Gaming monitor vs TV
When a monitor beats a television for gaming, what refresh rate you need, and which panel type to choose.
The honest answer depends less on the screens than on how far away you sit and what you play.
Is a monitor or a TV better for gaming?
A monitor is better if you sit at a desk, play on PC, play competitively, or want the highest refresh rates. Monitors reach higher refresh rates than televisions, have lower input lag by default with no settings to fix, and are sized for close viewing.
A television is better if you play on a console from a sofa, play with other people in the room, or want a large screen for films as well. Televisions are much larger per unit of money and usually brighter, which matters for HDR.
The deciding question is really seating distance. At a desk, a 27-inch monitor fills your vision. From a sofa, the same screen is too small and a television is the right tool.
Consoles work fine on monitors — just check the monitor has speakers or an audio output, because many have neither, and consoles pass audio over HDMI expecting the display to handle it.
What refresh rate do I need?
Match it to what you play and what drives it.
60Hz — fine for console gaming at 60 frames and for single-player PC games. Nothing is wasted.
120–144Hz — the sweet spot for PC gaming, and the biggest visible jump. Worth it if your graphics card can push those frames in the games you play.
240Hz and above — for competitive shooters at a high level. The difference from 144Hz is small and diminishing.
A high refresh rate you cannot feed is wasted money. A 240Hz monitor running games at 70 frames gives you a 70-frame experience.
What screen size is best on a desk?
24 inches at 1080p — the competitive standard, because everything stays within your field of view without moving your head.
27 inches at 1440p — the best all-round choice for most people, and the most common recommendation.
32 inches at 4K — good for single-player games and work, but large enough at desk distance that competitive play suffers.
Pair size with resolution. A 32-inch 1080p monitor looks soft at desk distance because the pixels are spread too thin.
IPS, VA or OLED — which should I choose?
IPS — accurate colour, wide viewing angles, fast. Weaker blacks. The safe default for most people.
VA — much better contrast and deeper blacks than IPS, but slower pixel response, which can cause smearing in dark fast-moving scenes.
OLED — perfect blacks, outstanding contrast, the fastest response. Expensive, and static elements over very long periods carry some burn-in risk.
For most buyers: IPS for competitive play and general use, VA if contrast matters and you play slower games, OLED if the budget allows and you want the best image.