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The gaming industry has come a long way.
PC gamers and console gamers, in particular, have become more and more critical regarding the specifications of their gaming setups. Commonly, PC gamers tend to choose gaming monitors while console gamers go with TVs, with the visual advantage in favor of PC gamers because of the higher refresh rates of gaming monitors.
However, two important things have changed.
- Console manufacturers like PlayStation and Xbox support gameplay in 4K and in 120 frames per second (fps). This made console gamers think about their visual output device.
- TV manufacturers have upped their game and presently there are 4K TVs with refresh rates as high as 120Hz, comparable with gaming monitors. This made both PC gamers and console gamers consider both options.
As a result, both kinds of gamers are left scratching their head wondering which option is better for their needs.
In this article, we have explained the differences that you might experience while gaming on a TV and on a gaming monitor.
Let’s get straight into it.
Lag and latency
If gamers want one thing the most out of their gaming setup, it is speed. Lag or latency is used to define the time difference between the action of the gamer on the input devices and its effect on the output device.
Gaming monitors are better at it across the board as compared to TVs. Manufacturers are producing gaming monitors with frequencies as high as 240Hz delivering a smooth experience to gamers. When it comes to measuring latency, most gaming monitors fall within 1ms to 5ms.
Gamers need to turn on a “gaming mode” on their TV in order to enjoy a better gaming experience. Although gaming TVs are on the market, they have relatively lower frequencies and latencies starting from 5ms.
Winner: Gaming Monitors.
Reduced screen tearing
Screen tearing occurs when the frame rate and refresh rate are mismatched. If you ever say some graphic components are still on the screen even though they shouldn’t be, it is because of screen tearing.
The simplest solution is to use an output device with higher refresh rates and have a “sync” technology that has the capability to reduce screen tearing dynamically.
There are a lot of gaming monitors with “sync” technology, like G-Sync (from Nvidia) and FreeSync (from AMD) that do this. Furthermore, using a gaming monitor with a higher refresh rate will have a higher frame rendering capacity.
Although there are selected TVs that have higher refresh rates and have “sync” technologies, you will have to pay a lot.
Winner: Gaming Monitors.
Image quality and resolution
In terms of pure visual experience display resolution and HDR (high dynamic range) are the two important parameters. Display resolution refers to the number of distinct pixels in each dimension that can be displayed. HDR improves the quality of images and videos by combining them after capturing them in various exposures.
When it comes to image quality, TVs have an edge over monitors. Although new-age gaming monitors come with similar specifications TVs are still better when it comes to picture quality. Gaming monitors are known to compromise resolution to some degree to maintain responsiveness which is crucial to gaming performance.
Winner: TV.
Ergonomics
Generally speaking, TVs are larger and gamers prefer to relax on the couch or lay on their bed while enjoying their favorite game. Comparatively, gaming monitors are relatively smaller, hence the viewing distance is less unless the gamer is prepared to invest in a gaming chair.
Another point that is worth mentioning is the line of sight needs to be perpendicular, or close to it, in the case of gaming monitors. Viewing a TV from different angles will not distort the colors as much, adding to the comfort.
It also must be noted that competitive gamers prefer to stay in front of the display anyway and they prefer gaming while sitting down. Even though TVs are much more ergonomic when it comes to viewing distance and angles, it has a minor contribution to the overall gaming experience.
Winner: TV
Pricing
If you are looking for a display that will give you good gaming performance with reasonable pricing, gaming monitors are the way to go. Features like low latency, high frequency, and “sync” technology make it a better choice for both casual and competitive gaming.
On the other hand, if you are looking for a multipurpose screen with your priorities ticking towards viewing experience, TVs are a better choice. With higher image quality and screen resolution, you can enjoy your games from different angles and farther away from your TV.
As we are focused on gaming, monitors are a clear winner. A lot of gaming monitor manufacturers have launched monitors with HDR and wide viewing angles, which makes it an even better option.
Winner: Gaming Monitors.
After going through important specifications that are crucial for a proper gaming experience, we have collated our points to give a verdict.
The verdict: Gaming monitors vs TVs
It is clear that both gaming monitors and TVs have advantages when it comes to enjoying a game on a PC or a console. However, there can be only one winner. To make things more precise, we put our points on a table.
| Parameter | Gaming Monitor vs. TV |
| Lag and Latency | Gaming Monitor |
| Reduced Screen Tearing | Gaming Monitor |
| Image Quality and Resolution | TV |
| Ergonomics | TV |
| Pricing | Gaming Monitor |
| Winner | Gaming Monitor |
We have a clear winner: Gaming Monitors.
Gaming monitors are better in three categories, lag and latency, reduced screen tearing, and pricing, giving them the edge over TVs.
Wrapping up
As a gamer, the only thing that should matter to you is your needs. Because in the end, you are the one who will be enjoying the games. The true winner of this comparison is the one that suits your needs the most. We hope that this brief article has provided you with valuable information that will take you one step closer to your next gaming monitor or TV.
Happy gaming!
