How to Choose a Good Console Gaming Monitor

Looking to pair your PS5, Xbox Series X or Series S, or even Switch with the ideal console gaming monitor? We have you covered in this handy guide.

If you have or are planning to buy a new Xbox Series X or Series S console or a PS5, you may also be considering hooking them up to a monitor. After all, most of us have a PC of some sort, laptop or desktop, and those naturally work great with monitors. Why not make the most of a purchase and have multiple devices hooked up to one display? That’s good logic. We’re here to help, and the bottom line is that gaming monitors nominally designed for PC have a lot to offer console gamers. And that applies to PS5, Xbox, and Switch. But each console has slightly different monitors we’d recommend, and much of the decision depends on the kinds of games you play. Let’s begin.

In strict technical terms, yes. Monitors almost always have lower input lag, higher refresh rates ,and faster response times than TVs, which make them a better choice for console and PC gaming. This is from a performance specification point of view. If your priorities are larger and brighter displays, then TVs have an advantage.

First off, it needs to be said that monitors have distinct advantages over TVs. Since you sit close to them, you get more “bang for pixel” so to speak. Even an 8K TV looks like regular HD from common living room viewing distances, but a PC gaming monitor? By and large everyone sits just a few feet away from those, meaning every pixel counts – and is accounted for.

Further, monitors come in much more affordable prices. If you don’t need a massive screen, then monitors simply deliver better value for money. By the same token, monitors don’t take up a lot of space, so depending on your circumstances, that could be a major consideration.

Finally, gaming monitors often pioneer new technology later picked up by televisions. For a fraction of the cost of a good 4K TV, you get a monitor with a higher refresh rate, FreeSync, HDR, and powerful audio. Monitors also don’t have all the complicated electronics and post-processing of TVs, meaning very low latency. Your typical gaming monitor has a 1ms response (grey to grey and/or moving picture response time, GtG or MPRT), while very few TVs come even close to that. Most TVs are happy to deliver 8ms with game mode engaged.

Related article Monitor vs. TV for Gaming: Which One Is the Best?

No matter what monitor you go with, make sure official HDR support and performance are included. Since all consoles except the good old Nintendo Switch now have games running with HDR, you need it to enjoy them fully.

Good audio is up next, and all BenQ gaming monitors offer superb sound. Many models feature 2.1channel audio, meaning two speakers and a subwoofer for deep and resonant sound. 

And that brings us to connectivity. Ideal monitors for console have at least one HDMI 2.1 port, while other connections such as DisplayPort or USB-C for charging personal devices can be a plus. The more the merrier, but with that layout you can have two consoles and two PCs (desktop and laptop, for example) all connected to the same monitor.

Go with 25” or 27” to maintain optimal pixel density and clarity. That would work best if you prefer high refresh rates or speedy frame rates.

Going with a 32” format will provide excellent pixel density. When speaking of pixel density, we’re also considering viewing distance. Unlike TVs, monitors are meant for up close and personal usage, so resolution really matters.

Starting September 2022, PS5 began to offer support for 2560 x 1440, otherwise known as 1440p or QHD. The resolution is supported in up 120Hz and is detectable by the PS5 console. Which means that if you connect your PS5 to a 1440p monitor via HDMI and set the console resolution to “automatic”, it’ll switch to native 1440p. Before the update, PS5 consoles would revert to 1080p when connected to a 1440p monitor, so the update is definitely good news.

If you like the look and feel of a curved monitor, then sure, why not. But since most curved monitors go with ultrawide form factors, the caveats in the section above apply. Sure, it’ll work, but with some compromise to image fidelity due to stretching. Having said that, if you find a curved 16:9 monitor you like, there’s no reason not to use it with current gen consoles.

If you want to game in 4K, then a 60Hz monitor will do just fine, since in that resolution none of the existing consoles exceed 60 frames per second with any regularity. However, should you prefer higher refresh rates for smoother gaming, then a premium 144Hz QHD monitor will serve you faithfully. Quite a few games already have 120Hz modes on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, with more to come. All of them lower resolution to attain higher frame rates, so a 1440p monitor (aka QHD monitor) is perfect.

This applies to VESA Adaptive Sync, HDMI Variable Refresh Rate, as well as AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-Sync. All of these fancy terms mean the console’s graphics processor and monitor know how to match their frame rates, thus avoiding unsightly screen tearing and additional lag-related issues. If you opt for an Xbox console or a PS5, make certain the monitor you pick has FreeSync or Adaptive Sync support to get the most out of the experience.

