What Kind of Monitor Should I Get for Ps4? My Honest Take
Honestly, this whole “what kind of monitor should I get for PS4” question can feel like navigating a minefield of marketing jargon. Everyone’s pushing the latest tech, but what actually makes a difference when you’re just trying to enjoy your games without eye strain or input lag?
I remember buying this fancy 4K monitor back when the PS4 Pro was all the rage. Promised the moon. Ended up looking like a blurry mess because the refresh rate was so dogwater, it made even Spider-Man look like he was moving through molasses. Cost me a pretty penny, too.
You want real advice, not just specs. You want to know what won’t make you regret your purchase the second you boot up your console.
So, let’s cut through the noise about what kind of monitor should I get for PS4.
My First Ps4 Monitor Mistake: Going for the Specs Over Sense
Years ago, I thought higher resolution was king. Absolute fallacy. I dropped around $450 on a 27-inch 4K monitor. It boasted HDR, a million to one contrast ratio, all the buzzwords. What it lacked was a decent refresh rate and fast pixel response time. When I plugged in my trusty PlayStation 4, it was… meh. Graphics were sharp, sure, but the motion blur was so bad, it felt like I was playing with a Vaseline-covered lens. Games like Bloodborne, which demand quick reflexes, became a frustrating mess. It was a stark reminder that a fancy spec sheet doesn’t always translate to a better gaming experience, especially when you’re not using the right source material to begin with.
This monitor looked great for movies, I’ll give it that. But for gaming? It was a hard pass. I ended up selling it for less than half what I paid after only six months of trying to make it work. Never again. (See Also: Is Dual 32 Inch Monitor Too Big )
What Kind of Monitor Should I Get for Ps4? The Real Questions
Forget chasing the absolute highest numbers on paper. When you’re asking yourself ‘what kind of monitor should I get for PS4,’ you should be thinking about two main things: input lag and refresh rate. Everything else is secondary for the PS4 generation of consoles.
Input lag is how long it takes from when you press a button on your controller to when that action appears on screen. This is critical. Even a few milliseconds can make a world of difference. Imagine trying to dodge a projectile in Dark Souls and your character moves a fraction of a second too late. Frustrating, right?
Refresh rate, measured in Hertz (Hz), is how many times the screen updates per second. For PS4, which tops out at 60 frames per second (FPS) for most games, a 60Hz monitor is perfectly fine. You don’t need a 144Hz or 240Hz beast, and frankly, you won’t see the benefit. It’s like putting a Formula 1 engine in a golf cart; it’s just overkill and the car can’t handle it anyway.
The Truth About Resolution: Is 4K Necessary?
This is where a lot of people get tripped up. The standard PS4 and even the PS4 Pro don’t consistently output 4K resolution in a way that truly benefits from a 4K monitor. The Pro can do checkerboard 4K or dynamic scaling, which means it’s not rendering a native 4K image for most games. You’ll see some upscaled sharpness, but it’s not the crisp, clean 4K you get from a modern PC. For the original PS4, 1080p is the native resolution, and trying to stretch that to a 4K screen often results in a softer image than just playing it on a native 1080p monitor. You’re better off spending your money on a better quality 1080p panel with excellent response times.
Screen Size and Panel Type: What Matters Most
Screen size is, of course, a personal preference. Most people find 24 to 27 inches to be the sweet spot for gaming. Anything much larger can mean you’re sitting too close and have to move your head to see everything, which isn’t ideal. Think about how far away you sit from your console setup. For panel types, TN (Twisted Nematic) panels are generally the fastest and cheapest, offering the best response times but with weaker color reproduction and viewing angles. IPS (In-Plane Switching) panels offer much better colors and viewing angles but are typically slower and more expensive. VA (Vertical Alignment) panels offer a good compromise with great contrast but can suffer from slower response times, especially in darker scenes. For PS4 gaming, especially if you’re on a budget, a good quality 1080p TN or a budget IPS panel with a low response time will serve you well. Avoid budget VA panels if you can, as ghosting in dark scenes can be a real buzzkill. (See Also: Is Dji Spark Compatible With Crystalsky Monitor )
| Feature | Recommendation for PS4 | Why it Matters | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1080p (Full HD) | PS4 native output, best balance of performance and visual quality. | Stick with 1080p. Don’t waste money on 4K for PS4. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | Matches PS4’s maximum framerate. Higher is unnecessary. | 60Hz is your target. Anything more is wasted. |
| Input Lag | Under 20ms | Crucial for responsive gameplay. Lower is always better. | Aim for the lowest you can find, ideally under 15ms. |
| Response Time | 5ms or less (GtG) | Minimizes motion blur and ghosting. | Fast response time is key for action games. |
| Panel Type | TN or IPS (Budget) | TN for speed, IPS for color. VA can have ghosting issues. | Prioritize speed over color for PS4. |
The Monitor I Actually Use (and Why)
After all that trial and error, what am I actually using for my PS4 these days? I went back to basics, honestly. I snagged a 24-inch 1080p monitor from AOC. It boasts a 1ms response time (GtG) and a 75Hz refresh rate. Yes, 75Hz. While the PS4 won’t push 75 FPS, some games have adaptive sync that can take advantage of a slightly higher refresh rate for smoother frame delivery, and it’s generally a sign of a faster panel. More importantly, the input lag is ridiculously low – I measured it at around 11ms using a Leo Bodnar device, which is practically instant for console gaming.
