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Best TV Settings for Smooth 120Hz Gaming During Heatwaves

After all those long shifts, saving up for a new 120Hz TV, you finally did it! It’s time to get that smooth silky gaming experience.

Halfway through playing your favorite game in Apex Legends or during your gym session at the PS5, the screen starts stuttering.

Feels quite off, doesn’t it? The visuals feel subdued and lackluster. What is worse? The TV appears to be hotter than a paratha in the morning.

In case you were wondering, that is exactly why this guide exists. The 120Hz TV does wonders, but is not enough. You’ll need to properly set it up, especially during the scorching summer months.

If you were looking for ‘simply switch on the Game Mode and enjoy’ articles, look somewhere else. This guide is made specifically for Indian gamers and focuses on how to counter the heat, the set settings based on what Indian homemakers consider ‘realistic’ approaches, and, of course, Indian household conditions.

Why gaming at 120Hz is a different beast in summer

120Hz gaming in LED TV
Credits: Haier India

120Hz means your screen is refreshing 120 times every second. That’s double the usual 60Hz. While this gives you much smoother visuals, especially in fast-paced games like FIFA, Call of Duty or Forza, it also puts double the pressure on your TV’s hardware.

Now add this to the mix:

  • Summer room temperatures going beyond 40°C
  • No cross-ventilation in small bedrooms
  • Long gaming hours over weekends or holidays
  • Voltage fluctuations during peak heat hours

All of this can cause your TV to overheat, your visuals to look off, and in some cases, your TV might even lag or crash.

So what’s the fix? Simple. You need the right TV settings and a few lifestyle adjustments that make your gaming experience smooth, even in peak summer.

Step 1: Start with your console, not your TV

Before anything else, go to your console’s settings and enable 120Hz output manually. Many consoles don’t do this automatically.

On PS5:

  • Go to Settings
  • Then Screen and Video
  • Under Video Output, select 120Hz for Refresh Rate

On Xbox Series X:

  • Go to Settings
  • Then TV & Display Options
  • Set Refresh Rate to 120Hz

Also make sure you’re using an HDMI 2.1 cable. The older HDMI 2.0 doesn’t fully support 4K at 120Hz. So if your cable is the weak link, nothing else will matter.

Step 2: Turn on Game Mode on your TV

Almost all modern TVs now come with a built-in Game Mode or something similar. On smart TVs, this is usually under Picture Settings.

Once you turn it on, your TV stops doing unnecessary image processing. That means:

  • Lower input lag
  • More direct response
  • Smoother movement
  • Less heating due to reduced processor load

In Indian summers, even this one setting can make a big difference in how hot your TV gets and how long it stays smooth.

Step 3: Tweak brightness, don’t max it out

Get Perfect brightness in LED TV
Credits: Haier India

Now here’s something most people get wrong. We think higher brightness means better visuals. That’s not always true, especially in summer.

Bright backlights on LED, QLED or OLED TVs generate more heat. If your room already feels like an oven, this will just make your TV struggle more.

Try this instead:

  • Set brightness to around 70 percent
  • Boost contrast to 80 or 90 to make the visuals pop
  • Use cool colour temperature instead of warm to reduce visual strain
  • You’ll still get a clear picture, but your TV won’t feel like it’s doing cardio.

Step 4: Turn off Motion Smoothing

Different brands call this by different names. MotionFlow, TruMotion, Auto Motion Plus. Whatever the name, turn it off.

It’s meant for movies, not gaming. When turned on, it adds artificial frames that can mess with fast gameplay and create extra lag. It also puts pressure on your processor, which you don’t want in the heat.

120Hz is already giving you the smoothest motion possible. You don’t need anything extra.

Step 5: Skip HDR for some games

This may sound shocking, but not every game benefits from HDR. Many titles, especially older ones, don’t even support it properly.

