Finding the Perfect TV or Monitor for Your PS5 or Xbox Series X

While the Sony Playstation 5 and the Xbox Series X can still be elusive products to purchase, many people have made the switch to these next-gen consoles. However, there's more to switching to next-gen than just buying a new console. These new machines can run games at a much higher quality than before, meaning that you need to get a screen that can keep up. Read on to find out what makes a good gaming monitor or TVs for your new next-gen console.

What Is a Refresh Rate?

The refresh rate of a TV or monitor is important when it comes to gaming for a few reasons. To keep things simple, the refresh rate of a screen is determined by how fast it can display a new image. This is measured in Hertz. As far as video games go, having a TV or monitor with a high refresh rate ensures that you will be able to see more of your games. If you're moving around in a video game, having a smaller window of time between each new image on the screen will ensure that you see as much of your environment as possible, and with it updating faster, you'll also avoid input lag. This well-known plague on competitive gamers refers to how much time goes by between you pressing a button on your controller and seeing the action occur on your screen. Having a high refresh rate means your screen will be refreshing itself very frequently, so whatever action you make with your controller will show up slightly faster, virtually eliminating any input lag. Both of the newer consoles can run games at 120Hz, which means you'll need a screen that can handle that.

What Does FPS Mean?

FPS stands for Frames Per Second, and it goes hand-in-hand with the refresh rate of your monitor. When you're talking about FPS, you're referring to how many images are being displayed each second on your screen. A game that can run at 60 FPS will show you more frames in a second, and thus will allow you to see more detail than a game running at 30 FPS. When your games are able to reach high FPS counts (typically 60 FPS or greater), they will look much smoother than a game with less. Movement and motion within the game will look much better in a game with more FPS. Having a TV with a higher refresh rate will ensure that if your games are being played at a higher FPS, your screen will be able to keep up and properly display the game. Next-gen consoles can display games at 120FPS so you'll want to get a TV or monitor that has at least a 120Hz refresh rate to get the most out of the newer consoles.

What Is the Best Gaming Monitor?

Now that we've got the basics out of the way, we can get into some specifics. There is no end-all and be-all monitor that is best for gaming whether you're on a PC or a console. As mentioned above you're going to want a monitor that can display next-gen games at their maximum capabilities, but you don't necessarily need a high-end monitor. You'll still be able to run the game, just not at maximum efficiency. However, if you want the most out of your next-gen console, it is recommended to get a monitor with a 120Hz or 144Hz refresh rate to make sure it can keep with that 120 FPS performance. You also may want to invest in one that can display 4K content, as the newer consoles are able to stream games in that resolution. There are a number of other extra features that can come with a gaming monitor too (curved screens, built-in speakers, wall mounts) but it's up to your personal preference and budget if you want to indulge in them.

How Big Should a Gaming Monitor Be?

There's no perfect monitor size that will suit every gamer, but there are certain sizes that will perform better with next-gen consoles. There are a number of sizes one can go for when buying a monitor, but most of the time people tend to stay in the 27 to 32 range for gaming monitors. Try to keep the refresh rate in mind before you start looking at size, and at that point it's up to you how big you want it to be. A larger monitor might let you see more detail in your games, but if you're a competitive gamer it's important to know that a bigger screen can sometimes be a detriment in certain games. Having to search across your giant monitor for your enemy might wind up losing you the fight.

What Are Some Good Gaming Monitor Brands?

There are a number of gaming monitor brands that have stood out over the years. One of these brands is HP. This brand has managed to produce many gaming monitors that are tailor-made to be perfect for gaming. With many models having refresh rates at 144Hz or above, and a number of sizes and extra add-ons to choose from, HP has really stepped up their game. Another great brand is Acer. This brand has always had gamers in mind when they produce their monitors. They also produce monitors with 144Hz refresh rates and make models in different sizes. The Acer Predator series in particular is made to display games at top quality.

Is Gaming on a Monitor Better Than a TV?

There is nothing that makes gaming on a monitor better than on a TV. If you were to play the same game on either a gaming monitor or a TV that both have a 120Hz refresh rate, you would essentially be getting the exact same experience. The only difference between monitors and full TVs is how big they come and the sound quality you can expect. If you prefer to game on a TV that has built-in speakers and is a generally large device to be mounted on a wall, that's totally fine. Monitors are typically set up on a desk, offering you more of a workstation vibe, and many models will not come with speakers.

How Big Should a Gaming TV Be?

Choosing a TV size is a more intricate process than choosing a monitor size. This is partly because there are many more sizing options for TVs than monitors, and also because being seated farther away from the screen means it needs to be bigger. You need to take your viewing distance into account when buying a TV, especially for gaming. A good metric for television sizing is ten inches of screen for every foot of viewing distance. For example, if you'll be sitting five feet away from your TV, a 50" screen is roughly where you'd like to be.

What Is the Best TV for Gaming?

Today there are many TVs that are great for gaming, but two brands have gone above and beyond over the years to produce TVs that prioritize gaming. The first brand is Samsung. With select models featuring 4K displays and 120Hz screens, there's no doubt that you'll step up your game with a Samsung TV. Another great brand is LG. They've gone out of their way to make TVs that can display your games in amazing quality. Some of their newer TV models feature 4K displays and 120Hz screens, and are available in sizes of up to 83".

Follow our advice, and you'll find a new TV or monitor for your next-gen console in no time!