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For the best PS5 or Xbox Series X|S picture on a Samsung OLED, connect the console directly to the TV’s HDMI input identified for 4K/120Hz, use the console’s included Ultra High Speed HDMI cable, enable Game Mode and Input Signal Plus, then confirm the video capabilities in the console’s own menus. Send sound from the TV’s ARC/eARC port to a soundbar or receiver rather than routing the console’s video through an audio device that may not pass 4K/120Hz, HDR or VRR.
Exact HDMI port numbers, menu wording, refresh-rate limits and supported HDR formats vary by Samsung model, country and firmware. Use the model’s manual to identify the correct input before changing settings.
What you need before connecting anything
A Samsung OLED is not automatically a 4K/120Hz display for every HDMI input. The console, cable, TV port, firmware and game all have to support the mode you want. Prepare these items first:
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- The HDMI cable supplied with the console. Sony recommends the cable included with PS5, and Xbox supplies an Ultra High Speed cable with Series X for its full HDMI 2.1 capabilities.
- The Samsung model number and its current manual or support page. Samsung says available settings and screenshots differ by model, software version and country.
- Direct access to a Samsung HDMI input marked for 4K/120Hz. Many models identify it with a gaming-controller icon, but the port number is not universal.
- If you use a soundbar or AV receiver, an HDMI cable for the TV’s port labeled ARC or eARC.
One Samsung S90C specification sheet lists four HDMI ports, HDMI 2.1 features, FreeSync Premium and Auto Game Mode (ALLM). Those specifications describe that cited model and should not be assumed for every Samsung OLED.
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Connect the console to the correct HDMI input
- Power down the TV and console. Turning both devices off avoids a failed HDMI handshake while you move cables.
- Find the 4K/120Hz input in the Samsung manual. Samsung’s support guidance says to use the HDMI port designated for 4K @ 120 Hz, often shown with a game-controller symbol. Do not choose a port based only on its position or number.
- Connect the console directly to that input. Plug the PS5 or Xbox into the TV, not into a switch, receiver or soundbar, while you establish the video connection.
- Use the supplied cable first. If it is unavailable or damaged, use a replacement explicitly certified as Ultra High Speed HDMI and rated for 4K/120Hz. Certification and return coverage matter more than a marketing label or brand name.
- Turn on the TV and console. Select the HDMI source on the Samsung and wait for the console dashboard to appear before adding other equipment.
A direct connection removes the most common limitation: an older receiver or soundbar may accept 4K but fail to pass 120Hz, variable refresh rate (VRR), automatic low-latency mode (ALLM) or the HDR signal unchanged.
Turn on Samsung’s gaming features
Enable Game Mode
Open the Samsung Quick Settings panel or go to All Settings, then select the TV’s Game Mode control. Samsung states that supported PS5 and Xbox consoles are normally detected and Game Mode turns on automatically, although some consoles or firmware combinations require manual activation.
Game Mode changes the TV’s signal processing for interactive use and exposes gaming controls such as VRR on models that support them. Confirm that it is active while the console’s HDMI input is selected; a setting applied to another source does not change the console input.
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- Open Settings or All Settings.
- Go to Connection (or the equivalent external-device section).
- Open External Device Manager.
- Select Input Signal Plus.
- Turn it on for the HDMI port used by the PS5 or Xbox.
Samsung describes Input Signal Plus as expanding the HDMI input range and enabling HDMI 2.1 features for the connected device. If the option is absent, greyed out or named differently, check the model manual and update the TV before assuming the port lacks support.
Leave VRR available
If the TV exposes a VRR or FreeSync setting, leave it enabled for the console input. VRR reduces tearing by allowing the display refresh to follow the console’s changing frame rate. It does not force a game to render at 120 frames per second: the game, its selected performance mode and the console output still determine the actual refresh rate.
Configure a PS5 for 4K, 120Hz, HDR and VRR
After the TV is ready, use the PS5’s video-output screen to request the capabilities the display can provide.
- On the PS5 home screen, open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output.
- Set Resolution to Automatic or 2160p (2160p is 4K output).
- Set 120 Hz Output to Automatic.
- Set VRR to Automatic when the TV supports it.
- Set HDR to On When Supported.
- Leave Video Transfer Rate on Automatic.
- Choose Adjust HDR and complete all three brightness screens in the room where you normally play.
PS5 supports HDMI 2.1 and 4K/120Hz output, but the negotiated result depends on the Samsung model, the selected port, cable, firmware and the game. A title can remain at 60Hz even when the console and TV are correctly configured; many games offer a separate quality or performance mode.
