Best budget monitor for PS4 Slim

Best Console Gaming Monitors

Whether its a best-of guide or a single product review, we ensure every monitor we recommend has been through a strict testing process. Thats right, we dont just search Amazon for the top sellers, we hand-pick the markets best monitors and test each one with the same meticulous care and attention as the last. This not only ensures that we can recommend the best products the market has to offer, but it also helps us build reader confidence as well.

As part of the monitor review process, we like to test each for color accuracy, responsiveness, panel uniformity, build quality, and overall gaming performance. We use a number of specifically-designed tools to capture the data for each monitor, ensuring only the highest levels of accuracy are recorded during testing. This process allows us to hand-select the best monitors from both a performance and value standpoint, whilst also enabling us to compare the latest models with last seasons best sellers.

Click here if you want to see our in-depth explanation ofhow we test each and every monitor.

As many of you will be aware, the latest consoles from both Sony and Xbox come offering a whole fleet of impressive performance stats, tailored to ensure the best visual experience possible. The latest, and potentially most talked about, specification that has sparked consumers into voice is 4K gaming at 120FPS.

Whilst not many games actually support this feature, it is certainly something console gamers will be able to enjoy in the near future. That said, one of the big questions we get asked around the subject is: are there any monitors with HDMI 2.1?

Right now, there arent any HDMI 2.1 monitors available for purchase. I know, annoying. That said, ASUS are the first brand to announce a whole lineup of new HDMI 2.1 monitors that will cater nicely to both PC gamers and console players alike.

Whilst we wont get a glimpse of those new monitors until the end of Q1 2021, you can rest assured that they will definitely be amongst the best console gaming monitors the market has to offer.

Like most gaming peripherals or computer parts, buying a console monitor shouldnt be done haphazardly. There are certain factors that must be taken into consideration when purchasing any monitor, even more so when paring a display with one of the latest consoles. Doing this not only allows you to make a more informed decision, but itll allow you to handpick the one that best suits your specific needs.

For your convenience, we compiled all the specifications and features that you need to check and evaluate before making your final purchasing decision.

Immersive or Competitive?

One of the first things you should consider before purchasing a new console gaming monitor is; immersive or competitive? What i mean by that is, do you prioritize visual immersion or are you more concerned with the panels responsiveness? This is an important quality to understand, mainly because itll have a large impact on what specifications you actually look for in a monitor.

Below, Ive listed some of the most important specs to consider whether youre looking for an immersion or responsive monitor.

Immersive

• 4K screen resolution
• Wide color gamut (100%sRGB+, 85% DCI-P3+, 85% Adobe RGB+)
• 32-inch (or above) screen size
• IPS panel technology (greater color accuracy and wide color gamut)
• Fast response time
• High Dynamic Range

Competitive

• Fast refresh rate
• Fast response time
• Low input lag
• FreeSync VRR support

There are arguments for certain factors to lie within both immersive and competitive. That being said, when stripping it back to the bare essentials, I feel the above list covers everything you should be looking for when tailoring your gaming to either immersive or competitive gameplay.

Resolution

If youre on one of the older base models of previous generations consoles, resolution matters least when it comes to gaming monitors with 1080p being the max resolution supported by most games on PS4 or Xbox One. However, if youre using one of the mid-generation upgrades of those consoles (Xbox One X or PS4 Pro), or next generations consoles (Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5) and want to play 4K games/watch 4K content on them, a 4K panel is definitely the best option.

If you only have a basic PS4, Xbox One, or Nintendo Switch, though, theres no point in buying a monitor above 1080p unless you plan on using it for movies and general computer use also.

Check our 1080 vs 4K gaming comparison here.

Do Consoles support ultrawide?

Ultrawide monitors are some of the most immersive on the market, offering a wide field of view that really adds to the visual experience you recieve.

