Monitor vs. TV Which for Console Gaming

More and more console gamers have made the switch to a dedicated gaming monitor to pair with their Xbox or PS5 to take advantage of what once were exclusive PC gaming features. TVs have the upper hand in terms of size and, depending on the technology, image quality. However, gamers have prioritized the fast, smooth, and responsive gaming experience that only monitors provide. Let us discuss three of the most significant differences between TVs and monitors for console gaming.

One of the main advantages of playing console games on a monitor instead of a TV is the improved input lag, which is the time it takes for the signal received by the display to be processed and shown on the screen. Televisions tend to rely heavily on filters that improve image quality when watching TV, like noise reduction and upscaling, but this takes extra time and translates into input lag. However, none of these features are desirable when playing console games, as image quality is largely controlled by the console and game engine. Any added processing on the TV side simply adds latency. 

Lag or latency slows down your gaming experience with a noticeable delay between button presses and actions seen on the screen. Monitors, on the other hand, do not suffer from severe input lag. They take the digital signal from the console and directly send it to the screen without much processing, providing quick visual response to button presses on your controller. While some TVs have a Game Mode which can reduce lag from 60 milliseconds to around 20, it is still very far from a monitor’s benchmark of 10 milliseconds.

And if you’re looking for an even more immersive, big screen experience, a gaming projector might be something to look into. That’s because for the price of a TV that’ll lock you into a 75” rectangle you can easily get the same gaming experience on a screen twice that size.

However, if you are into competitive gaming or want the best performance, a monitor offers the most noticeable improvement over traditional TVs. The rule is: the lower the input lag, the better, which is especially true for fast-paced games like shooters.

Summing up, monitors have lower input lag, faster response times, and higher refresh rates than TVs. They are more responsive and allow you to enjoy competitive console gaming. Additionally, monitors are excellent bang for your buck if you would like to play both PC and console games. TVs, on the other hand, are usually larger in size and more affordable and are more suitable for gaming in large spaces.