Although many people say the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 4 Pro are best paired with a TV, computer monitors are also great displays for Sony’s current-gen consoles. They have a smaller footprint, which is great if you have limited space and don’t have room for a 50-inch TV. And they have lower input lag, which is especially beneficial in fast-paced competitive games.
Shopping for the best monitors for PS4 is a difficult task, though, mainly because most monitors on the market are directed toward PC gaming. Fortunately for you, we already got you covered with this guide. In this guide, we have compiled the top products currently out on the market, from budget options to 4K monitors.
HP N270h
While there are also budget-friendly TVs, monitors are usually cheaper, which makes them better options for those who have a small budget. If you can only spend around $150 for a monitor, check out the HP N270h, a 27-inch display with a 1080p resolution and a 60 Hz refresh rate.
Featuring an IPS panel, the N270h is a gaming monitor with thin bezels at three sides and an anti-glare screen coating for reduced glare when using the monitor in a bright room. It has one HDMI 1.4 port, which allows for connectivity with the PS4. The default stand is basic and only offers tilt adjustment, so if you want a more flexible setup, you’ll need to mount it to a third-party monitor stand or arm.
The N270h is a decent low-end gaming monitor, with good response time and input lag. It has good color accuracy and wide viewing angles, but it has subpar contrast. You can use it for different kinds of games, including first-person shooters and racing games. If you want a simple monitor for PS4 gaming, get this HP product.
Dell P2417H
Like the HP N270h, the Dell P2417H is an affordable IPS monitor with a 1080p resolution and a 60 Hz native refresh rate, but it has a smaller 24-inch screen. While it’s clearly designed for professional use, this Dell monitor also works well for gaming on PS4.
Selling for about the same price as the HP monitor above, the P2417H has a minimalist design similar to most other Dell office monitors. It has narrow bezels and a clean back panel with most of the connection ports down-firing at the bottom area. For input, it has one DisplayPort, one VGA port, and one HDMI port, with the latter being the most important for PS4 gaming. In addition, it has a USB hub composed of four USB ports, which can be used for charging your controllers.
The P2417H has good picture quality for an IPS monitor selling for less than $200, with great color accuracy out of the box, decent brightness, and wide viewing angles. While not on par with VA monitors, the contrast ratio is also decent. The response time is good while the input lag is low, which is great if you love to play fighting games. Overall, the P2417H is a good monitor for gaming on PS4, especially if you want something that comes with a USB hub and a fully adjustable stand.
BenQ Zowie RL2455S
If you are into competitive gaming, the BenQ Zowie RL2455S will make for an excellent console gaming monitor. It’s a 24-inch TN monitor designed specifically for competitive gaming on consoles, boasting an extremely fast response time and a very low input lag. It’s great for games such as Overwatch, Street Fighter V, and Rocket League.
Regarding design, the RL2455S – which sells for about the same price as the Dell P2417H – is not going to win any awards, especially with those thick bezels. It has a plain design from top to bottom and comes with a basic stand. It has dual HDMI 1.4 ports, which is great if you also want to connect it to a second console. While the monitor has speakers, the sound quality is mediocre, as expected from a budget monitor.
Compared to the Dell and HP budget monitors, this BenQ product has inferior picture quality, with poor contrast and narrow viewing angles. It’s not a suitable display for games with pretty visuals such as God of War, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and Persona 5. But for fast-paced competitive games where response times and input lag are more important than picture quality, it’s an ideal monitor.
Samsung C27F398
The Samsung C27F398 is a good alternative to the HP N270h if you want a monitor more suitable for survival horror games like the recently released Resident Evil 2 remake. It’s a 27-inch VA monitor with a 1080p resolution and a 60 Hz refresh rate, both of which are perfectly fine specifications for gaming on PS4 consoles.
Like many Samsung monitors, the C27F398 has a curved screen, which adds a bit of style to the otherwise basic-looking chassis. It has fairly narrow bezels all around and features an intuitive joystick control for navigating the on-screen display (OSD). For PS4 compatibility, it has one HDMI 1.4 port, located at the back, along with the DisplayPort. While the monitor has no USB hub, it has an audio out port for gaming headsets, which is nice.
The C27F398 has better overall picture quality than the BenQ gaming monitor above. It has a high contrast ratio, which leads to more vibrant images, and boasts excellent color accuracy once fully calibrated. Regarding gaming performance, this Samsung display is good, featuring a fast response time for a VA monitor and a low input lag. The curved screen doesn’t really make for a more immersive gaming experience, though, considering the screen size and aspect ratio.
ViewSonic XG2402
Often considered one of the best TN monitors currently out, the ViewSonic XG2402 is an excellent monitor for gaming, whether you game on PC or consoles. It’s a much more versatile TN display than the BenQ Zowie RL2455S, featuring a fully adjustable stand and a USB hub. It sells for around $200-250, with the price sometimes dropping below $200 during a big sale.