Unfortunately, consoles do not natively support the 21:9 aspect ratio (ultrawide display AR). Resolutions like 2560 x 1080 and 3440 x 1440 that feature on these ultrawide monitors arent supported by games, with most opting for the more traditional 16:9 variant. Whether or not this will always be the case is yet to be determined, however, for now, well have to monitorsettle for 16:9 displays.

HDR (High Dynamic Range)

You may have seen the HDR (High Dynamic Range) setting on your phones but what exactly does it do? Its easier to understand if we first define Dynamic Range. In simple terms, dynamic range is the measurement of how much the brightest area of an image differs from the darkest area. High dynamic range basically adjusts the image to make it look more true-to-life by improving and adding details to dark areas. Monitors that support HDR show dark colors in a deep and clear manner. This gives competitive gamers an edge since they will be able to see dark areas better.

But keep in mind that the following are the only HDR-capable game consoles:

• Xbox One S
• Xbox One X
• Xbox Series S
• Xbox Series X
• PlayStation 4
• PlayStation 4 Pro
• PlayStation 5

Panel Type: IPS vs TN

IPS displays offer great color reproduction far better than your usual HDTV but not quite as refined as the full HDR-10 standard. When it comes to monitors, its the best viewing experience you can have, especially when you take the increased viewing angles into consideration. IPS generally sacrifices some response time which may be a problem if youre a dedicated, competitive-oriented gamer.

TN panels, on the other hand, are cheaper and have faster response times (usually 1ms compared to 5ms for most IPS panels), but are lacking in color reproduction and viewing angles, which might be relevant if you are planning on mounting your monitor or using a floor-based console gaming chair.

You can learn more about the difference between an IPS and TN panel by checking our TN vs IPS vs VA article.

Refresh Rate

Previous generation consoles only ran at a maximum of 60fps. This meant that if youre gaming on any model of PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, youll be playing at a maximum framerate of 60fps regardless of which display you are playing on. The latest next-generation consoles from Microsoft and Sony (the Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, and PlayStation 5) support gaming at up to 120fps, depending on the game. If youre using one of these systems, you are absolutely going to want to choose a monitor that supports this high refresh rate range.

The 5 Best Console Gaming Monitors For PlayStation & Xbox

In-depth Review

The Acer Nitro XV282K is a hugely impressive console gaming monitor, with robust support for 4k resolutions, and high framerate gaming. This is a perfect partner for next-generation consoles like the Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, and PlayStation 5. Its also a great display for watching films, TV, and other video content.

This 28-inch display doesnt quite make it a suitable substitute for a TV, however, the 4K screen clarity paired with good performance-tailored specs does make it a superb choice for competitive players and general content consumption.

This monitor is equipped with the following ports:

• 2 x HDMI 2.1 ports
• 1 DisplayPort 1.4
• USB Hub
• 3.5mm headphone jack audio out

With thin bezels, an attractive design, and support for features like FreeSync Premium, 144hz refresh rate, and rapid 1ms response time, this really is the monitor that can do everything.

This isnt a cheap monitor by any means, but it will be a great display to partner with a next-generation games console.

See the full Acer Nitro Xv282K review here.

The Gigabyte FV43U is a huge 43-inch 4K monitor with a VA panel that supports a high refresh rate and low response time the perfect combination of specs for any PlayStation 5/ Xbox One Series X gamer.

This monitor is visually stunning and accommodates the full capabilities of the PS4 Pro, Xbox One X, and 4K-capable PCs. 4K resolution is now utilized across all platforms and makes your gaming experience look more beautiful than ever before at least with the PS4 and Xbox One titles that are actually in 4K.

The screen size of this monitor is perfectly optimized for console gamers, coming in at 43-inches and providing excellent levels of clarity and immersion. Pair this with the 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time, and its easy to see how this monitor made it in our best-of guide.

At the back of the monitor youll see the following:

• 2 x USB 3.0
• USB 3.1 Type-C port
• 2 x HDMI 2.1
• 1 x DisplayPort 1.4
• 3.5mm headphone jack

Within the monitors OSD, users will find a number of picture settings to choose from. In fact, you can choose from different predefined gaming modes to give you the best display output when playing different game genres.