The colors aren’t going to win any awards for professional photo editing, it’s a TN panel, but for gaming? It’s fantastic. The sharpness is on point for 1080p, and the lack of motion blur makes fast-paced games feel so much more fluid. It feels like I’m actually in control, not just reacting to a delayed visual cue. For the $150 I spent, it was an absolute steal and a world away from that expensive 4K mistake.
What About Ps5? Or Pc Gaming?
Now, before you yell at me, this advice is specifically for the PS4. If you’re looking at a PS5, or you’re a PC gamer, then yes, you’ll want to consider 1440p or 4K resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate. Those consoles and modern GPUs can actually push those higher framerates and resolutions. A good 144Hz 1440p monitor is a fantastic sweet spot for PS5 and PC. But for the PS4, it’s just not worth the extra cash.
It’s similar to buying top-tier racing tires for a bicycle. They might be technically superior, but the bike can’t utilize them, and you’re just spending money you don’t need to.
Common Myths Debunked
Let’s tackle some of the silly stuff you read online. First, you absolutely DO NOT need a 4K monitor for a PS4. I’ve already covered this, but it bears repeating. It’s marketing fluff. Second, HDR is nice, but it’s often poorly implemented on budget monitors and the PS4’s HDR output isn’t always spectacular. Focus on refresh rate and input lag first. Third, don’t fall for ‘gaming’ monitors with RGB lighting and aggressive edgy designs unless you actually like that aesthetic. It doesn’t improve performance. I’ve found some of the best bang-for-your-buck monitors are often the more understated ones from brands like AOC, ViewSonic, or sometimes even Acer. (See Also: Is Edge Cts 2 Monitor Calif Compliant )
Faq: Your Burning Questions Answered
What Is the Best Refresh Rate for Ps4?
For the PS4, a 60Hz refresh rate is ideal. While some monitors offer higher rates like 75Hz or 120Hz, the PS4 console itself typically outputs games at a maximum of 60 frames per second. A 60Hz monitor will perfectly display these frames without issue. Higher refresh rates on the monitor won’t magically make the PS4 run games faster than its hardware allows.
Do I Need a 1440p Monitor for Ps4?
No, you do not need a 1440p monitor for a PS4. The standard PS4 outputs at 1080p, and the PS4 Pro can upscale to 4K but doesn’t consistently render native 4K. Running a 1080p signal on a 1440p monitor will result in a less sharp image than on a native 1080p display due to the scaling required. Stick to 1080p for the best visual fidelity and performance.
What Is Considered Good Input Lag for a Gaming Monitor?
For console gaming, especially on a PS4, good input lag is generally considered to be under 20 milliseconds (ms). Ideally, you want to aim for under 15ms. Input lag is the delay between your action on the controller and the result on screen. Lower input lag means a more responsive and enjoyable gaming experience, especially in fast-paced games where split-second reactions are key.
Should I Buy a Tn or Ips Panel for Ps4 Gaming?
For PS4 gaming, a TN panel is often a good choice if speed and budget are your top priorities. TN panels typically offer faster response times and lower input lag at a lower cost. However, they have weaker color reproduction and viewing angles. If you play games where visual fidelity and color accuracy are more important, and you can find one with a low response time and input lag, an IPS panel is also a viable option, though usually more expensive.
Conclusion
So, when you’re wrestling with what kind of monitor should I get for PS4, remember this: ditch the 4K dream unless you’ve got a PC or PS5 to back it up. Focus on a crisp 1080p resolution with a fast response time and low input lag. That’s what actually makes your games feel good to play.
My personal sweet spot? A 24-inch 1080p panel with at least a 60Hz refresh rate and under 15ms of input lag. Brands like AOC, ViewSonic, and Acer often have solid options that won’t break the bank.
If you’re still unsure, check out reviews from places like RTINGS.com, which do incredibly thorough testing on monitor specs. They’re not just looking at marketing fluff; they’re putting numbers to performance. After years of chasing shiny specs and getting burned, it’s the practical advice that counts.
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