The XG2402 is a 24-inch display with a 1080p resolution and a 144 Hz refresh rate, the latter of which is beneficial if you are also going to use the monitor for PC gaming. It has a fully adjustable stand with good adjustment ranges, which is important considering the viewing angle issues of TN monitors. It has two HDMI ports for PS4 connectivity and two USB 3.0 ports for charging your PS4 controllers.
Featuring an extremely fast response time and an exceptional input lag, this ViewSonic display is best used for fast-paced games. You can use it for first-person shooters, fighting games, and sports games, among others. The monitor’s picture quality is also decent, which is the best-case scenario for a TN monitor. It has good color accuracy out of the box and good peak brightness. All in all, the XG2402 is a great cheap gaming monitor for PS4 gaming. You can’t take advantage of the very high native refresh rate, though, since PS4 games don’t go over 60 frames per second.
LG 27UD58-B
If you want a relatively affordable 4K monitor for your PS4 Pro, check out the LG 27UD58-B, an IPS display with a 27-inch screen and a 60 Hz refresh rate. You can get it for just around $300, which is a surprising price point for a 27-inch 4K monitor. LG also offers a 24-inch variant, but we don’t really recommend that one since larger screens are better for a 4K resolution.
Considering the price, it’s not surprising the 27UD58-B has minimal features. It has a basic design that won’t turn heads, with a plain back panel and a stand with very limited adjustability. The menu control, which comes in the form of a small joystick, is located at the bottom of the monitor, while the input ports are outward-facing at the back. The monitor features two HDMI 2.0 ports, which can support a 4K resolution at 60 Hz.
This LG monitor is a great display for role-playing games, survival horror games, and adventure games, among other genres. It has good color accuracy out of the box, wide viewing angles, and decent brightness. The response time is good for an IPS monitor while the input lag is low whether the monitor is running in 4K or 1080p, which is great if you want to connect it to a regular PS4. It’s a great product overall, offering excellent value for the money.
Asus VP28UQG
The Asus VP28UQG is a 28-inch 4K monitor selling for about the same price as the LG 27UD58-B, which makes it another good option if you want a budget 4K monitor. But unlike the LG monitor, it has a TN panel instead of IPS, which automatically translates to narrower viewing angles.
Compared to high-end Asus gaming monitors, the VP28UQG has a subtler chassis design, with none of those futuristic aesthetics and customizable lighting systems. The screen, which has an anti-glare coating, is surrounded by fairly thick bezels. For menu navigation, the monitor has an intuitive joystick control at the back.
Featuring dual HDMI 2.0 ports for connectivity with both the regular PS4 and the more powerful PS4 Pro, this Asus 4K monitor is a suitable display for fast-paced games. It has a fast response time, which is a given considering the panel type, and a low input lag. If you are into first-person shooters such as Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 and Battlefield 1, you’ll love this monitor. But if you value picture quality more than response times, we recommend the IPS and VA monitors on this list instead.
LG 27UK650-W
Considered by many as the best 4K monitor for Sony’s current-gen consoles, the LG 27UK650-W is an outstanding monitor that works well for all-around use, including gaming and office work. It’s a 27-inch IPS monitor with HDR support, dual HDMI ports, and an adjustable stand. You can get it for around $400-450.
Like most other LG monitors, this particular model has a minimalist design, featuring thin bezels at the top and sides and an all-white back panel. It can be easily mounted to a third-party wall mount or monitor arm. The OSD control, in the form of a small joystick, is located at the bottom of the monitor and is easy to use.
For PS4 connectivity, there is a pair of HDMI 2.0 ports at the back, along with the DisplayPort for computers and the audio out port for headphones. There are no USB ports on this monitor, which might disappoint some of you considering the price. Moreover, the monitor does not come with internal speakers, but that’s not really a big deal.
The 27UK650-W is an excellent 4K monitor for games such as God of War, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, Persona 5, and Red Dead Redemption 2. The overall picture quality is great, with superb color accuracy, wide viewing angles, and decent HDR performance. The contrast is not as good as the contrast of VA monitors, though, so don’t expect too much on that front.
While not as good as the ViewSonic XG2402 and other TN monitors, this LG 4K monitor also offers a fast response time, which is great for fast-paced games. In addition, the input lag is excellent whether the monitor is running in 4K or 1080p. Overall, the 27UK650-W is a highly recommended 4K display for PS4 gaming, especially if you want something that also works well for productivity and general use.
You may also be interested in some of the top monitors for Xbox One from our list. Check them out.
