What Monitor to Get for Ps4: Avoid Wasted Cash
Look, I’ve been down this rabbit hole more times than I care to admit. Buying tech, especially for gaming, is a minefield of marketing fluff and genuinely good advice buried under layers of hype. I wasted a stupid amount of money on a fancy 144Hz monitor for my PS4 way back when, thinking it would be some magical upgrade. Turned out, the PS4 just couldn’t push enough frames to make that refresh rate matter one bit. Talk about buyer’s remorse.
So, when you’re asking what monitor to get for PS4, you’re probably not just looking for specs; you’re looking for someone to tell you what actually works without making you feel like an idiot for not knowing the difference between HDMI 2.0 and a DisplayPort.
You want honest advice from someone who’s been there, who’s clicked ‘add to cart’ on the wrong thing, and who’s finally figured out what makes a difference and what’s just snake oil. And that’s exactly what you’re going to get here.
So You Want to Buy a Ps4 Monitor? Don’t Panic.
Alright, let’s cut to the chase. The PlayStation 4, bless its aging heart, isn’t exactly a cutting-edge PC. This means you don’t need to go out and spend a grand on a 4K, 240Hz beast with G-Sync and all the bells and whistles. Honestly, most of that stuff will go completely unnoticed, or worse, won’t even work correctly with your PS4. It’s like trying to put racing slicks on a moped.
My first PS4 was hooked up to a hulking 27-inch 1080p LCD I’d had for years, and you know what? It was perfectly fine for most games. The real upgrade came not from a super high refresh rate, but from better colors and response times. That’s where you’ll actually see a difference you can feel when you’re mashing buttons during a tense boss fight.
I distinctly remember spending around $350 on a monitor that promised the world, only to find out its response time was so sluggish that enemies seemed to leave trails behind them. Ghosting, they call it. It made fast-paced games feel like wading through treacle. A complete waste of cash that could have gone towards more games.
The key is balance. You’re aiming for something that complements your PS4, not overwhelms it. Think of it like choosing tires for a reliable sedan – you want good grip and decent mileage, not Formula 1 rubber.
Refresh Rate: The Big Misconception
Everyone bangs on about refresh rates. 60Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz, 240Hz. For PC gaming, yeah, it matters. For PS4? Not so much. Most PS4 games aim for a solid 30 FPS or, if you’re lucky and playing something less graphically intense, a stable 60 FPS.
Buying a monitor with a refresh rate much higher than 60Hz for your PS4 is, in my humble opinion, a colossal waste of money. It’s like buying a top-tier espresso machine for instant coffee. The hardware just can’t feed that kind of speed to the display. That extra $100 or $200 you spend on a 144Hz panel could be far better allocated elsewhere. Honestly, I’ve seen more people than I can count fall for this trap, myself included, and it’s usually followed by a quiet sigh and a mentally re-budgeted shopping cart.
If everyone tells you to chase the highest refresh rate, I disagree. You should focus on a consistent 60Hz panel that boasts excellent color accuracy and a low response time. Why? Because the PS4 simply doesn’t produce frames fast enough to take advantage of anything beyond 60Hz. You’re paying for a feature you’ll never truly experience with that console.
Resolution and Panel Type: What Actually Matters
So, if refresh rate isn’t the king, what is? For the PS4, the sweet spot is 1080p (Full HD). While the PS4 Pro can output 4K, the upscaling isn’t always perfect, and native 1080p on a good monitor often looks sharper and cleaner than a poorly upscaled 4K image. Plus, 1080p monitors are significantly cheaper. (See Also: What Causes Shadowing On Monitor )
Panel type is another big one. You’ll see IPS, TN, and VA panels. For gaming, especially if you’re not chasing bleeding-edge PC specs, IPS panels usually offer the best balance. They give you fantastic color reproduction – games will look richer, more vibrant, like stepping from a black-and-white movie into technicolor. They also have pretty good viewing angles, so if you have friends over, everyone gets a decent view.
