Input lag is the time that passes between an action, such as pressing a button on a game controller, and that action's effect becoming visible on the television screen. It is usually measured in milliseconds and is separate from refresh rate, since it depends heavily on internal picture processing rather than only how often the screen redraws.
Much of a television's input lag comes from image processing applied before the picture is displayed, such as motion smoothing or noise reduction, which takes time to calculate. Switching a television into its Game Mode picture setting, sometimes triggered automatically through ALLM, typically disables or reduces this processing and can cut input lag considerably.
For fast paced or competitive gaming, low input lag in Game Mode is one of the more important specifications to check, alongside refresh rate and support for features like VRR. Outside of gaming, most viewers do not notice input lag at all when simply watching films or shows. See our TV for gaming guide for practical advice.
