Getting serious about your gaming? Not sure about what you need for a next-level set up? If you’re thinking about getting a new monitor or TV to upgrade your gameplay, here’s a quick guide to help you choose.
TV vs monitor for gaming: What’s the difference?
A few years ago, TVs didn’t live up to what specialist gaming monitors had to offer. But TV tech has come on leaps and bounds since then.
You can now get all the things you love about monitors (low input lag, fast response times and better connectivity) in a gaming TV. Plus, the latest TV displays look amazing from any distance.
In a nutshell: monitors are great for up-close and intricate gaming. TVs are better for enjoying the sheer spectacle and immersing yourself in the action.
What is input lag?
Input lag is the time taken to do something with your controller and seeing it happening onscreen. For example, moving the thumbstick and seeing your character react.
TVs come with game modes designed to drop the input lag when you’re gaming. But monitors still have the edge here, as they can keep input lag low and un-noticeable, even when you’re sat close up to the screen.
The best screen sizes for gaming
Screen sizes all depend on your gaming setup. For standard PC gaming, 21” to 27” are the most popular sizes as you’re usually sitting right up close to the screen.
But if you’re into console gaming, or plan on streaming movies, you’ll want to consider larger gaming monitors or TVs bigger than 40”.
The best refresh rates for gaming
A TV or monitor’s refresh rate is measured in Hertz (Hz), and tells you how often the image on screen is refreshed per second. The higher the refresh rate, the faster and smoother your graphics will appear.
Go for at least a 120Hz refresh rate on your TV and gaming monitor, and your games will render smoothly with less blur.
The best monitors for gaming
When you’re choosing a gaming monitor, the key things to consider are monitor resolution and response time.
Monitor resolution
The higher the resolution, the better the quality of the image. Gaming monitors are typically Full HD 1080p, Quad HD 1440p or 4K Ultra HD 2160p.
Response time
Measured in milliseconds (ms), a gaming monitor’s response time tells you how quickly pixels take to change colour. When it comes to response time, lower is better, so keep an eye out for 1 ms monitors. This means that when any fast-moving action is happening on screen, there won’t be any motion blur.
Dual monitors
You might also want to think about a dual monitor gaming set up. If you’re a serious gamer this gives you some big benefits and advantages:
You can have different apps open for multi-tasking. Play your game on one screen, and browse the web for important info and tactics on the other.
You can use both monitors to give you a wider field of view.
You can stream your gameplay more easily, with a separate screen for all your streaming software.
Here are a couple of monitors that are perfect for fast-paced and immersive gaming…
LG UltraGear Quad HD 32” Nano IPS gaming monitor
This LG UltraGear monitor really brings games to life. It’s 32” Quad HD resolution screen combines super bright colours with even more tiny details, transporting the battlefield straight into your gaming room. Throw in a 1 ms response time and a 180Hz refresh rate, and gameplay stays crisp and smooth – even when the match gets frantic!
Samsung Odyssey G5 Quad HD 27” IPS LCD gaming monitor
The 27” display on this Samsung Odyssey monitor brings tons of extra detail to your onscreen adventures. DisplayHDR 400 tech adds sharper contrast and seriously deep blacks. So, those nighttime firefights are really going to look the part. Just watch your back – someone could be sneaking up on you out there…
And you don’t have to worry about lag ruining your killstreak. AMD FreeSync keeps your monitor’s refresh rate synced with your graphics card at all times. Which makes bombastic moments completely stutter and tear-free.
The best TVs for gaming
TVs tend to have higher resolutions than gaming monitors, because you need extra pixels when you’re sitting further away. That’s why 4K TVs are cheaper than 4K monitors – because they’re more regularly made.
TVs are also more likely to have HDR 10 support. HDR – high dynamic range – is a technology that increases both the bright and dark areas of an image, creating a bigger contrast between the two.
Also, look out for TVs with HDMI 2.1 inputs. This is the most recent version of HDMI, designed to support higher refresh rates and resolution, including 8K video at 120 frames per second. It also supports enhanced audio formats including Dolby Atmos, which gives you immersive all-round sound.
LG G5 65” OLED evo AI 4K HDR Smart TV
Glare isn’t going to throw your aim off on the LG G5. Its Brightness Booster Ultimate makes the picture nice and bright, so you’ll always see what’s going on. Whether you’re questing on a sunny afternoon or heading online for some late-night levelling. Now there’s no excuse for missing that shot!
Oh, and you won’t be faffing about in loads of different menus to sort your settings. LG’s Game Optimiser rounds up any relevant options and pops them in one handy spot. Quickly tweak some sliders to suit your playstyle, check they’re up to scratch and jump straight back into your mission with only a few button presses. Nice.
Sony Bravia 8 II 65” QD OLED 4K HDR AI Smart TV
PS5 players are in for a treat. The Sony Bravia 8 II has been made to get the most out of the console. Switch it on and Game Mode fires up in flash, lowering lag while bumping up responsiveness and movement. It’s kind of like your very own cheat code – your enemies won’t know what hit them.
And if you want to get truly lost in that big fantasy RPG, that’s easier than ever. Auto HDR Tone Mapping makes those worlds look fab, applying a wider set of colours and increasing the level of detail. This happens even in the brightest and darkest bits of your screen too. Meaning when you’re looting that dank, creepy dungeon, you’ll see every cobweb, skeleton and monster lurking in the shadows.
FAQs
Can you use a gaming monitor as a TV?
You can, but there’s a few things you’ll need to keep in mind. First off, gaming monitors don’t have built-in TV tuners. So, you won’t be able to watch live TV unless you connect a set-top box, streaming stick (like Amazon Fire TV or Roku) or a console. Once that’s sorted, you can stream YouTube, Netflix, Disney+ or anything else you fancy!
Also, monitors usually don’t have speakers on the same level as your average telly. If sound matters to you, you might want to add a soundbar or some external speakers.
Is a TV or monitor better for console gaming?
It really depends on what kind of gaming experience you want…
Monitors are great for competitive, fast-paced titles like shooters or racers. They usually have lower input lag and high refresh rates, which makes for smoother gameplay and quicker reactions.
TVs are better for big-screen fun. If you love to play single-player, story-driven games or regularly team up in couch co-op with your friends, a TV gives you that proper cinematic feel.
If you’ve got a newer console, like a PS5 or Xbox Series X, look for a TV or monitor with HDMI 2.1. It supports features like 4K at 120Hz and variable refresh rate (VRR), which make everything you play look and feel way better.
Should you use a TV or monitor for PC gaming?
For most PC gamers, a monitor is always the way to go. Monitors are built for speed. Their high refresh rates (like 144Hz or even 240Hz), low input lag and crisp resolution make them ideal for online battles where every millisecond counts. If you’re a big Call of Duty or Fortnite player, they should be an essential part of your loadout.
But if you’re into slower-paced games – or just want to kick back and tackle your campaign from the sofa – a TV can work too. Especially if it’s a newer model with special gaming features like Game Mode, VRR and low latency.
Any questions?
Need more help choosing a monitor, gaming TV or any other piece of tech? Our TV buying guide is a great place to start. And if you’d like to talk to an expert, pop in-store or have a video chat using ShopLive.
