The best monitor for PS5: What are your options?

It makes sense that your first thought will always be to use a PlayStation 5 with a TV, but that doesn’t have to be the case. In fact, there are plenty of benefits to using a monitor instead. In this post, we’ll go over some of the pros and cons of buying a monitor rather than a television, and we’ll also tell you the optimal options for the best monitor for PS5.

Also: The best monitors for work and play

Why you should get a monitor for PS5

Multiple factors make monitors a better option than TVs. There are also some downsides. Let’s go over some pros and cons to help you decide.

Size matters

Huge living room TVs aren’t always a viable option. Those living in smaller spaces will prefer a more modest screen. The bad news is that the industry often favors larger TVs, reserving higher-end specs for more sizeable HDTVs.

For example, it’s harder to find a 4K 120Hz 32-inch TV than it is to find a 50-inch one. This is not the case for monitors. You can get high-end specs even in the 24- to 27-inch size range. Additionally, these higher-end monitors tend to cost much less than the high-end TVs that offer such features. Chances are you can get a better monitor, as opposed to a TV, if you truly need a smaller screen that offers a premium gaming experience.

Monitors often offer higher refresh rates

Gaming-optimized TVs are rare. On the contrary, gaming monitors are very common. This means these gaming monitors will have some features that will improve gaming, including higher refresh rates.

The refresh rate dictates how many times a screen refreshes the image per second. You can learn more about this topic in our refresh rate guide. In summary, a higher refresh rate will make for smoother video. It’s also important to consider if you play games in which every millisecond counts. You might not want someone to shoot you in between frames while playing an FPS game!

Monitors offer much shorter response times

Talking about games where every millisecond counts, these gamers also prefer 1ms response times. A screen with this feature will only have a 1ms lag, meaning you can respond and see actions displayed much faster. Fast 1ms response times are prevalent in the monitor market.

While super-fast response times aren’t impossible in the HDTV industry, it’s definitely a very rare (and expensive) feature. It’s usually available in higher-end OLED TVs, which can easily cost thousands. This is because TVs are mostly made with media consumption in mind. For example, a short lag doesn’t matter as much when you’re watching a movie. You can still enjoy a video perfectly, even if it’s taking a while for the processing to happen in the background.

Mobility

Needless to say, monitors tend to be smaller than televisions. This also makes them much more portable. Moving a monitor from your desk to the living room is a breeze. These PC screens will fit much better in a car trunk, too. You can’t say the same about a giant TV. Very large TVs can literally be impossible to fit in a standard sedan.

Versatility

Monitors aren’t only great PS5 screens. These can also operate perfectly as a PC monitor, which may give users dual functionality. Additionally, some newer monitors also come with access to smart TV apps. Even if yours doesn’t, you can always opt for a smart TV box or dongle to use via HDMI.

Monitors can come in different display aspect ratios

Are you a fan of those ultrawide monitors that expand further to the sides? While it requires some digging into the settings, the PlayStation 5 supports these wider aspect ratios. TVs with anything but a 16:9 ratio are hard to come by. On the other hand, monitors with more immersive aspect ratios are very common, and no longer that expensive.

Curved screens!

If you want even more gaming-oriented features on your screen, gamers are often attracted to curved screens. These are very common in the monitor world. While curved TVs are available too, these are often much more expensive. Not to mention they aren’t as common, especially in smaller sizes. Additionally, monitors are usually found in rounder curvatures, which make your experience much more immersive.

PC gaming optimizations

If you’re a gamer, there’s also a chance you dabble with some PC gaming. A monitor often comes with certain optimizations for NVIDIA and AMD GPUs, further improving your gaming experience when gaming on your computer. These are known as NVIDIA GeForce G-SYNC and AMD FreeSync.

Why you might prefer a TV instead

TVs are usually much larger

Large monitors usually top off at around 32 inches or so. Anything larger than that is hard to find. Not to mention these larger monitors are generally much more expensive than a similarly-sized TV. This means that if, in fact, you want a large screen, a TV is usually a more suitable option.

