If you are a video game enthusiast or want to get back into gaming as we approach the end of 2025, you couldn't have picked a better time. The next few months are going to be very eventful and exciting for gamers. Some of the best sequels are expected to go on sale soon. Besides, it hasn't been that long since the Nintendo Switch 2 console came out.

In other words, it's a great time to be a video game enthusiast. But if you plan to upgrade your gaming experience and buy a new Samsung TV for your gaming hobby, I have one piece of advice. And that is to avoid the Crystal UHD TV series. Here's everything I have learned by using various Samsung TV models in recent years.

I have first-hand experience with Samsung Crystal and Neo QLED TVs, and in this article, I will share all you need to know about gaming on both and let you know why you should not settle for anything less than a Neo QLED model.

Samsung Crystal UHD TVs sound very tempting because they are relatively cheap, especially when compared to Neo QLED and OLED models. But there's a reason for it. Crystal UHD TVs have LCD screens, whereas Neo QLED and OLED TVs use more advanced display technologies with better image quality and technical specifications.

To put things into perspective, you can buy the best and largest Crystal UHD TV released in 2025 — the 85-inch U8000F — for $999. Meanwhile, the best Samsung Neo QLED 4K TV — the QN90F — costs $1,299 in its 43-inch variant and $4,499 in the 85-inch size.

Clearly, the Crystal UHD TV is a lot cheaper, which means you could buy a much larger model for a lot less money.

But while you would gain a larger panel by picking the Crystal TV, you would lose out in many other areas that make the gaming experience better:

These are three very important practical reasons why a Neo QLED TV is objectively superior to a Crystal TV, especially if you intend to play video games. Neo QLEDs are faster, more responsive, and support higher frame rates.

Why does this matter? Well, if you plan on rejoining the battlefield with the upcoming Battlefield 6 sequel, or if you look forward to Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 on Xbox and PS5 consoles, a Neo QLED TV will perform better than a Samsung Crystal UHD.

Gaming on the Neo QLED TV is much more responsive, while the Crystal UHD TV feels sluggish in comparison. In other words, the latter TV model can negatively impact your gaming performance.

Even beyond these technical qualities, Neo QLED TVs offer a better visual experience through improved brightness, superior HDR, and higher contrast. Grand Theft Auto VI is guaranteed to look better and more realistic on an OLED or Neo QLED than a Crystal TV.

Colorful games, such as Nintendo Switch 2 titles, will look a lot more vibrant on a Neo QLED TV. And once again, dexterity-based video games, such as retro or retro-inspired games, will simply feel more responsive on TVs with lower input latency.

Samsung Neo QLED and OLED TVs also sound better without a soundbar, as they are usually equipped with superior speakers compared to Crystal UHD models.

In conclusion, whether you want to game on Xbox, PlayStation, or a Nintendo console, I strongly advise avoiding Crystal models and aiming for an OLED or at least a Neo QLED Samsung TV.

Considering these technical details, you might be wondering if the Crystal UHD TVs are worth it in any situation. Well, as long as you don't play video games, a Crystal UHD TV allows you to sacrifice image quality for a larger display and a lower price.

If you intend to use the Crystal UHD TV mostly for watching movies and shows, you might want to consider it. The lower 60Hz refresh rate, the lack of AMD FreeSync, and the slower response time won't matter outside of playing video games.

Unlike video games, movies are non-interactive. Aspects like input delay and FreeSync don't make a difference in non-interactive media. So, if you plan on using your TV only for video content, a Crystal UHD model will allow you to equip your home with a larger display for less cash.

The difference in brightness, colors, and contrast will be noticeable, but that's a sacrifice you might be willing to make in favor of a larger panel and a lower price.

For gaming, however, I can tell you from experience that the Crystal UHD's lower performance and technical limitations can have a direct negative impact on both image quality and gameplay. It's not a skill issue but a technical one.