TN panels are the cheapest and have the fastest response times, but their colors are often washed out, and the viewing angles are terrible. VA panels offer great contrast but can sometimes have slower response times and suffer from “black smearing” in dark scenes, which looks like a weird, dark trail following fast-moving objects. Given the PS4’s capabilities, an IPS monitor will likely give you the most bang for your buck in terms of visual fidelity.
Input Lag and Response Time: The Silent Killers
This is where things get technical but are genuinely important. Input lag is the delay between you pressing a button on your controller and seeing that action happen on screen. Response time is how quickly a pixel can change color.
High input lag is like trying to drive a car with a spongy brake pedal. You press, and then something *eventually* happens. It’s incredibly frustrating, especially in games that require quick reflexes. You’ll find yourself overshooting jumps or missing parries because the game is lagging behind your inputs.
Response time is closely related. If a pixel can’t change fast enough, you get motion blur or ghosting. Imagine watching a figure skater and seeing faint, blurry duplicates trailing behind them with every spin. That’s what slow response times can do to your gaming experience. When you’re looking at monitor specs, aim for a response time of around 5ms or less (often listed as GTG – Grey-to-Grey). Anything higher, and you’re asking for trouble. You can often find this information buried in the technical specifications on a manufacturer’s website, or sometimes in reviews from sites like Rtings.com, which does incredibly detailed testing. According to their methodology, input lag below 16.6ms is generally considered imperceptible for most users.
My own PS4 setup used to suffer from noticeable input lag because I chose a cheap monitor that didn’t even list its response time. It felt like I was playing with a handicap. It wasn’t until I switched to a monitor that explicitly advertised low input lag and a fast response time that I realized how much it had been holding me back. The difference was night and day, like going from a sputtering bicycle to a smooth-riding motorcycle.
The ‘gaming Monitor’ Trap
Beware of monitors that scream ‘GAMING!’ with aggressive red accents and glowing logos. These are often overpriced for features you don’t need, like ultra-high refresh rates or elaborate RGB lighting. They’re designed to catch your eye and lighten your wallet, not necessarily to provide the best experience for your PS4.
Sometimes, a good quality general-purpose monitor or even a professional-grade display with excellent color calibration can be a far better choice than a flashy ‘gaming’ monitor. You might find yourself looking at something intended for graphic design or photography, and honestly, those often have superior color accuracy and panel quality that will make your PS4 games pop.
I once saw a monitor advertised with a ‘lightning-fast response time’ and a price tag that made my eyes water. Turns out, that ‘lightning’ was more like a flickering candle. The marketing language can be incredibly deceptive, making it sound like you’re getting the absolute best when you’re really just paying a premium for buzzwords. It’s not unlike buying a specialized tool for a task you only do once a year; often, a good multi-tool will do the job just fine, and for a fraction of the cost.
Connectivity: HDMI Is Key
This might seem obvious, but check your ports. The PS4 uses HDMI. Make sure the monitor you choose has at least one, preferably two, HDMI ports. Most modern monitors will, but it’s always worth double-checking, especially if you’re looking at very budget-friendly options or monitors that are older. (See Also: What Is Monitor Es )
If you have a PS4 Pro, ensure the HDMI port on the monitor supports at least HDMI 2.0. This is important for getting the most out of its 4K capabilities, even if you’re primarily playing at 1080p. For a standard PS4, HDMI 1.4 is perfectly adequate, but most monitors these days will offer HDMI 2.0 anyway.
Faq: Quick Answers to Burning Questions
What Is the Best Resolution for a Ps4 Monitor?
For the standard PS4, 1080p (Full HD) is generally the sweet spot. It provides a clear, sharp image without being unnecessarily demanding on the console. While the PS4 Pro can output 4K, native 1080p on a high-quality display often looks better than upscaled 4K due to the PS4’s processing limitations.
Do I Need a High Refresh Rate Monitor for Ps4?
No, not really. Most PS4 games run at 30 or 60 frames per second. A monitor with a 60Hz refresh rate is more than sufficient and will save you money that could be better spent on other features like color accuracy or lower input lag.
