Choosing a TV or monitor for gaming comes down to where you sit: a monitor is better at a desk, in a small room or for fast competitive games, while a TV is better from a sofa, for sharing with family and for more screen per shilling. Picture quality is close on good models of either.
Key differences
| Gaming monitor | TV | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical size | 24 to 32 inches | 32 to 65 inches and up |
| Viewing distance | Arm’s length, at a desk | Sofa distance |
| Input lag | Very low, often under 5 ms | Low only in Game Mode |
| Refresh rate | 144Hz and up is common | 60Hz on most; 120Hz on gaming models |
| Speakers | Weak or none | Built in |
| TV channels and apps | No | Yes |
Input lag is the delay between pressing a button and seeing it on screen. Good gaming monitors are very quick. Modern TVs come close only with Game Mode switched on; in normal picture modes, lag can be many times higher.
When a monitor wins
- You play at a desk or in a bedsitter where a big TV would be too close.
- Competitive shooters and esports, where every millisecond and a high refresh rate help, especially on PC.
- One person uses it, so nobody needs the screen for the news or football.
- It doubles as a work or study screen for a laptop or PC.
For PS5 and Xbox, a 1440p or 4K monitor with 120Hz and HDMI 2.1 gets the most from the console; a cheaper 1080p 144Hz monitor still plays well but tops out at 1080p on console.
When a TV wins
- You play from a sofa at two metres or more. A 27-inch monitor looks small from there.
- Family and friends watch or join in. FC nights and couch co-op suit a big screen.
- One screen does everything: gaming, DStv, Netflix and YouTube.
- More screen for the money. TVs usually give far more inches per shilling than gaming monitors.
Check that the TV has a Game Mode and, ideally, 120Hz with HDMI 2.1 for the smoothest PS5 and Xbox games. See the best TV for PS5 and 120Hz TVs explained; a 60Hz TV is still fine for most games, as this guide explains.
Hooking a PS5 to a monitor
- Connect the PS5’s HDMI cable to the monitor’s HDMI port (not DisplayPort; consoles only output HDMI).
- In Settings > Screen and Video, check the resolution and turn on 120Hz output if the monitor supports it.
- Sound: many monitors have no speakers. Plug wired headphones into the DualSense controller’s 3.5 mm jack, use the monitor’s headphone jack if it has one, or add a USB or wireless gaming headset.
Quick answers
At a desk, yes: lower lag and a sharper view up close. From a sofa or for family play, a TV with Game Mode is better.
Usually, yes. Gaming monitors are very quick out of the box, while TVs only get close in Game Mode.
Yes. Plug headphones into the controller, use the monitor’s headphone jack, or connect a gaming headset or separate speakers.