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If 4K/120Hz output flickers, Sony’s troubleshooting guidance suggests temporarily selecting Video Transfer Rate -1, then -2 if necessary. These options reduce the signal bandwidth and are diagnostic fallbacks, not a preferred final configuration. Restore Automatic after identifying and fixing the underlying cable, port or handshake problem.
Configure an Xbox Series X or Series S
Check the capability report first
- Open the Xbox guide and go to Profile & system > Settings > General > TV & display options.
- Select 4K TV details.
- Read the capability grid. Green checks indicate what the TV, cable and current HDMI path have negotiated.
The report is more useful than guessing from the TV’s product name. A missing check can identify a cable, port, receiver or setting that is limiting the connection.
Set the Xbox output
- In TV & display options, set the resolution to 4K UHD.
- Under the video modes or display options, enable Allow 4K.
- Enable Allow HDR10 when the Samsung model supports HDR10.
- Enable Allow Variable Refresh Rate when supported.
- Keep display detection on Auto-detect. Xbox warns that manually choosing HDMI or DVI can prevent 4K from appearing.
Xbox Series X|S can output up to 120Hz and support ALLM and VRR. A particular game may still use 60Hz or change its resolution in a performance mode. HDR10 is the baseline HDR format to verify on a Samsung TV. Xbox also documents Dolby Vision gaming, but Samsung HDR-format support is model-specific; do not expect Dolby Vision unless the exact TV manual confirms it.
Route sound through ARC or eARC without sacrificing video
Once the picture works, connect the soundbar or AV receiver to the Samsung HDMI socket labeled ARC or eARC. The console remains connected directly to the TV. The television receives the 4K/120Hz, HDR and VRR video, then sends audio back to the audio system over ARC/eARC.
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On Xbox, open Profile & system > Settings > General > Volume & audio output. If the audio device supports it, choose HDMI audio: Bitstream out and select the compatible Dolby Atmos or DTS:X format. Available choices depend on the soundbar, receiver, TV audio settings and the apps or games in use.
A receiver or soundbar in the console’s video path must support the required HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and passthrough for 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM and the HDR formats you use. If its specifications do not clearly confirm those features, bypass it and use ARC/eARC.
Verify the result instead of trusting the settings
PS5 checks
Return to Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output and inspect the information shown for the connected display. Confirm that the resolution is 2160p or Automatic, 120 Hz Output is Automatic and VRR is Automatic when supported. Test a game that explicitly offers a 120Hz mode; the console cannot make a 60Hz-only title run at 120Hz.
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Xbox checks
Open Settings > General > TV & display options > 4K TV details again after all changes. The green checks should remain present with the console connected to the final HDMI path. In a game with a 120Hz option, enable that mode separately if the title provides one.
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Picture and HDR checks
- Make sure the console is on the intended HDMI input, not a duplicate source label.
- Confirm Game Mode is active for that input.
- Use the PS5’s Adjust HDR screens again if highlights look clipped or the image appears washed out.
- On Xbox, verify Allow HDR10 and the TV’s HDR support in the 4K TV details page.
- Remember that a game’s HDR implementation and picture settings can change the appearance even when the HDMI signal is correct.
Troubleshoot in the order that isolates the fault
The console reports that 4K or 120Hz is unavailable
- Check the exact Samsung model manual and identify its 4K/120Hz HDMI input.
- Update the TV firmware and restart both devices.
- Replace an unknown cable with the PS5/Xbox supplied cable or a certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable.
- Connect the console directly to the TV and remove every switch, receiver and soundbar from the video path.
- Turn on Game Mode and Input Signal Plus for the active HDMI input.
- Recheck the PS5 Video Output page or Xbox 4K TV details report.
The screen is blank, drops out or flickers
First reseat both HDMI plugs and test the supplied cable on the designated port. If the PS5 image flickers at 4K/120Hz, set Video Transfer Rate to -1 and then -2 as a temporary diagnostic. You can also turn VRR off briefly to determine whether the instability is tied to the variable-refresh handshake. If a direct connection is stable but passthrough is not, the receiver or soundbar is the limiting device.
VRR is enabled but tearing remains
Confirm VRR is enabled on the TV input and on the console, then check the game’s own display menu. VRR operates only within the supported refresh-rate window and cannot compensate for every frame-rate or rendering problem. A title that locks to 60Hz may show no visible VRR behavior even though the feature is available.
HDR looks too dark, bright or washed out
- Verify that the TV model supports the HDR format selected by the console; HDR10 is the baseline format to check for Xbox.