What Is Input Lag and Why Is It Important for Ps4 Gaming?
Input lag is the delay between your controller input and the action appearing on screen. For fast-paced games, high input lag makes your game feel unresponsive and can significantly impact your performance. Look for monitors with low input lag, ideally under 20ms.
Can I Use a TV as a Monitor for Ps4?
Yes, absolutely. Many modern TVs offer excellent picture quality and can serve as a monitor. However, be mindful of input lag on TVs, as some models are worse than others. If you’re using a TV, check its ‘Game Mode’ settings, which often help reduce input lag.
Are Ultrawide Monitors Good for Ps4?
Ultrawide monitors (21:9 aspect ratio) can work, but support varies by game. Some games will stretch the image, others will add black bars on the sides, and some might natively support the wider aspect ratio. It’s a bit of a gamble, and for a more consistent experience, a standard 16:9 monitor is usually safer for PS4 gaming.
My Recommended Ps4 Monitor Specs (if You’re Starting From Scratch)
Okay, so if you’re asking what monitor to get for PS4 and you want my honest opinion, here’s the breakdown of what I’d aim for:
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (1080p)
Refresh Rate: 60Hz (seriously, anything more is overkill)
Panel Type: IPS (for the best colors and viewing angles) (See Also: What Is Resolution Of Monitor )
Response Time: 5ms GTG or less (aim for low, but don’t obsess over 1ms vs 5ms for PS4)
Input Lag: As low as possible, ideally under 20ms. This is often harder to find spec’d out clearly than response time, so check reviews.
Connectivity: At least one HDMI 2.0 port.
Size: 24-27 inches is a sweet spot for most desk setups and viewing distances. Smaller can feel cramped, larger might mean you’re moving your head too much.
Price: You should be able to find a great monitor fitting these specs for under $200, maybe even closer to $150 if you catch a sale. Anything significantly over that for a PS4 monitor is probably getting into unnecessary territory. I spent around $180 on a solid 24-inch IPS panel a couple of years back, and it’s still serving me well for my older consoles.
Don’t get caught up in the hype of ultra-high refresh rates or 4K if you’re primarily gaming on a standard PS4 or even a PS4 Pro. Focus on the fundamentals: a clean 1080p image, smooth motion without ghosting, and minimal input delay. That’s what truly makes a difference in how your games feel and look.
| Feature | My Verdict | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1080p | Perfect for PS4. 4K is overkill. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | PS4 can’t push more frames; save your money. |
| Panel Type | IPS | Best balance of color and viewing angles. |
| Response Time | 5ms GTG or less | Reduces ghosting and motion blur. |
| Input Lag | Under 20ms | Crucial for responsive gameplay. Often harder to find than response time spec. |
| HDMI Port | HDMI 2.0 | Ensures compatibility with PS4 Pro’s higher output potential. |
| Size | 24-27 inches | Comfortable viewing distance for most. |
| Price Point | Under $200 | Good quality is attainable without breaking the bank. |
Conclusion
So, when you’re weighing up what monitor to get for PS4, remember that less is often more. Don’t get swayed by those flashy ‘gaming’ labels promising the moon. Focus on the core elements that actually improve your experience: a sharp 1080p image, decent colors, and crucially, low input lag and a smooth response time. Those are the things that make a real difference when you’re deep in a game.
Honestly, I spent too long chasing specs that my console couldn’t even use. It’s a hard lesson learned, but hopefully, it saves you the same frustration and wasted cash. It’s like buying a sports car engine for a go-kart; it just doesn’t fit.
If you’re still on the fence, check out reviews from reputable tech sites that actually test input lag and response times – not just the ones that get paid by manufacturers to gush over every feature. Rtings.com is a good starting point for detailed, objective testing. They’ll tell you if a monitor is genuinely good or just pretty.
Your next step is simple: identify your budget, then look for monitors that fit the 1080p, 60Hz, IPS, low input lag criteria. You’ll be surprised how good your PS4 games can look and feel without needing to spend a fortune chasing features you’ll never fully utilize.
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