Resolution

4K TVs have become ubiquitous in the TV industry. Even affordable HDTVs now come with 4K resolutions. 4K panels exist in the monitor space, but they are not as common. You’ll also have to pay up for a 4K monitor. If you want to take things even further and opt for an 8K panel, this feature is even harder to find in monitors.

TVs are more affordable

There’s no denying TVs can often be had at much cheaper prices, especially if you care about higher resolutions. As mentioned before, 4K TVs can be had for pretty cheap nowadays. 4K monitors are usually among the most expensive.

More TVs support HDR

Sony’s PlayStation 5 comes with support for HDR. HDR stands for “High Dynamic Range.” This spec ensures that image lighting is more balanced. You’ll be able to see more in the shadows, as well as the highlights. It makes for an overall nicer and more realistic experience, which is paramount for gaming.

HDR is a very common feature on televisions. Meanwhile, it’s much harder to find it in monitors, and you’ll more often have to pay a higher premium for it.

More options for panel technology

Most gaming monitors come with IPS LCD or LED panels. If you want higher-end technology like OLED, it’s still nearly impossible to find on a monitor. The few options available are costly.

Included speakers

This is a feature to watch out for! Keep in mind that plenty of monitors don’t come with speakers. And the ones that do often lack the audio quality most gamers want. TVs all come with speakers. And while TV audio isn’t usually great, it’s often better than what you’ll find on most monitors.

However, this might not be that big of an issue if you’re a serious gamer. Chances are that if you really care about audio quality, you were planning on buying external speakers anyways. If you want more serious gaming audio, you can also look at our list of the best gaming speakers and simply ignore whether a monitor has speakers.

Related: The best smart TVs available

The best monitors for PS5

There’s something for everyone here. That said, these picks aren’t all the absolute best monitors the industry has to offer. Those are extremely expensive and most often aren’t the best alternative. Instead, we made a varied list to fit multiple budgets. We tried to keep resolution, refresh rates, and response times as efficient as possible. There are also some options for those who also value portability, TV functionality, and more.

Editor’s note: We’ll regularly update this list of the best monitors for PS5 as new ones launch and older ones are phased out.

Sony INZONE M9

Nothing beats going with the same manufacturer as the one making your console. Especially if it makes monitors as good as this one. The Sony INZONE M9 was explicitly created with high-end gaming in mind. It has a 5K HDR display with a 144Hz refresh rate. This screen also covers 95% of the DCI-P3 color spectrum, has a 1ms response time, and happens to look gorgeous. It even follows a similar design and color scheme as the PlayStation 5!

Of course, you’ll have to pay a good price for it, but it promises Sony’s quality and great gaming experiences. It’s also 27 inches, so you should enjoy games very comfortably. It also helps that it has PS5-specific features, like Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode.

Sony INZONE M3

If you like the Sony INZONE M9, but feel like it might be a bit overkill, the Sony INZONE M3 might be more up your alley. This one actually upgrades to a 240Hz refresh rate, still has a 1ms response time, and features a 27-inch panel. You’ll see a few downgrades, though.

The resolution is reduced to 1080p, which is honestly still a very good definition for gaming. It also covers 99% of the sRGB spectrum, which is good, but not as good as DCI-P3. It’s still a great monitor for your PS5, though, offering the same Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode features for the PlayStation 5. It also has the same gorgeous design and a significantly lower price point.

Samsung Odyssey Odyssey Neo G7

Samsung’s Odyssey series is an industry favorite in the gaming world. The Samsung Odyssey Odyssey Neo G7 is especially good, and seems to tick most boxes in gaming standards. It has a large 43-inch IPS LED panel with a 4K resolution. You’ll also get a 1ms response time, 144Hz refresh rate, and HDR support. Plus, it happens to look amazing.

The one downside is that it comes with no speakers at all. Serious gamers will likely opt for nice gaming headphones or external speakers, though. It’s also on the pricier side.