The only real downside to the monitor is the high price tag it comes equipped with. With retail prices hitting over $1000, the FV43U goes into direct competition with the LG OLED48 monitor.

If you find the LG 27UK850-W to be a little too expensive or perhaps you wont be taking advantage of the AMD FreeSync technology, then this is the third-best investment in our roundup.

Like our top pick, the U2718Q is a 27-inch 4K gaming monitor with an IPS monitor that also supports HDR.27-inches is considered to be the sweet spot for 4K gaming monitors and makessitting further awayacceptable.

The Dell U2718Q looks simple yet sleek and features thin bezels with an attractive metallic finish. Adding to the clean design, the stand has a cable management holder to run your cables through and keep the general area tidy.The monitor also has plenty of adjustment options, you can adjust the height, tilt, pivot, and swivel; you can even mount it since its VESA compatible.

Looking at the In/Out ports on the back,

• 1 x HDMI 2.0 port
• 1 x DisplayPort 1.2
• 1 x USB 3.0 hub
• 1 x Mini DisplayPort
• 1 x 3.5mm headphone jack

The only downside to this monitor is the average response time of 5ms. It is about as slow as you want a gaming monitor response time to be but when you factor in the IPS panel this issue becomes less of a problem.

While this monitor doesnt have a joystick navigation button, like our top pick, it does have four tactile buttons located on the underside of the bottom-right bezel allowing for easy navigation.

If you are more of a competitive gamer and prefer performance and speed over high resolution and colour reproduction, then this is the best console monitor according to our tests.

The ASUS VG289Q, like our top pick, is a 4K resolution gaming monitor. This one from Asus is 1-inch larger at 28-inches and boasts a 5ms response time and an IPS panel. It also utilizes the Asus Eye Care technology to take care of your eyes by eliminating flickering and at the same time, lowers the blue light to reduce eye strain. The beauty of this monitor is it does all of this whilst also coming in at a much lower price.

This has an ergonomically designed 5-way joystick that lets you change its brightness, color, and a few other settings via the on-screen display (OSD). This joystick helps you make fast adjustments unlike less intuitive controls seen on some similar monitors.

The monitor is somewhat lacking in the aesthetic department, you could say it is cheap looking, however, the bezels are relatively thin and if you ignore the stand it doesnt look all that bad.

The stand is poor and does have some wobble if you move the desk due to the large screen size. The stand only allows for a basic tilt adjustment back and forward; no elevation, rotating, or anything of that sort here. And it lacks VESA support meaning you stuck with the lackluster base.

The In/Out ports arent really as extensive as the others on the list,

• 2 x HDMI 2.0
• 1 x DisplayPort 1.2
• 1 x 3.5mm headphone jack

Whilst this isnt the most responsive monitor in the world, it certainly offers a good gaming experience for last-gen console gamers that require 4K screen resolution.

Nonetheless, our testers still felt this was one of the best monitors you could use while gaming on an Xbox One X or PS4 Pro.

See our full ASUS VG289Q review here.

The ASUS ROG Strix XG438Q is an utterly gorgeous large monitor, with robust support for 4k resolutions, and high framerate gaming. This is a perfect partner for next-generation consoles like the Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, and PlayStation 5. Its also a great display for watching films, TV, and other video content.

This huge 43-inch display makes it a suitable substitute for a TV, as well as a great quality gaming monitor. It would also pair very nicely with a top end gaming PC, making this an extremely versatile display.

This monitor is equipped with the following ports:

• 3 HDMI 2.0 ports
• 1 DisplayPort 1.4
• 2 USB ports
• 3.5mm headphone jack Input

With thin bezels, an attractive design, and support for features like FreeSync 2, multiple HDR modes, a bundled remote control, this really is the monitor that can do everything.

This isnt a cheap monitor by any means, but it will be a great display to partner with a next-generation games console.