ViewSonic XG3220
A 32-inch display, the ViewSonic XG3220 is a great option if you want a 4K monitor that uses a VA panel for significantly better contrast compared to IPS and TN monitors. It supports HDR content and features a USB hub for charging your DualShock 4 controllers, which is convenient.
Like the other ViewSonic monitor on this list, the XG3220 has a stylish design, easily separating it from regular monitors. The default stand offers full adjustment options and features a headphones hook at the top and basic cable management. The monitor has dual HDMI 2.0 ports, which is great if you also own an Xbox One X and want a single monitor for console gaming. In addition, it has an audio out port for your gaming headphones.
The XG3220, which has a 60 Hz refresh rate, is best used for single-player games, especially those with lovely visuals. It has good overall picture quality, with excellent color accuracy, decent brightness, and a superb contrast ratio. The response time is also good for a VA monitor while the input lag will satisfy most gamers. You can also use this monitor for watching movies, which makes it an all-around machine for entertainment use.
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LG 32UD99-W
If you like the LG 27UK650-W but prefer a bigger monitor with more features, get the LG 32UD99-W instead. It’s a 32-inch IPS monitor with a 4K resolution and a 60 Hz refresh rate. It’s a great monitor for both gaming and productivity, with the large screen and high resolution allowing for easy multitasking for the latter. It sells for around $700-800, which makes it the most expensive product in this guide to the best monitors for PS4.
Regarding design, the 32UD99-W is not that different from the LG 27UK650-W, featuring thin bezels and a white back panel with outward-facing connection ports. It comes with an adjustable stand that’s easy to remove if you want a wall-mounted setup. For PS4 connectivity, the monitor features a pair of HDMI 2.0 ports. In addition, it has two USB 3.0 ports for charging your PS4 controllers, along with a USB-C port, which is useful if you also want to connect the monitor to a laptop.
The 32UD99-W has great picture quality and good gaming performance. It has excellent color accuracy once calibrated, wide viewing angles, decent contrast, and good brightness. It also supports HDR content, but like the LG 27UK650-W, it’s decent at best regarding HDR performance. Overall, this LG monitor is a recommended product, not only for PS4 gaming but also for productivity, watching movies, and general use.
Buyer’s Guidelines
Sony’s current-gen consoles are obviously different from desktop computers. If you are shopping for a monitor specifically for PS4 gaming, you’ll need to look at the technical specifications in a different way. Here are some of the things to keep in mind when shopping for PS4 monitors:
Screen Size
Monitors come in different sizes, from 24-inch monitors to massive 49-inch monitors. Since one of the advantages of monitors over TVs is their smaller footprint, we don’t recommend monitors larger than 32 inches for PS4 gaming, with 24-inch and 27-inch monitors being the most ideal sizes.
If you have very limited space or mostly play competitive games, 24-inch monitors are ideal since they have a small footprint and allow you to easily see the entire screen, which can be advantageous in competitive gaming. If you mostly play single-player games and want a more immersive gaming experience, go for 27-inch monitors. They don’t take up a lot of desk space and look good whether you sit less than four feet away from the screen or from around four to five feet out.
If you typically sit more than five feet away from the screen and want a display larger than 30 inches, consider 32-inch monitors. While they have a larger footprint, they are great for games with pretty graphics and are the most suitable if you want a large monitor that works great for both PS4 gaming and productivity.
There are also 34-inch, 35-inch, and 38-inch monitors, but those size categories are specific to ultrawide monitors, which have a 21:9 aspect ratio. Neither the regular PS4 nor the more powerful PS4 Pro support that kind of aspect ratio. If you connect an ultrawide monitor to a PS4 console, the output will be either horribly stretched out to fit the screen or displayed with large black bars on both sides.
While they are uncommon, there are also computer monitors larger than 40 inches. Some are flat monitors with a standard 16:9 aspect ratio while others feature an ultrawide format. We don’t really recommend monitors larger than 40 inches for PS4 gaming, though. If you are considering them, you might as well go for a TV instead.
Resolution
For PS4 gaming, we recommend sticking to 1920×1080 (FHD) and 3840×2160 (4K UHD) monitors, with the latter being the more suitable if you game on a PS4 Pro. Unlike the Xbox One S and Xbox One X, Sony’s current-gen consoles don’t natively support a 2560×1440 (QHD) resolution, although some games actually run in that resolution.
For 24-inch monitors, a 1080p resolution is perfectly fine. Many people consider a 4K resolution to be a waste on such a small screen. A 1080p resolution is also fine on a 27-inch monitor, but only if you sit at least three or four feet away from the screen when gaming. If you sit close to the screen, you may notice the low pixel density of the monitor. Meanwhile, a 4K resolution is best experienced on larger screens such as 27-inch and 32-inch monitors.
