For more than a year after its release, the Sony PlayStation 5 was an elusive item to find on the open market. Availability is opening up here in 2023, but if you persevered (or just got lucky) and managed to get your hands on the popular console, you might well be using it with a big-screen TV. And that’s just fine for plenty of gamers.
But maybe you’re strapped for space for a giant screen, or like to play fast-twitch, competitive PS5 games at high refresh rates. In those cases, you’ll need a proper gaming monitor to match. Accessories like extra PS5 storage are helpful, sure—especially if you play epic titles like Call of Duty: Warzone. But one of the best outright upgrades you can make to your console-gaming and content-viewing experience is a better display.
The thing is, the PlayStation 5 has a specific set of resolutions and refresh rates that it supports. So you need to know the nuances of its video output to figure out which monitors will serve your PS5 well and which would just be overkill. Let’s run down our top tested models of monitor for PS5, and then we’ll break down the buying details.
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
MSI Optix MPG321UR-QD
Best Overall Gaming Monitor for PS5
Bottom Line:
MSI’s pricey but irresistible Optix MPG321UR-QD monitor offers something for everyone, with some of the best gaming and content creation results we’ve seen yet.
PROS
- One of the most feature-packed monitors we’ve ever seen
- QD-IPS panel is highly responsive in all modes, including HDR
- Exceptional gaming performance in all scenarios
- Thoughtful design and port layout, including HDMI 2.1
- Integrated KVM
CONS
- Square-shaped stand may not be ergonomically friendly for all gamers
- Oversaturated color out of the box
- Slightly higher dE values than average
Dell 24 S2421HGF
Best Budget Gaming Monitor for PS5
Bottom Line:
If you value gaming performance and content watching above all, the Dell 24 S2421HGF stands head and shoulders above other budget 1080p displays.
PROS
- Great gaming performance
- Vibrant picture in shows and movies
- Low price
- Sturdy, ergonomically friendly base
CONS
- Low color accuracy with default settings
BenQ Mobiuz EX2510S
Best Gaming Monitor for Basic 1080p Play on PS5
Bottom Line:
A minimalist panel for high-refresh gaming at 1080p, BenQ’s Mobiuz EX2510S is good for twitch gaming, but less of a star for watching video and other content consumption.
PROS
- Exceptional gaming performance
- Low input lag
- Well-designed OSD menu
CONS
- Stand and cabinet design may not be for all gamers
- No USB ports
- HDR performance is middling
MSI Oculux NXG253R
Best Gaming Monitor for High-Refresh 1080p Play on PS5 (and PC!)
Bottom Line:
Fast IPS has come a long way in a short time, elevating extreme esports-focused 360Hz monitors like MSI’s Oculux NXG253R to new heights in color and contrast.
PROS
- Rich colors in game and content testing
- Very low input lag
- Full array of additional features
- Nvidia Latency Analyzer support
CONS
- Low Adobe RGB and DCI-P3 color gamut coverage
- Huge Nvidia sticker on the back
Gigabyte M27Q X
Best Gaming Monitor for High-Refresh 1440p Play on PS5 (and PC!)
Bottom Line:
Gigabyte’s M27Q X, an excellent 1440p gaming monitor with a high 240Hz refresh rate, should appeal to gamers who prioritize silky-smooth frame rates over the maximum possible resolution.
PROS
- Low input lag
- KVM functionality
- Lightweight build
- Affordable price
- Good color-gamut results
CONS
- Low brightness and contrast ratio at default screen setting
- Stand is noisy
Sony Inzone M9
Best Gaming Monitor for High-Refresh 4K Play on PS5
Bottom Line:
Sony’s new gaming monitor line enters a crowded field, but its first offering, the Inzone M9, delivers excellent visuals for both PC and PlayStation 5 gamers.
PROS
- Eye-catching design
- Exclusive features for PlayStation 5
- Very low input lag
- HDMI 2.1 and USB-C ports included
CONS
- Expensive
- Sound quality is unremarkable
LG C2 48-Inch Evo OLED TV (OLED48C2PUA)
Best Big-Screen Gaming Monitor for PS5
Bottom Line:
The outstanding LG C2 Evo OLED offers one of the best pictures we’ve ever seen on a TV, with nearly cinema-perfect color out of the box, as well as incredibly low input lag for gamers.
