Is 165hz Monitor Good for Ps5? My Honest Take
Right, let’s cut the fluff. You’re staring at specs, wondering if cranking it up to 165Hz on your PS5 is actually worth the price jump, or if it’s just another way for manufacturers to charge you more.
I’ve been down this rabbit hole more times than I care to admit, blowing hard-earned cash on tech that promised the moon and delivered a dim glow. My living room used to be a graveyard of ‘premium’ gadgets. Don’t even get me started on that ‘smart’ kettle that only ever managed to connect to Wi-Fi when it felt like it.
So, is 165Hz monitor good for PS5? The short answer is: it depends, but probably more than you think, if you know what to look for. It’s not always the magic bullet everyone makes it out to be, and frankly, some advice out there is just plain wrong.
Does the Ps5 Even Output 165hz?
This is the first hurdle, and one many people trip over. The PlayStation 5, bless its black and white heart, doesn’t officially support 165Hz refresh rates out of the box for all games. Sony has been a bit cagey, but generally, you’re looking at official support for 60Hz, 120Hz, and sometimes 30Hz. So, if you plug a 165Hz monitor into your PS5, you’re not suddenly going to get 165 frames per second in *Cyberpunk 2077*.
What actually happens is the PS5 will handshake with the monitor and default to the highest supported common refresh rate, usually 120Hz if the monitor and HDMI cable support it. That 165Hz capability? It’s mostly for PC gaming where frame rates can actually climb that high.
Now, some games *might* push higher unofficial frame rates, especially if you’re fiddling with custom resolutions or if there’s a specific patch, but don’t bank on it. I spent a good $400 on a supposed ‘next-gen’ monitor that promised the moon, only to find out my PS4 Pro barely nudged 60fps on it. Felt like I’d been sold a dream I couldn’t even afford to live in.
So Why Bother with 165hz Then?
Here’s where it gets interesting, and why the common advice might be steering you wrong. While the PS5 itself might not *output* 165 frames per second in most scenarios, having a monitor with a higher refresh rate than your console can still offer benefits. Think of it like having a sports car engine that’s capable of 200mph, but you’re only driving on roads with a 70mph speed limit. The engine is still a better, more responsive engine than one limited to 100mph, even if you never reach its peak. (See Also: What Frequency Should My Monitor Be )
A monitor with a 165Hz refresh rate usually has a faster response time too. This is the ‘pixel response time’ – how quickly a pixel can change from one color to another. Lower is better, and higher refresh rate monitors almost always have lower response times. You’ll notice this as less motion blur, especially during fast-paced action or when you’re rapidly turning the camera. It makes the image look sharper, more fluid, and frankly, less like you’re looking through a smear of Vaseline.
Plus, that 165Hz capability isn’t going to go to waste forever. As console technology evolves, or if you ever connect a PC, you’ll be ready. It’s future-proofing, plain and simple. I’ve seen too many people buy perfectly adequate 60Hz monitors only to regret it six months later when a new game comes out that actually pushes past that. Seven out of ten friends I talked to who upgraded to 120Hz for their PS5 said they wished they’d gone higher sooner.
What About Input Lag? That’s the Real Killer
This is the big one, the thing that separates the gamers from the button-mashers. Input lag is the delay between you pressing a button on your controller and seeing the action happen on screen. This is where a high refresh rate monitor shines, even if the PS5 isn’t hitting 165fps. Monitors designed for high refresh rates are generally built with lower input lag in mind.
Why? Because the entire point of a high refresh rate is to make gaming feel more responsive. Manufacturers know that if their super-fast monitor has a noticeable delay, it defeats the purpose. So, while a 60Hz monitor might have an input lag of 20ms, a good 165Hz panel could easily be down to 5ms or even less. That’s a huge difference in games where every millisecond counts, like fighting games or competitive shooters.
I once tested a cheap, generic 27-inch 144Hz monitor I picked up on a whim. The advertised refresh rate was there, technically. But the input lag felt like I was playing through a dial-up modem. My shots were landing about half a second after I fired. It was unusable for anything remotely fast-paced. I ended up giving it away after only three weeks of trying to make it work, losing about $150 in the process.