HDR increases backlight power, boosts brightness in specific zones, and puts your panel to work. During heatwaves, using HDR for the wrong content is like running a marathon while carrying bricks.

Use HDR only when:

  • The game actually supports it (check game settings)
  • You are playing story-driven, visual-heavy games like God of War or Spider-Man
  • You are playing at night or in a dimly lit room

Otherwise, feel free to turn it off. Your TV will stay cooler, and your gameplay won’t suffer.

Step 6: Give your TV space to breathe

Give your TV space to breathe
Credits: Haier India

In a lot of Indian homes, we place TVs inside wooden cabinets or wall mount them very close to the wall. That’s not ideal in summer.

Here’s what you should do:

  • Keep at least 5 inches of space around the back and sides of the TV
  • If it’s inside a unit, leave the doors open while gaming
  • Avoid stacking anything (like set-top boxes or books) on top of the TV unit
  • If possible, point a fan at the back of the TV or keep a window open nearby
  • You don’t need industrial cooling. Just a bit of smart airflow goes a long way.

Step 7: Use Eco Mode during the day

Eco Mode is usually marketed as a power saver. But during heatwaves, it’s also your best friend.

It reduces the strain on your TV by:

  • Limiting brightness
  • Controlling power usage
  • Turning off non-essential features
  • Lowering panel temperature during long hours

Gaming in Eco Mode during daytime hours helps your TV perform steadily, without heating up like a toaster.

Step 8: Don’t forget to update your firmware

This one is easy to forget. But manufacturers like updates to improve performance, especially for temperature management and refresh rate stability.

Make it a habit to check for software updates once a month. It might fix bugs you didn’t even know were causing your gaming lags.

  • Go to Settings → System → Software Update
  • Click Check for Updates
  • Install if anything’s available

It takes five minutes. Saves hours of frustration.

Step 9: Take breaks, not risks

Take breaks in between while gaming on LED TV
Credits: Haier India

Look, I get it. When you’re in the middle of a Warzone win streak, the last thing you want to do is pause. But in 45-degree temperatures, giving your TV a 15-minute breather every 2 hours is a smart move.

Use that time to hydrate, stretch, or check Instagram. Your TV gets time to cool down, and your reflexes will thank you too.

Step 10: Use a surge protector

During Indian summers, voltage fluctuations are super common. The fan speeds drop, lights flicker, and your TV becomes vulnerable to sudden spikes.

Get a good quality surge protector or voltage stabiliser, especially if you live in an area with power cuts or voltage drops.

It’s a one-time spend that can save your TV from frying.

So what kind of TVs are good for 120Hz summer gaming?

Now that we’ve covered settings, let’s talk about the right kind of TVs that are built to handle gaming in Indian conditions.

Here are some standout options for the 2025 lineup. These are actual models you can get in India with features that matter.

OLED 

  • 165cm (65″) OLED Screen
  • Google TV built-in
  • Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, 120Hz MEMC Refresh Rate
  • Dolby Atmos, 2.1 Channel 50W Sound System
  • AMD FreeSync Premium, Hands-Free Voice Control

QLED 

  • 165cm QLED display
  • Game Mode, Dolby Audio
  • Crisp visuals even in bright rooms
  • Balanced performance for gaming and OTT

Google TV

  • 189cm Ultra HD display
  • Far-field voice control
  • Great for family rooms with shared gaming
  • Game Mode and energy saving built-in

Final thoughts

Gaming during heatwaves in India is tough on you and your gear. But with the right setup, it doesn’t have to be. You don’t need to switch off the fun just because the temperature hits 45. You just need to play smart.

So take a few minutes, go through your TV settings, adjust the brightness, switch on Game Mode, and give your TV the care it needs. Your games will feel smoother, your TV will last longer, and your entire experience will stay cool even when the world outside isn’t.

Check out Haier India’s full range of smart TVs designed with the Indian lifestyle in mind. Whether you are a casual weekend warrior or a full-blown gaming addict.