You’ve probably thought about it before, but why not use a TV as a gaming monitor? It’s bigger, more vibrant, and it has its own speakers; what’s stopping you?
Then you actually tried it and it turns out the TV has some severe ghosting issues due to the lower refresh rate and an obnoxious delay thanks to the high response time. TVs weren’t meant for PC gaming, which is why monitors remain popular.
Well, most TVs aren’t meant for PC gaming. Some higher end to mid-range models can actually double as a gaming monitor. With the right specs and a more reasonable expectation, your dreams of a living room gaming PC setup might actually be possible.
And nothing completes the living room like a huge TV, such as the following models.
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SAMSUNG 43-Inch Class Neo QLED 4K TV (QN90A)
PROS
- Mini-LED panel offers impressive contrast
- Comes in variable sizes
- Good response time
- Immersive speakers
- Image quality is superb
- No burn-in issues
CONS
- No variable refresh rate
- Glare coating can cause discoloration
Specs:
- Size: 43 Inches
- Resolution: 4K / UHD
- Refresh Rate: 60Hz
- Panel Type: Mini LED
For the best balance of budget and quality, you can always rely on Samsung TVs. Their particular QN90A models are some of the most popular gaming options that are also viable for PC gaming. It’s just that the refresh rate is low though that’s one of the compromises you’ll have to live with using a TV as a monitor.
The speakers, however, as well as the color variances, can make up for that low refresh rate. So if you ever get tired of playing games, you can easily transition to watching your favorite series on the comfort of your Lazy Boy or couch.
SAMSUNG 43-Inch Class Neo QLED 4K TV (QN90A)
LG G2 Series 77-Inch Class OLED evo Gallery Edition Smart TV
PROS
- Comes with variable refresh rate
- G-Sync and FreeSync Premium compatibility
- OLED screen
- Gorgeous image quality
- Comes in different sizes
- Good response time
- Immersive speakers
- Ideal for wall mounting
CONS
- Expensive
- Burn-in issues due to OLED panel
Specs:
- Size: 77 Inches
- Resolution: 4K / UHD
- Refresh Rate: Variable (comes with G-sync & FreeSync)
- Panel Type: OLED
The Samsung option is a bit meek for those who have high-end gaming rigs that can put out triple-digit framerates. So here’s what LG came up with, the G2 Series. It’s one of the few TVs out there with variable refresh rates, meaning it adjusts depending on your games.
For a more perfect pairing, this TV also has G-Sync and FreeSync Premium compatibility, letting you further tweak your refresh rate settings and the consistency of the image quality. Of course, it’s still a TV and you can do any TV stuff you would here, on top of gaming. The G2 is designed to be mounted, by the way.
LG G2 Series 77-Inch Class OLED evo Gallery Edition Smart TV
LG C2 Series 55-Inch Class OLED evo Smart TV
PROS
- Variable refresh rate helps in gaming
- G-Sync and FreeSync Premium compatibility
- OLED
- Comes in different sizes
- Gorgeous image quality
- Good response time
- Immersive speakers
- Ideal for standing setups
CONS
- Burn-in issues due to OLED panel
Specs:
- Size: 55 Inches
- Resolution: 4K / UHD
- Refresh Rate: 120Hz / Variable (comes with G-sync & FreeSync)
- Panel Type: OLED
Here’s a good alternative to the LG G2 Series which is more expensive. The LG C2 series is often dubbed as the most ideal TV you can use as a gaming monitor. It performs similarly as the LG G2 Series TVs with the G-Sync and the FreeSync Premium, along with the variable refresh rate.
But if you don’t plan to have any wall mounting, this might be the more economical option (though it’s still high-end and expensive). Regardless, it’s great if you have a powerful gaming PC that you want to turn into a living room console.
Hisense A6 Series 43-Inch Class 4K UHD Smart Google TV
PROS
- Cheap price
- Variable refresh rate
- 4K resolution at this price
- Comes with AI UHD upscaler
CONS
- Standard LCD screen
- Color accuracy is so-so
Specs:
- Size: 43 Inches
- Resolution: 4K / UHD
- Refresh Rate: 60Hz / Variable
- Panel Type: LCD
For about the same price as a budget 24-inch 1080p monitor with 144Hz refresh rates, you can actually snag yourself a 43-inch TV from Hisense, the A6 Series is a competitive lineup. Each size model comes with a variable refresh rate (though the default is 60Hz) to help with gaming.
Granted, the image quality is probably nothing to write home about; it’s just the default LCD that most other budget TVs use. So those that use mini-LED and OLED still have a clear advantage. But at least this won’t rip a gaping hole out of your pocket.
Hisense A6 Series 43-Inch Class 4K UHD Smart Google TV
The Limitations of Using a TV as a Monitor
As we mentioned earlier, you need to temper your expectations when using a TV as a monitor. The most common issues include:
- Ghosting
- Input lag / latency
- Fewer pixels per square inch, resulting in blurrier image
- Poor display of text
- Lower refresh rate (typically)
If you want to eliminate some of those issues, you’ll have to increase your budget for a TV and go with the LG models. But they cost as much as a mid-range to high-end gaming PC build so it’s up to you and your priorities or preferences. They’re still great for living room PCs.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can you use a TV as a work monitor?
Yes, technically. But your eyes will complain to you about it. The lower DPI or pixels-per-square-inch means text and finer details will be less sharp. -
Can you use a gaming monitor as a TV?
Most monitors sadly don't come integrated with your usual TV features like Smart, Google, and internet integration so you'll have to plug in a special module unless you're fine with turning on your PC and just playing the streaming services there.