STACK #263 September 2026

TECH FEATURE

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Which TV display is best for sport?

There’s no outright premiership favourite. Different TV technologies have different strengths, so consider when, where, and how you watch. OLED Why it’s good for sport: Excellent contrast, fast response, and wide viewing angles Best suited to: Fast action, evening sport, and watching with a crowd QLED Why it’s good for sport: Strong brightness and vibrant colour Best suited to: Everyday sport and bright room viewing Mini LED Why it’s good for sport: High brightness and precise backlight control Best suited to: Daytime sport and big screen viewing RGB Mini LED Why it’s good for sport: High brightness with precise light and colour control Best suited to: Premium big-screen sport and bright rooms

Finals footy is almost here, and the right TV can put you closer to the action – without battling crowds at the ground.With the AFL Grand Final landing on September 26 and the NRL decider following on October 4, here’s what to look for when choosing aTV worthy of footy finals fever. Words Scott Hocking What’s the best TV for watching the footy finals?

How big should you go? For finals footy? As big as your room comfortably allows. A larger screen makes the action easier to follow while bringing more of that stadium atmosphere home. A 55- or 65-inch TV suits many living rooms, while 75- and 85-inch models seriously elevate the immersion. Got the space? Huge 98- and 100-inch-plus TVs can turn the lounge into your own grandstand. Just don’t chase inches at the expense of picture quality. Measure your space and balance screen size, picture quality, and budget.

and even higher refresh rates. Those bigger numbers are particularly useful for gaming with compatible sources, but for watching sport, don’t get caught holding the ball: strong motion processing and source quality matter too. Why do wide viewing angles matter? Grand Final day rarely means watching alone. Wide viewing angles help maintain colour, brightness, and contrast when watching off centre – so the wings get a good view as well as the centre square. OLED is particularly strong for wide-angle viewing, but performance varies between TVs, so it’s worth considering if you regularly watch sport with a crowd. Can you watch the footy in 4K? Yes, but picture resolution depends on the source. Sports broadcasts and streams vary in resolution depending on the service and event, and not everything will be native 4K. That makes good picture processing and upscaling important. They can help lower resolution broadcasts and streams look cleaner and sharper on a 4K screen, although they can’t create detail that isn’t in the original source. Should you use Sports picture modes? If your TV has a dedicated Sports picture mode, give it a run. These modes generally favour

brightness, punchier colour, and smoother motion – handy when following a Sherrin or Steeden at full flight. A low or moderate amount of motion smoothing can also make fast play and camera pans easier to follow. Avoid cranking everything to maximum, as excessive processing can introduce unwanted picture artefacts. Ultimately, trust your eyes: the best setting is the one that keeps the action looking natural in your room.

Why does a TV’s refresh rate matter? Footy moves fast. The ball can travel from one end of the ground to the other in seconds, and sweeping camera shots can expose a TV that struggles with motion. A native refresh rate of 100Hz/120Hz or higher helps reproduce fast action smoothly and keep the ball and players easier to follow. You’ll also find TVs offering 144Hz, 165Hz,

16 SEPTEMBER 2026

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