What Monitor Should I Get for Ps4? My Honest Take
Look, I’ve been there. Staring at a 4K TV from across the room, fiddling with settings that make zero difference, and wondering why my PS4 games just don’t pop. It’s frustrating, right?
So, you’re asking yourself, ‘what monitor should I get for PS4?’ It’s not as simple as just grabbing the cheapest one you see online, believe me. I learned that the hard way, spending a solid $300 on a behemoth that promised ‘immersive gaming’ but just made everything look washed out and laggy. Seven different models later, I think I’ve finally wrestled this whole monitor thing into submission.
Forget the marketing fluff for a minute. Let’s talk about what actually matters for getting your PS4 looking and playing its best, without you needing to take out a second mortgage or become a certified display technician.
Forget 4K, Focus on What Matters for Ps4
Seriously. Most PS4 games, even the Pro versions, aren’t truly rendering at native 4K with all the bells and whistles turned up to eleven. They often use checkerboard rendering or dynamic resolution scaling. Slapping a massive, expensive 4K monitor in front of it can sometimes be overkill, and frankly, a waste of money if you’re not going to use it for its full potential with a PS5 or a beefy PC. You’ll spend ages tweaking settings, and for what? A marginal improvement that might not even be there.
For the PS4 generation, which is primarily 1080p or a slightly upscaled 1080p on the Pro, a good 1080p monitor is often your best bet. It’s like trying to use a race car engine to power a moped; it’s just not necessary and can even be counterproductive if not managed correctly.
The Sweet Spot: 1080p at 60hz (maybe 120hz If You’re Lucky)
Here’s the deal: the PS4 is capped at 60 frames per second (fps) for most games. Some games might hit 30fps, and a rare few might push a bit higher, but 60fps is the general ceiling you’ll be aiming for. What does this mean for you? It means a monitor with a refresh rate of 60Hz is perfectly adequate. Anything higher, like 144Hz or 240Hz, is absolutely pointless for a standard PS4. You’re paying for features your console simply cannot deliver.
However, if you can find a monitor that supports 120Hz and is also 1080p, and the price isn’t insane, it might offer a *tiny* bit of future-proofing for a PS5 down the line. But for the PS4 itself? 60Hz is your golden number. I spent an embarrassing $450 on a 144Hz panel once, thinking I was being clever. Turns out, my PS4 was still chugging along at 30fps, making that high refresh rate about as useful as a screen door on a submarine. (See Also: Is Dual 32 Inch Monitor Too Big )
Now, about screen size: 24 to 27 inches is generally the sweet spot for 1080p monitors. Go much bigger, and you start to see the pixels. It’s like looking at a mosaic up close; the individual tiles become painfully obvious.
Response Time: Don’t Get Tricked by Marketing Buzzwords
Everyone talks about response time, usually in milliseconds (ms). You’ll see numbers like ‘1ms GtG’ (Gray-to-Gray) plastered everywhere. For the PS4, while lower is generally better, you don’t need to obsess over getting the absolute lowest number possible, especially if it means sacrificing other important specs or blowing your budget. Anything under 5ms is usually fine and will prevent that annoying motion blur or ghosting that makes fast-paced games look like a smeary mess.
What I’ve found is that the *actual* performance can sometimes be a bit… fuzzier than the spec sheet suggests. My old Acer, advertised at 1ms, still had noticeable ghosting in certain racing games. It’s like looking at a slightly out-of-focus photograph compared to a crisp one. You can’t always trust those numbers without seeing it in action or reading real user reviews.
Panel Type Matters: Ips vs. Va vs. Tn
This is where things get a bit more technical, but it’s important. Most monitors fall into one of these three categories:
- TN (Twisted Nematic): These are usually the cheapest and have the fastest response times (often the source of those ‘1ms’ claims). The downside? Color reproduction and viewing angles are pretty garbage. Everything looks a bit washed out, and if you’re not sitting directly in front, the colors and brightness shift dramatically.
- VA (Vertical Alignment): These offer better contrast ratios than IPS, meaning deeper blacks. They’re often a good middle ground. However, response times can sometimes be slower than TN panels, and they can suffer from ‘black smearing’ in dark scenes.
- IPS (In-Plane Switching): These are generally considered the best for color accuracy and viewing angles. The colors are vibrant, and they look consistent no matter where you sit. Response times are usually better than VA, though not always as fast as TN. They are typically more expensive.
For the PS4, I lean towards IPS. The better colors and viewing angles make games look more alive and engaging, and the input lag is usually low enough to not be an issue for console gaming. If you’re playing in a super dark room and deep blacks are your absolute priority, a VA might tempt you, but be wary of that potential smearing. Honestly, I went with a 27-inch IPS panel for my secondary gaming setup, and the vibrant colors in games like Horizon Zero Dawn were a revelation compared to the older TN panel I’d been using.
Input Lag: The Silent Killer of Fun
This is HUGE. Input lag is the delay between when you press a button on your controller and when the action appears on screen. For a console like the PS4, especially if you play fast-paced games like shooters or fighting games, you want this to be as low as possible. High input lag makes you feel like you’re playing through molasses. It’s the difference between nailing a headshot and getting fragged before you even see the enemy. (See Also: Is Dji Spark Compatible With Crystalsky Monitor )
Most gaming monitors will advertise low response times, but input lag is a different beast. Look for monitors that specifically mention low input lag or have a ‘game mode’ that disables extra processing that can slow things down. According to testing by sites like RTINGS.com, which I trust way more than any manufacturer’s marketing department, many gaming monitors have an input lag of around 10-20ms at 1080p. Anything over 30ms starts to become noticeable and problematic for serious gaming.
