The best Low Budget Gaming TV / TCL P8K (T8C) / 4K 144Hz

This is the TCL P8K also known as T8C in some countries, which for me and other users is the best budget friendly gaming TV of 2025, and also for the first months of 2026. Available from 55 to 98-inch sizes, it supports 120Hz and 144Hz in 4K, along with variable refresh rate technologies, on two of its HDMI 2.1 ports.

It has a liquid crystal display with Quantum Dot color technology. Its backlighting technology is a basic or conventional direct LED, meaning it doesn't have a local dimming feature.

Its gaming performance in terms of motion handling is exceptional. Input lag times are very good (6 - 10 ms), both in theory and in practice. Its response time (11 - 12 ms) is relatively low hence in most cases you wont percieve Ghosting effect. I personally didn't notice that effect on this model.

You also won't notice what's known as screen tearing, since this TV is compatible with G-Sync and Freesync variable refresh rates.

This game bar provides several features, such as displaying an on-screen crosshair, whose shape, color, size, and position can be changed over a wide range.

You can also choose to enhance the level of detail in shadowed or very dark areas. It also offers three picture modes for greater variety in color saturation, brightness, and color temperature.

It comes with a small subwoofer on the back, which, along with its speakers, provides a sharp and powerful experience in medium-sized or small rooms. This means that in most cases, you won't need a sound bar.

But not everything is positive. I mean, It's a budget-friendly gaming TV because its backlighting technology isn't great. For this reason, its brightness isn't very high, although brightness levels might be enough for dim or completely dark rooms.

However, its panel and low brightness allow for generally good performance in dark scenes, such as horror games.

And of course, the aforementioned HVA panel performs slightly better at viewing angles compared to a conventional VA panel, which is very useful if you're playing with friends or family who will be seated around the screen.

However, don't expect wonders because these results are not comparable to those of a TV with an IPS panel.

As a somewhat negative or slightly negative point, you should keep in mind that if you have, for example, two video game consoles and also you have a soundbar that you want to connect to the TV via HDMI to the port compatible with Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC), unfortunately, that option is found in one of the ports that also supports 144Hz and 120Hz in 4K.

For this reason, you would have to choose between connecting and disconnecting one console or the other, or connecting your soundbar to the TV via Bluetooth or through the port for the optical digital cable.

And thats it. Let me know in the comments section down belong what you think about this model.