Panel Type
One of the most important aspects to consider is the monitor’s panel technology. There are three panel technologies used in monitors: In-Plane Switching (IPS), Twisted Nematic (TN), and Vertical Alignment (VA). All of them have pros and cons.
IPS monitors have the best color reproduction and viewing angles. And while they are not as responsive as TN monitors, they have good response times and are usually better than VA monitors on that front. IPS monitors are ideal if you mostly play single-player games with pretty graphics and care more about picture quality than response times. They are more expensive than TN and VA monitors, though, especially those featuring a 4K resolution.
TN monitors are the cheapest, simply because TN panels are cheap to produce. They have mediocre color reproduction and narrow viewing angles. But on the other hand, they boast the fastest response times, which is beneficial in fast-paced competitive games. If you mostly play fast-paced competitive games and don’t care about picture quality, go for TN monitors.
VA monitors sit between IPS and TN monitors. They have better overall picture quality than TN monitors and have decent response times. They offer the best contrast ratio, which translates to deeper blacks and more vibrant images. Like IPS monitors, VA monitors are best used for story-driven or slow-paced games. They are more suitable for survival horror games than IPS monitors, though, since they have much better contrast, which is beneficial in games with a lot of dark scenes.
Refresh Rate
Listed in Hertz (Hz), the refresh rate is the number of times a monitor redraws or updates the image on the screen per second. A higher refresh rate translates to increased smoothness in games, which is great when playing fast-paced games. However, for PS4 gaming, a 60 Hz refresh rate is perfectly fine since PS4 games don’t go past 60 frames per second. The monitor refresh rate is one of the least important aspects to consider when shopping for the best monitors for PS4.
Connectivity
There are different kinds of input ports found in monitors. Some monitors simply feature a DisplayPort and an HDMI port. Others feature a Mini DisplayPort, a USB-C port, or a VGA port, the latter of which is for connectivity with older computers. For PS4 gaming, the only input port that you need to worry about is HDMI, because that’s what the console uses to interface with displays.
Not all monitors feature the exact same HDMI port, though. Some monitors include an HDMI 1.4 port while others feature the newer HDMI 2.0 port. If you game on a regular PS4, an HDMI 1.4 port is fine since it can support a 1080p resolution at 60 Hz, which is the maximum setting for that console. If you game on the PS4 Pro and want to get a 4K monitor, the only products you should consider are those that feature at least one HDMI 2.0 port. Unlike the older HDMI 1.4, HDMI 2.0 can fully support a 4K resolution at 60 Hz.
Features
Lastly, we’ll talk about additional features. When it comes to additional features, not all monitors are the same. Some are loaded with a lot of features while others have a shorter list of features. However, not all monitor features are useful for PS4 gaming, so don’t buy a monitor just because it has an impressive list of features. Below is a quick rundown of some monitor features and what they mean for PS4 gaming.
HDR: High dynamic range (HDR) allows for more lifelike images, with higher luminosity, better contrast, and more colors. Both the PS4 and PS4 Pro support HDR, which is great. However, monitors are not that great regarding HDR implementation.
There are many monitors that support HDR content, but most of them are not fully equipped to display HDR content properly. Some don’t support a wider color range while others can’t get bright enough or don’t feature a high contrast. While some monitors are fairly decent regarding HDR performance, many don’t really add much when HDR mode is enabled.
If you want a monitor that actually offers good HDR performance, you’ll need to cough up around $1,000-2,000 for one (see: Acer Predator X27, Philips Momentum 436M6VBPAB). If you have that kind of money to spend on a display, we strongly suggest going for an HDR TV instead.
G-Sync/FreeSync: G-Sync and FreeSync are adaptive synchronization technologies often featured in monitors, most especially the latter. They allow for variable refresh rates by dynamically adapting the monitor refresh rate to the graphics card output for smoother gaming. However, both the PS4 and PS4 Pro don’t support G-Sync and FreeSync. Only consider whether a monitor has G-Sync/FreeSync if you are also going to use your monitor for gaming on PC or Xbox One, which actually supports FreeSync.
USB Hub: If the monitor has a USB hub, you can use it to charge your DualShock 4 controllers. Some monitors feature up to four USB 3.0 downstream ports. While it’s certainly convenient if the monitor has a USB hub, it’s not that big of a feature since there are still other methods to charge your PS4 controllers.
Speakers: When shopping for the best monitors for PS4, one of the last things you need to worry about is the internal speakers. Built-in monitor speakers are not that great, with only a few monitors featuring decent-sounding speakers. For gaming, you’ll want to use external speakers or headphones for a better audio experience, most especially if you love to play games with an excellent soundtrack – like Nier: Automata and Bastion. If you have limited desk space or want a more minimalist setup, go for the best computer soundbars.