Hdr on Ps4: Is It Worth It?
The PS4 (both standard and Pro) supports HDR (High Dynamic Range). This is meant to offer a wider range of colors and better contrast, making the image look more realistic. However, here’s the rub: the HDR implementation on the PS4, and especially on many budget monitors, can be… disappointing. You need a monitor that *truly* supports HDR with good peak brightness and a wide color gamut. Many monitors claiming HDR support are just faking it with software tricks that can actually make the image look *worse*, with washed-out colors and crushed blacks.
For the PS4, I’d honestly say skip the HDR-focused monitors unless you find a genuinely well-reviewed one at a decent price. You’ll get a better overall picture with a good 1080p IPS monitor that excels at standard dynamic range (SDR) than you will with a cheap HDR panel that butchers the image. It’s like trying to bake a gourmet cake in a toaster oven; the results are rarely good.
My Personal Monitor Nightmare
I remember buying a supposedly ‘ultra-wide’ monitor, boasting about the immersive field of view. It looked cool on paper, promised to make games feel like you were *in* them. What a disaster. For the PS4, it was just… awkward. The aspect ratio meant games were either stretched, had massive black bars on the sides, or were zoomed in weirdly. My PS4 didn’t even output properly to the full native resolution of the ultra-wide. I spent over $600, and it ended up gathering dust for months before I sold it at a massive loss. It was a classic case of chasing a feature that sounded fancy but was completely mismatched with the actual hardware I was using it with.
What Monitor Should I Get for Ps4? My Recommendations
Based on my years of tinkering, wasted cash, and late-night gaming sessions, here’s what I’d look for:
| Feature | Ideal for PS4 | My Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1080p | Don’t overspend on 4K unless you have future plans. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz (120Hz is a bonus, but not essential) | PS4 won’t utilize anything higher than 60fps effectively. |
| Response Time | Under 5ms | Avoids noticeable ghosting in fast games. |
| Panel Type | IPS | Best all-around for color, viewing angles, and input lag. |
| Size | 24-27 inches | Maintains pixel density for 1080p. |
| Input Lag | Under 20ms | Crucial for responsive gameplay. Look for ‘game mode’. |
| HDR Support | Optional, but be wary of budget implementations | Many PS4 HDR implementations are weak. Prioritize SDR quality. |
For a solid, no-nonsense option, look at brands like ASUS, LG, or Dell. They often have good quality control and reliable performance without breaking the bank. I’ve had good luck with ASUS VP series monitors for budget-friendly gaming. (See Also: Is Edge Cts 2 Monitor Calif Compliant )
People Also Ask:
Is 1440p Good for Ps4?
For a standard PS4, 1440p (QHD) is generally overkill and not ideal. The console will likely output at 1080p and then upscale to 1440p, which often results in a softer image than native 1080p on a proper 1080p monitor. If you have a PS4 Pro, it *can* output at 1440p for some games, but you’d still see better results from a native 1080p monitor that has excellent image processing than a 1440p monitor that has to scale.
Can Ps4 Run 120hz?
No, the standard PS4 cannot run games at 120Hz. Its frame rate is capped at 60fps for most titles. While the PS4 hardware *might* be technically capable of displaying a 120Hz signal in some rare, specific scenarios (like system menus), it will not translate to actual gameplay at 120 frames per second. You’ll get 60fps at best, making a 120Hz monitor mostly a waste for this console generation.
Does Ps4 Need a Gaming Monitor?
A ‘gaming monitor’ isn’t strictly necessary, but it’s highly recommended. Standard office monitors often have higher input lag and slower response times, which are detrimental to the gaming experience. A monitor labeled as ‘gaming’ usually implies it has features like low input lag, faster response times, and sometimes higher refresh rates (though, as we’ve discussed, you don’t need the super high ones for PS4). It prioritizes the features that make games feel more responsive and look smoother.
What Is the Best Monitor Size for Ps4?
For 1080p resolution, the sweet spot for monitor size is generally between 24 and 27 inches. Any larger than 27 inches, and the pixels can start to become noticeable, making the image appear less sharp. This size range provides a good balance between immersion and image clarity when sitting at a typical desk distance.
Conclusion
So, when you’re out there trying to figure out what monitor should I get for PS4, remember this: don’t get dazzled by the numbers. Focus on the fundamentals: 1080p resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, an IPS panel for good colors and viewing angles, and most importantly, low input lag. That combination will give you the best bang for your buck and make your PS4 games look and feel fantastic.
Forget about chasing the highest specs your console can’t even use. You’re not building a space shuttle; you’re setting up a gaming station. Keep it practical, keep it focused, and you’ll have a much better time without feeling like you’ve been taken for a ride.
My advice? Go to a store, if you can, and look at a few 24 or 27-inch 1080p IPS monitors. See how the colors look to you. If you can’t do that, read reviews that specifically mention input lag and ghosting for console gaming. Trust your eyes and the experiences of others over marketing jargon.
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