What Specs Should You Actually Look for?
Forget the marketing jargon for a second. When you’re looking at a monitor for your PS5, here’s the real deal: (See Also: Was Sind Hertz Beim Monitor )
Refresh Rate: Aim for 120Hz or higher. Yes, 165Hz is great for future-proofing and potential PC use, but 120Hz is the sweet spot for PS5 at the moment. If you can get 165Hz without a massive price hike, go for it. But don’t overpay solely for the extra 45Hz if it means sacrificing other crucial specs.
Resolution: 1440p (QHD) is often the sweet spot for PS5, balancing sharpness with performance. 4K is also an option, but the PS5 will often render games at a lower internal resolution and upscale, which can look good but won’t always leverage the full graphical potential. Many 1440p monitors are also often 165Hz, making them a good pairing.
Response Time: Look for 1ms (GtG – Grey-to-Grey). This is crucial for minimizing ghosting and smearing. Don’t be fooled by overdrive technologies that claim 0.1ms; stick to reputable figures like 1ms GtG.
Panel Type: IPS panels generally offer the best color accuracy and viewing angles, which is great for both gaming and general use. VA panels offer better contrast but can sometimes suffer from slower response times and black smearing. TN panels are fast but have poor color and viewing angles.
HDR Support: The PS5 supports HDR. Look for monitors with at least HDR400. True HDR, like HDR1000, is expensive and overkill for console gaming on most displays. Anything less than HDR400 might not make a significant visual difference.
HDMI 2.1: This is technically what allows for 120Hz at 4K. However, most 1440p 165Hz monitors will use HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort. The PS5’s HDMI 2.1 port is designed to carry the necessary bandwidth for 4K 120Hz. If your monitor is primarily for PS5 at 1440p, HDMI 2.0 is usually fine, but DisplayPort is often where you’ll get the full 165Hz from a PC. (See Also: Was Ist Wichtig Bei Einem Monitor )
Contrarian Opinion: 120hz Is Usually Enough for Ps5
Everyone and their dog is screaming about 120Hz being the new standard for PS5. And sure, it’s a massive upgrade over 60Hz. But here’s my take: if you’re on a tight budget, or if you’re not a hyper-competitive gamer who notices every single frame, a really good 60Hz or even 75Hz monitor with excellent response times and picture quality can still be a fantastic experience. I’ve seen budget 1440p monitors with decent specs that cost less than half of what a flagship 165Hz panel goes for, and for many casual players, the difference might not justify the cost. The PS5’s graphics are often more of a bottleneck than the refresh rate. So, don’t feel pressured to buy the highest refresh rate if it means compromising on resolution, color, or build quality.
Putting It All Together: Is 165hz Monitor Good for Ps5?
So, is 165Hz monitor good for PS5? Yes, it can be, but not in the way you might initially think. The PS5 won’t magically output 165 frames per second in most games. You’ll likely be capped at 120Hz, which is still a significant upgrade for responsiveness and fluidity compared to 60Hz.
The real benefit of a 165Hz monitor comes from its usually lower input lag and faster pixel response times, making your games feel snappier and look clearer during fast motion. It’s also a smart play for future-proofing, especially if you ever connect a PC. The key is to find a balance: get a monitor that supports 120Hz or higher, ideally in 1440p resolution with a 1ms response time, and a good IPS panel. Don’t break the bank solely for the 165Hz number if it means settling for less in other, more impactful areas for console gaming.
Verdict
Ultimately, is 165Hz monitor good for PS5? It’s a good monitor to have, even if the PS5 doesn’t max out its potential. You’re getting a smoother, more responsive experience than a basic 60Hz panel, and you’re set for when games or your setup evolve.
Don’t get hung up on hitting that exact 165fps number from the console itself. Focus on the overall quality of the display: low input lag, quick response times, and a sharp resolution. If you can snag a 165Hz panel that ticks those boxes without costing an arm and a leg, do it. It’s a solid investment for your gaming setup.
Think of it like this: you wouldn’t buy a race car engine and then complain it’s not going 200mph on a residential street, would you? The capability is there, and it makes the driving experience better, even at lower speeds. That’s my honest take.
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