- On PS5, run Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > Adjust HDR again.
- Confirm HDR is set to On When Supported on PS5 and Allow HDR10 is enabled on Xbox.
- Test with a known HDR game or video, because SDR content will not have the same luminance behavior.
Sound works but 120Hz disappears after adding a soundbar
Move the console back to the Samsung’s 4K/120Hz HDMI input and connect the soundbar to ARC/eARC. If you must use passthrough, verify every device in the chain supports HDMI 2.1 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM and the HDR format in question. One older component is enough to remove a capability from the negotiated link.
Choosing direct connection, passthrough and replacement cables
| Setup choice | Best use | What to confirm | Main risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Console directly to Samsung TV; audio over ARC/eARC | Most reliable route for PS5 or Xbox 4K/120Hz gaming | Correct TV port, Game Mode, Input Signal Plus and ARC/eARC audio | Audio formats are limited by the TV and ARC/eARC implementation |
| Console through a receiver or soundbar | Only when the audio device is a verified HDMI 2.1 switch and passthrough device | 4K/120Hz, VRR, ALLM, HDR10 and any required Dolby or DTS format | Older HDMI hardware can silently remove refresh-rate or HDR features |
| Supplied console HDMI cable | First choice during setup and troubleshooting | Physical condition and secure connections | Damage or unusual length can still cause dropouts |
| Replacement Ultra High Speed HDMI cable | When the supplied cable is missing, damaged or too short | Official Ultra High Speed certification, stated 4K/120Hz capability, suitable length and a practical return policy | Uncertified or excessively long cables may produce intermittent handshakes |
Do not select a replacement cable on branding alone. Certification, the stated 4K/120Hz capability, length and return coverage are the useful comparison points.
What “4K/120Hz” actually means
4K refers to a 3,840 × 2,160 output. The 120Hz figure is the display refresh ceiling negotiated by the console and TV; it is not a promise that every game renders 120 frames per second. Xbox Series X|S supports up to 120Hz, while PS5 supports 4K/120Hz output through HDMI 2.1. The final mode can be lower because of a game’s engine, selected quality mode, cable, port, firmware or an intermediate HDMI device.
ALLM lets a compatible TV switch into a low-latency game mode automatically. VRR reduces tearing when frame delivery varies. HDR changes the range of brightness and color the signal can carry. These features are related but independent: a connection can provide 4K while failing 120Hz, or provide 120Hz while losing HDR or VRR. Check each capability in the console’s report rather than treating one successful setting as proof that all others are active.
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Model-specific limits to keep in mind
- Samsung menu names and locations can change with the TV’s software version and region.
- The number of HDMI ports and the number that support 4K/120Hz are model-specific.
- FreeSync, VRR, ALLM and HDR-format support are not universal across the Samsung OLED range.
- A specification for one model, such as the cited S90C sheet’s four HDMI ports and HDMI 2.1 features, cannot establish the capabilities of another model.
- Samsung support guidance updated June 17, 2026 says Game Mode should turn on automatically when supported consoles are connected, but manual activation may still be necessary.
FAQ
Which HDMI port should I use for PS5 or Xbox?
Use the Samsung input identified in the exact model manual for 4K/120Hz, often marked with a gaming-controller icon. Port numbers differ by model.
Can I connect the console to my soundbar first?
You can only do so confidently when the soundbar or receiver explicitly supports every required HDMI 2.1 feature. The safer arrangement is console directly to the TV and soundbar or receiver on ARC/eARC.
Why does a 120Hz-capable TV still show 60Hz in a game?
120Hz is an available output mode, not a requirement for every title. Check the game’s performance or 120Hz option and the console’s output report.
Should I use Dolby Vision on Xbox?
Only if the specific Samsung OLED model documents Dolby Vision support. Xbox supports Dolby Vision gaming, but Samsung HDR formats vary by model; HDR10 is the baseline format to verify.
Do I need to leave Input Signal Plus on for every HDMI device?
Enable it for the HDMI input used by the PS5 or Xbox when the model provides the setting. Other inputs can be configured separately according to their devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will enabling VRR force 120 frames per second?
No. VRR synchronizes the TV refresh with changing frame rates; the game and its selected mode still determine whether it renders at 60Hz, 120Hz or another rate.
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Use the supplied or certified Ultra High Speed cable, move the console to the Samsung port rated for 4K/120Hz, bypass intermediate HDMI equipment, enable Input Signal Plus and leave Xbox display detection on Auto-detect before checking the report again.
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