MSI MPG Artymis 273CQRX QD

Here’s something nice for the curved screen fans. The MSI MPG Artymis 273CQRX QD is a great monitor for PS5 gamers and sports a 1000R curvature. It has a QHD resolution on a 27-inch panel, a 240Hz refresh rate, and a 1ms response time. It also looks great, with integrated RGB lighting and all, but it lacks integrated speakers. It’s also more affordable than most other options on this list.

LG UltraGear OLED 45GR95QE-B

LG isn’t falling behind in the world of the best monitors for PS5. The LG UltraGear OLED 45GR95QE-B is especially great if you want to go big, wide, and curved. It comes with a large 45-inch OLED panel with a QHD resolution.

One thing that makes this special is its super fast 0.03ms response time, which is outstanding in a world where 1ms response times are already considered amazing. The panel also features a 98.5% DCI-P3 color reproduction and a 240Hz refresh rate. And if you care for curved displays, it has an 800R curvature.

All those fancy features won’t come cheap, though. In fact, this is one of the most expensive monitors on this list of the best PS5 monitors.

Gigabyte AORUS FO48U

You can probably already tell this is a special breed of monitor. It is pretty massive at 48 inches, rivaling most normal-sized TVs. It has a flat panel and a 120Hz refresh rate, but it costs much less than other huge monitors with fancier features.

Other specs are pretty good. It has a 4K resolution, 1ms response time, an OLED panel, and covers 98% of the DCI-P3 spectrum. It is an excellent option if you want the largest monitor you can get for your PS5 without spending an arm and a leg.

Samsung Odyssey Ark

If money really is no object, and you want the largest, most awesome screen with all the bells and whistles, this might be your best bet. The Samsung Odyssey Ark has a stunning 55-inch 4K Quantum Mini-LED panel with a 165Hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time. This is also a 1000R curved screen, taking immersion to the next level.

The Samsung Odyssey Ark is a stunning monitor, but be warned that it is expensive!

Alienware AW2723DF

Let’s get back to more reasonably-priced monitors for PS5. This one actually happens to look great, and its performance is pretty good too.

The Alienware AW2723DF has a nice 27-inch Quad HD screen with a 240Hz refresh rate and a quick 1ms response time. It also displays 95% of the DCI-P# color spectrum. Not only that, but it’s relatively affordable for its features and design. It has no speakers, though.

Samsung M8

All the best monitors for PS5 listed above are great gaming screens, but they’re not usually great for other types of entertainment. Those who want a general monitor, a media hub, and a great monitor for PS5 will love the Samsung M8.

The Samsung M8 is a monitor/TV hybrid of sorts. It comes with a remote and can be used over Wi-Fi as a connected TV. As such, it comes with a gorgeous 32-inch 4K monitor and integrated speakers. It falls behind on other gaming specs, though, as it only has a 60Hz refresh rate and a 4ms response time.

That said, not all gamers absolutely need such features, and you’ll enjoy the ample set of smart features it offers. You can even use Bixby or Amazon Alexa with it, as well as Apple AirPlay and much more. As if all that wasn’t enough, the Samsung M8 happens to look gorgeous.

Considering its performance, this monitor is pricier, but you can find more affordable versions from Samsung. These include the Samsung M7 and M5.

ASUS ROG Strix XG17AHP

Those who want true portability from a PS5 monitor can’t do better than the ASUS ROG Strix XG17AHP portable monitor. This thing will fit in any bag, as it’s as small and thin as a laptop or tablet. It comes with a 17.3-inch 1080p resolution and a 240Hz refresh rate.

Response time isn’t great at 3ms, but that’s the sacrifice you make for having something this small. Not to mention many gamers can play happily with that response time. It also has integrated speakers and a 7,800mAh battery. Battery life is estimated at 3.5 hours of gaming at 240Hz.

The PS5 isn’t exactly portable, but this could be a great solution if you live in a limited space and can’t really fit a larger monitor in your room. It could be good for dorms or small apartments. Not to mention it will work as a great secondary screen for your computer.

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