The great thing about the Nintendo Switch is that it can go from a portable console to home-gaming setup in an instant.
As Nintendo has always been a multiplayer console, connecting the Nintendo Switch to a large screen is a great way to play.
If you’re looking for a smart TV to play your Nintendo Switch on, be sure to look for one with high refresh rates that can handle motion and keypad inputs well.
So what are the top choices with these qualities?
Read also: What Smart TVs connect with gaming consoles?
1. Our Top Pick: LG CX OLED
The LG CX OLED wins by a narrow margin, despite its rival, the Samsung Q80, having an upgraded and dedicated connectivity with the Switch.
At the end of the day, the excellent overall gaming experience of the LG CX OLED prevails here, not just with the Switch but also with other gaming platforms.
So what does the top pick have for Switch gamers?
- Superb images. The CX features an OLED display and can produce perfect black by switching off individual pixels, which makes it ideal for gaming in dark rooms.
- The CX also handles glare well, and viewing angles are great, meaning you can have your friends over for game night and they’ll have a great viewing experience no matter where they’re sitting.
- Expect excellent HDR handling with an extensive color gamut.
- On the gaming side of things, the CX handles motion well. It features a native 120 Hz refresh rate, so you can expect smooth movement without blurs.
- The CX has the option for Black Frame Insertion for better clarity.
- It also has FreeSync, which reduces screen tearing and is compatible with the G-Sync of Nvidia, which makes it a good option for PC gaming.
- There is also an Auto-Low Latency Mode on the CX. It allows for detection when games are launched and activates the Game Mode of the smart TV.
Now the Achilles’ Heel of the CX is burn-in, which is the weak spot of all OLED displays. Burn-in happens when elements of an image are on screen for a long time, such as the user interface of a game.
But if you shift content often, then burn-in should not be much of a problem.
The CX comes in 48, 55, 65, and 77-inch models.
Check our rundown of demographics of game console players.
2. The Budget Pick: Vizio M7 Series Quantum 2020
The best budget option for a TV that works well with the Nintendo Switch is the Vizio M7.
It usually is priced at or below $500.
For the price you pay, you’ll be surprised at how well this smart TV can handle gaming.
- The M7 has a high-contrast ratio and a full-array local dimming, which makes for a good display when playing games at night.
- The M7 also handles reflections well, but it has a hard time handling glare.
- The viewing angles are also narrow, which might be an issue when viewing from the side.
- On the gaming side of things, the M7 also has good motion handling and features Black Frame Insertion for fast-paced scenes with less blur.
- The M7 only has a refresh rate of 60 Hz, but it supports FreeSync, which mitigates screen tearing.
- Input lag is low and can display the usual resolutions.
- You can also use the M7 for HDR gaming, as it has an excellent color gamut. It does not get as bright as you may expect it to, which is okay if you are not too picky.
You may experience some dirty screen effect.
But given its price, you are getting great value.
The M7 comes in 50, 55, and 65-inch models.
3. Samsung Q80/Q80T QLED
The Samsung Q80 QLED smart TV could have placed higher, as it has a dedicated shortcut in the Smart Hub for the Switch.
But in the end, the LG CX OLED has more features.
The Samsung Smart Hub features a dedicated shortcut for your Switch, which is something that other smart TV brands do not offer. Instead of having to go to the HDMI port where your Switch is plugged, one press of this shortcut brings you to the Switch and activates the Switch for you.
That is a game-changing feature on its own, but what else can you expect from the Q80?
- The Q80 uses LED panels. Picture quality is remarkable, and it can handle motion quite well.
- It also has a high-contrast ratio and full-array local dimming. You can expect great black levels in darkroom gaming.
- Color accuracy is superb, so calibrating your images won’t be a problem.
- The response time on the Q80 is great, and you have the option to use the Black Frame Insertion that helps with image clarity even further.
- It can handle lower frame rate games for a more fluid response, but it sometimes can have a little input lag.
- If you also plan to use the Q80 for other gaming platforms, such as the PC, it can handle most resolutions and chroma but is not compatible with G-Sync.
- The Q80 handles reflections well and has decent viewing angles.
- If you are into HDR gaming, the Q80 has a remarkable HDR color gamut that produces great colors, enough to make highlights stand out.
- Since the Q80 uses LED, you don’t have to worry about burn-ins like with OLED displays.
One mark against the Q80 is that a dirty screen effect has been noticed by some users.
The Q80 comes in 50, 55, 65, 75, and 85-inch screens.
4. Sony X900H
The Sony X900H smart TV is another option for gaming with your Switch.
- This smart TV comes with a great response time and low lag.
- It comes with a refresh rate of 120 Hz, but it does not have VRR support.
- The X900H also has black frame insertion, but it sometimes experiences image duplication when it flickers at 120 Hz, even when content is at 60 Hz.
- Accuracy on the X900H is good, and it features a wide color gamut for HDR. But, despite having HDR, some highlights are not as dominant as intended.
The X900H comes in 55, 65, 75, and 85-inch models.
How Much Should You Spend on a Smart TV that Works with the Nintendo Switch?
A good smart TV meant for gaming might be a challenge to find for some, but it is all about looking at the refresh rate.
High refresh rates can cost more than the usual smart TV.
That said, the ideal budget for a smart TV for use with the Switch should not need to go beyond $2,000.
Final Thoughts:
The most important feature you need to look at when finding a smart TV that works with the Nintendo Switch is the refresh rate and the input lag.
The higher the refresh rate, the better the TV can adapt to fast-paced games. You can have superb graphics and colors, but if the refresh rate is low and input lag is high, then you won’t be able to enjoy your game.
Because in gaming, every second counts, and a single delay can cost you your game!