Input Lag

Input lag is the time it takes for an action to be performed from the moment of input via the mouse, keyboard or controller until it is actually displayed on the output device. All conceivable displays such as televisions or monitors are included. The time is measured in milliseconds, which is one thousandth of a second. The best results on TV sets are usually achieved in the so-called Auto Low Latency Mode.

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Low input lag important for the playing experience

Another word for this term is latency. Especially in games, it is a weighty factor and influences not only responsiveness but also the user experience. If the delay is too high, users may have difficulties making precise inputs and reacting to what is happening on the screen in time.

Manufacturers have also recognised this and already offer panels for many years that are designed specifically with these aspects in mind. TV devices, for example, can have a dedicated gaming mode that automatically caps certain image processing and other features such as interpolation, providing a more direct, faster input path.

Premium TVs such as the LG OLED C2, Panasonic LZW2004 or even the Samsung QN95B perform particularly well in this area and are within the range of about 5 to 6 milliseconds. Gaming monitors can even undercut these values by 3 to 4 milliseconds. Basically, results below 20 milliseconds are already so fast that you will hardly notice a delay.