, or eARC and 4K 120Hz. On many TVs this is HDMI 3 or HDMI 4, so check the labels on the back of the set. Then enable the enhanced signal setting for that port. Samsung calls it Input Signal Plus, LG calls it HDMI Deep Color, and Sony calls it Enhanced Format.
Use an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable rated for 48Gbps. The cable in the PS5 box already meets this standard, and the Xbox Series X also ships with a suitable cable.
Step 3: Turn Off Motion Smoothing
Motion smoothing is the worst hidden source of input lag. It creates fake frames between real ones to make movement look smoother. To do that, the TV holds frames in a buffer while it calculates, and that buffer alone can add 50 to 100ms of delay.
Game Mode usually switches motion smoothing off, but check it yourself. Look for Auto Motion Plus on Samsung, TruMotion on LG, Motionflow on Sony, and Motion Smoothing or MEMC on Hisense and TCL, then switch it off. Also switch off noise reduction, dynamic contrast and edge enhancement. Each adds a small delay, and together they add up.
Step 4: Enable ALLM and VRR
ALLM stands for Auto Low Latency Mode. When your console starts a game, it signals the TV to switch into low latency mode automatically, so you never have to remember to turn Game Mode on. Enable it in your TV’s HDMI settings and on the console.
VRR stands for Variable Refresh Rate. It syncs the TV’s refresh rate to the console’s frame output in real time, which removes screen tearing and stutter when a game’s frame rate dips. Enable VRR on both the TV and the console.
Step 5: Run 120Hz Where You Can
At 60Hz, a new frame arrives every 16.7ms. At 120Hz, a new frame arrives every 8.3ms. That halving of frame time makes controls feel noticeably sharper, especially in shooters and racing games.
Set your console to output 120Hz if your TV supports it, and pick the 120Hz or performance mode inside the game. Not every game offers 120Hz, and some drop resolution to reach it, but for competitive play the trade is usually worth it. Our guide to the best TV settings for PS5 gaming covers the full setup.
PS5 Settings Checklist
On your PS5, open Settings, then Screen and Video, then Video Output. Set Resolution to Automatic or 2160p, 120Hz Output to Automatic, VRR to Automatic, ALLM to Automatic, and HDR to Automatic or On When Supported. Then run the PS5’s Adjust HDR tool once. For competitive sessions, play wired over USB, which removes wireless latency entirely.
Xbox Series X and Series S Settings Checklist
On your Xbox, open Settings, then General, then TV and display options. Set Resolution to 4K UHD on Series X, or 1440p or 1080p on Series S. Set Refresh rate to 120Hz if your TV supports it, and tick Allow variable refresh rate and Allow auto low-latency mode. Then open 4K TV details. If 4K at 120Hz or VRR shows a red cross, the problem is the HDMI port, the cable or the TV’s enhanced signal setting, not the console.
Our PS5 versus Xbox Series X comparison for UK buyers covers price, performance and game libraries.
How to Test Your TV’s Input Lag
First, look up your exact TV model on the RTINGS input lag database. If your model measures under 20ms in Game Mode, your settings are the problem, not the TV.
Second, do a feel test. Play a fast game you know well, first with Game Mode off, then with it on. The difference is usually obvious within a minute.
When Settings Cannot Fix It
Some TVs simply cannot get fast enough. Budget LED TVs can still measure 35 to 50ms in Game Mode even with every setting correct. If your model measures over 40ms in Game Mode on RTINGS and you play competitive games, no setting will fix it.
When you do shop, look for a TV that measures under 15ms in Game Mode at 4K and 120Hz. Premium OLED and Mini LED models typically measure 10 to 15ms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Game Mode reduce input lag?
Yes. Game Mode is the biggest single fix. It disables the picture processing that delays each frame, and it typically cuts input lag by 30 to 60ms.
What is a good input lag for gaming on a TV?
Under 30ms is fine for most games, and under 15ms feels near instant. Competitive players should aim for under 20ms in Game Mode. Anything over 50ms will feel slow in fast games.
Does HDMI 2.1 reduce input lag?
HDMI 2.1 itself does not directly cut lag, but it unlocks 120Hz, VRR and ALLM. You need a full bandwidth HDMI 2.1 port, an Ultra High Speed cable, and the TV’s enhanced signal setting switched on.
Why is my TV laggy even in Game Mode?
First, confirm the console is plugged into the HDMI 2.1 port with the enhanced signal setting on. Second, confirm motion smoothing is off. Third, look up your model on RTINGS. Some budget TVs still measure 35 to 50ms in Game Mode, and that is a hardware limit.
Conclusion
It comes down to five steps: Game Mode on, the right HDMI 2.1 port and cable, motion smoothing off, ALLM and VRR enabled, and 120Hz where your TV supports it. Do them in that order and test the result with a game you know well. Most TVs can reach 10 to 30ms with the right settings.
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