PROS
- Most accurate digital cinema color we’ve seen on a TV
- 120Hz panel with incredibly low input lag
- G-Sync Compatible and supports AMD FreeSync Premium
- WebOS offers Apple AirPlay, multiple voice assistants, and a web browser
CONS
- Remote control and WebOS are a bit clunky
- No hands-free Google Assistant
Alienware 34 Curved QD-OLED Gaming Monitor (AW3423DWF)
Best OLED Gaming Monitor for PS5 (and PC!)
Bottom Line:
With a slight price drop and a switch from Nvidia G-Sync to AMD FreeSync, Alienware’s latest 34-inch QD-OLED is still one of the best curved gaming monitors on the market.
PROS
- Familiar, gorgeous design
- Excellent picture quality in SDR and HDR
- Superb color coverage results
- Low input lag
CONS
- Alienvision image presets have limited usefulness
- No HDMI 2.1 port
Read Our Alienware 34 Curved QD-OLED Gaming Monitor (AW3423DWF) Review
Asus ROG Strix XG16AHPE
Best Portable Gaming Monitor for PS5
Bottom Line:
Asus’ ROG Strix XG16AHPE portable display comes jam-packed with features that make it a good choice for both gaming and multimedia viewing. It’s not cheap, but it’s money well spent.
PROS
- High refresh rate and low input lag
- Built-in battery and speakers
- Bright (272 nits) and colorful (97.7% of sRGB)
- Kickstand works in both landscape and portrait modes
- Includes soft carrying sleeve
CONS
- Expensive for a 15.6-inch portable monitor
Samsung Odyssey Ark
Best Cost-No-Object Gaming Monitor
Bottom Line:
Samsung’s Odyssey Ark is a massive and marvelous curved gaming monitor packed with features sure to impress gamers all over—if they can afford it.
PROS
- Immersive panel curve
- Wide color coverage
- Fantastic sound quality
- Extensive port selection
- Packed with cloud gaming options
CONS
- Too expensive for most gamers
- Color accuracy needs adjustment
- Ark Dial remote is a bit clunky
- Very heavy
Buying Guide: The Best Gaming Monitors for PlayStation 5 in 2023
First Off: What Resolutions Will the PS5 Run At?
Screen resolution in a monitor for the PS5 is a key initial consideration. Currently, the PlayStation 5 supports only two of the most popular gaming monitor resolutions: 1,920 by 1,080 pixels (a.k.a. full HD or 1080p) and 3,840 by 2,160 pixels (a.k.a. 4K or UHD). The console technically also supports 8K output, but anyone expecting an 8K gaming experience (or even a robust 4K one) is vastly overestimating just how much gaming power is under the PS5’s hood. Anything relating to the unit’s 8K video playback or gaming capabilities is locked down by the system’s firmware, anyway.
(Credit: Will Greenwald)
Originally, 2,560 by 1,440 pixels or 1440p, a popular resolution with PC gamers, was not an option for the PS5, despite many developers’ claims that activating it should be as easy as changing a setting. The middle resolution has become a sweet spot for many serious single-player gamers on PCs, who want more pixel density than 1080p while retaining the responsiveness that only resolutions below 4K can deliver in competitive esports. Thankfully, an update in September 2022 added 1440p support.
Considering that games like Fortnite have been optimized to run at up to 120 frames per second (fps) at 1080p resolution on certain Xbox consoles, players of that and similar titles may want to look at monitors that regularly hit refresh rates (that is, screen redraws per second) of at least 120Hz or above. But there’s some PS5-specific nuance there, too. So let’s get into that key issue next.