Related article: What is FreeSync? What Can it Do for a Better Gaming Experience?

Whether you prefer competitive multiplayer or single player makes a huge difference.

The former needs high frame rate while the latter tends to favor resolution. If you gravitate towards reflex-based first/third person shooters and arcade racers, you’re best off with a 144Hz panel.

But if your cup of tea is open world titles and graphics-intense exploration games, then a gorgeous 60Hz 4K console gaming monitor would be more appropriate. Think of it as a performance or fidelity balance, which is how many games refer to this equation in their graphics settings. Performance has come to mean lower resolution with higher frame rate, fidelity the opposite.

Now on to pairing specific consoles with optimal monitors.

Compact and streamlined, the Series S was made for 1080p or 1440p resolutions, not 4K. That’s fine, because at up to 1440p the Series S can handle refresh as fast as 120Hz.

High speed full HD console gaming monitors from BenQ offer 144Hz with HDR, FreeSync, and treVolo audio to make the most of the Series S. We’d recommend against connecting a Series S to a 60Hz monitor as the console is supposed to be all about lower resolutions and higher frame rates, so 60fps would soon prove to be a limiter.

The one caveat is that the Series S can upscale to 4K, so if you want to connect the console to a 4K monitor, that’s definitely possible. It won’t be as good as native 4K, but not bad, either. The Series S supports variable refresh rate, as in FreeSync, which most gaming monitors nowadays also support.

Here we have a more interesting situation. Three times more powerful than the Series S, the Series X generally aims for 60Hz in native 4K. But it’s definitely capable of 120Hz in lower resolutions, such as 1080p. It also supports 1440p and FreeSync, so you have a lot of options with this one. Again, if you prefer a console gaming monitor with native 4K and are fine with 60Hz.

Most titles are roughly 4K 60Hz, with some offering a lower resolution 120Hz mode. So, you can choose high refresh console gaming monitors like the MOBIUZ EX2510S/EX2710S and have fun with high frame rate titles, or go with the EX3210U for the full 4K 144Hz experience. Once more, that depends on your preferred playstyle and genre.

Both 1440p and variable refresh rate took a while to arrive on PS5. They’ve been available on Xbox since the late 2010s, but on PS5 first appeared in late 2022. In any case, PS5 now supports 1440p natively, and has variable refresh rate or VRR as well across all resolutions. Note you need to use an HDMI 2.1-capable monitor and cable (like the cable that came in the PS5 box) for VRR on PS5, as HDMI 2.0 monitors and cables won’t offer consistent support and most likely the VRR option won’t appear in settings.

Since the PS5 also supports up to 120Hz refresh rate, all of these factors mean that 1440p/QHD/2K gaming monitors are a good match for Sony’s console, especially if they’re fully HDMI 2.1 compliant. If you have such a monitor with FreeSync or G-Sync for your PC, you can easily connect a PS5 to it via HDMI 2.1 and make use of all of these game-enhancing features. Since FreeSync and G-Sync share the core VESA and HDMI VRR technology (Adaptive Sync), PS5 works with both of them just fine to maintain stable frame rates and smooth gameplay. In short, 1440p is most certainly an option for PS5, and you no longer need to choose between 1080p and 4K, there’s a middle ground.

Somewhat of an outlier here but worth a mention, especially as a second console to accompany an Xbox or PlayStation. Switch is all about 720p and 1080p in docked mode to the monitor via HDMI, so you don’t need a mighty monitor. However, a good 10-bit panel is a must because Nintendo games do color so well and deserve good presentation. Technically, HDR can work on Switch, but since its launch in 2017 not a single title nor the operating system have featured high dynamic range. Still, since good monitors now all have HDR anyway, this isn’t an issue. The MOBIUZ EX2510S and EX2710S will do great for the Switch.

Based on our own experience so far with the current generation of consoles, some of the biggest games work best in lower resolution/high refresh. Therefore, going with a 1080p or 1440p console gaming monitor may not be as outdated as you may initially think in the supposed age of 4K. Having said that, the higher resolution has indisputable advantages with regards to detail and image quality.

And whatever you do, try to stick with 16:9 monitors for the most accurate image reproduction.

Ultrawide is tempting and does work, but we again remind you that this is not the native format for any existing game console. You can always find us on social media so please feel free to get in touch, and happy gaming!