Being a sports fan is more than just a pastime – it’s a lifestyle. Whether it’s the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Tour de France or a Formula E FIA World Championship, being an enthusiast for sporting expertise and competition is often an all-consuming passion.
When we’re out and about, we’ll be checking the standings from our smartphones and, when we’re driving or doing the washing up, we’ll be listening to radio panels dissecting every move and decision. But the holy land for watching sports is in the comfort of our home, on a TV perfectly suited to the action.
Where this sport-perfect TV rests, and how large it is, varies from person to person. Some of us have a small 32-inch set placed in a study, away from the distractions and chatter of the house, while others can kick back and watch sport on the best 65-inch TV from the living room.
Below, we discuss the best models of TV suited for watching sport.
A quick note: You might notice a lack of OLED TVs recommended below. While OLED is accepted critically as the “better” LED technology, we prefer QLED for sports – mainly because we find it brighter and livelier than OLED, which is notable for adding deep contrast and drama to movies and games.
Top pick: Samsung QN85A
With the QN85A, Samsung has provided the pristine sharpness of 4K Ultra High Definition backed up with the brightness and top-notch colours of a Neo QLED panel. Not only will you capture every detail of sporting action, but it’ll also look natural – just like you’re there.
The TV has a super refresh rate of up to 120Hz. This means that, depending on what you’re watching, the screen can refresh itself 120 a second – this translates to a very, very smooth image with a tonne of dynamism, free of stutters and jumps. It’s ideal for fast-paced and action-filled events.
Another thing we like about the QN85A is that it keeps a good image when viewed from an angle, which means people aren’t missing out on the action when you’ve got the gang over.
The only minor grumble here is the sound quality. It’s fine on vocal clarity and has enough volume for a group, but if you like things to boom and boom loud, you might want to back it up with a soundbar.
Available in a range of sizes from 55-inches to 85-inches.
Bargain pick: Hisense A7GQ
Hisense, by comparison with some other brands, is a relative TV newcomer and its ability to mix impressive visuals with reasonable prices has seen it quickly rise as a market leader. For sports fans, its A7GQ is the one to get.
Carrying QLED, the colours and brightness are excellent. The 4K resolution does what it does best across all media types. The clever little AI upscale system will have non-4K footage kicked to a near-UHD quality – a pleasure for sports broadcast only in 1080p (aka full HD). Its dedicated Sports Mode can smooth motion for a steady viewing experience.
Available in a range of sizes from 43-inches to 75-inches.
Wild card: Samsung The Frame
The Samsung Frame range is the perfect compromise for anyone sharing their living space with a style-conscious partner. When not in use, The Frame can disguise as a picture or painting – which is a nice touch, especially if you’ll be mounting it on a wall. Picture frame-like edging is available to complete the look.
Its screen offers all the qualities needed for watching fast-paced sports in detail, including a 4K UHD resolution and QLED colours and brightness. It’s got a matte finish to the screen, which limits the reflections and glare from windows and lights.
It’s available in sizes from 32-inches to 65-inches (note that the 32-inch is only Full HD – which is good enough on smaller screen sizes).
The only compromise is that the refresh rate isn’t the highest, sitting at 50Hz. It will be okay for athletics, tennis, golf or cycling, but visually picky fans of fast-paced sports like F1 racing or football would benefit from a higher rate.