Refresh Rate: Why Screen Speed Matters
The PlayStation 5 supports different resolutions and refresh rates, including a refresh rate of up to 120Hz at either 1080p or 4K resolution (output from the PS5). The thing is, only a few games can actually run at frame rates as high as 120fps at 4K, and not as many as you’d think can even manage it at 1080p.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
With the PS5, support for refresh rates above 60Hz is game-dependent, and by no means consistent. Here’s a list as of the end of January 2023, courtesy of PlayStation Universe, of PS5 titles that offer 120Hz gameplay(Opens in a new window), with special notes for those that will render the game at customized resolutions under 1080p depending on the developer’s limits:
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Borderlands 3 (at 1080p)
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Black Desert Online
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Bright Memory Infinite
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Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (at lower resolution)
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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (at lower resolution)
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Call of Duty: Vanguard (at lower resolution)
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Call of Duty: Warzone and Warzone 2.0 (at lower dynamic resolution)
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Centipede Recharged (at native 4K)
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Destiny 2 (at lower resolution in Crucible matches)
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Devil May Cry V: Special Edition (at 1080p)
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Dirt 5 (at lower resolution)
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Doom Eternal (at 1584p)
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Dying Light 2 (at lower resolution)
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Fortnite (at lower resolution)
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Ghostrunner (at lower resolution)
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God of War: Ragnarok (at 1440p)
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GRIS (at lower resolution)
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Gunborg (at scalable 4K)
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Hogwarts Legacy
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Jumanji: The Video Game (at scalable 4K)
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Knockout City (at dynamic 4K)
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Last of Us Part 1 (at lower resolution)
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Legend of Tianding (at lower resolution)
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Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom (at native 4K)
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Neon White (at lower resolution)
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Nioh 1 and 2 (at lower resolution)
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Olli Olli World (at lower resolution)
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Quake (at 4K)
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Rainbow Six Siege (at lower resolution)
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Resident Evil 2, 3, and 7: Biohazard (at lower resolution)
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Rocket League (at lower dynamic resolution)
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Rogue Company (at dynamic 4K)
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The Touryst (at native 4K)
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Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands (at 1080p)
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Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 (at 1080p)
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Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection (at 1080p)
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Ziggurat 2
As you can see, 120Hz support can vary by resolution or even by in-game mode of play.
Most gaming monitors fall into one of the following maximum-refresh-rate tiers: 60Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz, 165Hz, 200Hz, 240Hz, or 360Hz. If you plan to play only on your PS5 (that is, without any PC gaming in your future), choosing a display that tops out at either 120Hz or 144Hz is good enough; beyond that, you could be paying for higher refresh rates you’ll never see on screen.
Display Cables (Can) Matter Connecting Your PS5
Next, a small detour to talk about cables. While previous consoles usually maxed out at the HDMI 2.0 level, both the PlayStation 5 and the latest version of the Xbox Series X support HDMI 2.1.
Our primer on the current state of HDMI 2.1 will give you a deeper understanding of why this is a crucial distinction. The HDMI 2.1 spec supports up to 120fps at either 1080p or 1440p resolution. However, if you’re trying to play PS5 games at 120fps in 4K, you’ll need a 4K monitor that’s compatible with the HDMI 2.1 spec and that supports that refresh rate at that resolution. You’ll also need an HDMI 2.1-compatible cable, dubbed an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable. (More about that at the link above.)
Monitors with HDMI 2.1 support, 4K resolution, and 120Hz or higher refresh are pretty scarce, but they are becoming more common.
What Are VRR and ALLM? (Hint: It’s Sony Keeping You Competitive)
Finally, in 2022, Sony delivered firmware updates for the PS5 that enable two critical features if you take competitive gaming seriously: variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low-latency mode (ALLM).
VRR is the console version of Nvidia G-Sync or AMD FreeSync, two technologies that sync the graphics processing unit (GPU) with the display. For games like Fortnite that might exceed 60fps or 120fps at times, VRR makes sure that the game frames are synchronized with the timing of your monitor’s screen redraws, reducing screen artifacts and an issue known as screen tearing. With tearing, partial images from two different screen draws misalign with one another during action sequences. VRR keeps your image clean from tears and visual stutters during fast motion.
(Credit: Kyle Cobian)
ALLM, meanwhile, helps reduce the input latency between your console and display. Input latency affects how long it takes for an action such as a button press to be reflected on screen. The lower the number, the more quickly you’ll be able to react to what your character does in response to your inputs.
Look for monitors that support these features. Several of the models we’ve listed in our roundup will have VRR, ALLM, or both buried somewhere in their settings for you to turn on and take advantage of during high-intensity multiplayer battles. Because these features are new for the PS5, we did not address them at the time the monitors were reviewed, but you should look for them on the spec sheets of any displays you may be considering.
So, What Is the Best Monitor for PS5?
Ready to make your PS5-centric pick? Above and below, we’ve provided a guide to some of the best gaming monitors we’ve tested that are a good fit for the latest Sony console. Keep in mind that a few high-refresh-rate 4K displays are compatible only with DisplayPort 1.4b connections (which is to say, with PCs only), though they’ll support ordinary HDMI for PlayStation 5 use at 60Hz. (We’ve included them in the event you want to connect to either a PS5 or a high-powered gaming PC.) With that out of the way, let’s dive into the list. (Plus, you might want to check out our favorite PS5 games to snag.)
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