April 29, 2025

How to Choose the Best Monitor for Gaming Consoles in 2025

Looking to grab yourself a gaming console monitor in 2025?

You might wonder, “What monitor should I choose” if you want to connect your PlayStation, Xbox or some other gaming console to a monitor? This question is by no means uncommon, particularly at a point when the market is flooded with so many options. It’s not a question of getting the biggest or most expensive screen. It’s more about what best harmonizes with your gaming style, your room and your console.

How to pick that perfect disk that makes every game of yours feel nice, smooth, quick and absolutely fun to use, every time you set on to play, gamer!

Start with your console type

Ask yourself what console you’ll be using before buying anything. Take PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, for instance; they can push 4K gaming and even 120Hz refresh rates. Therefore, if you are using one of these, the monitor you choose should be cohesive with these aspects and take into whether you want a vertical monitor, especially if you will use it for things like reading or coding. For Nintendo Switch, it tends to work at 1080p, so a full HD monitor suits just fine, and it’s not worth an extra spend on 4K unless you plan to eventually upgrade the console.

Screen size and resolution—what matters?

Unless you have a large room or sit far away from the monitor, you won’t need to splurge on a massive screen. For most people, a screen between 24 and 32 inches is ideal. It’s large enough to watch the game clearly, but small enough to easily fit on a table or gaming desk.

Resolution refers to how crisp the image appears. These are your main options:

  • 1080p (Full HD) – Decent for small displays and budget builds
  • 1440p (QHD) – A good midway point; sharper than full HD but not too pricey as 4K
  • 4K (Ultra HD) – Incredibly crisp, great for PS5 and Xbox Series X gamers, if you watch a lot of movies as well

Sure, if you have a new console and want crisp images without the blur, then 1440p or 4K makes a big difference.

Refresh rate and response time—why it feels smooth

If you want fast movement in your games to look clean, then these two things matter. Let’s define them first:

Refresh rate is the number of times the screen updates the image per second. Imagine a 60Hz rate for a computer monitor. That is, it “refreshes” the eyes sixty times a second. The rate determines how smoothly the action is played.

  • 60Hz is suitable for casual playing
  • 120Hz or 144Hz is better-looking, especially if you play races, shooters, and sports simulators.

Response time is how many times each pixel takes to change colour – in other words, how fast the colour changes. Faster changes mean sharper specifics in quick scenes.

  • 1- 5ms is what you want to look for

Since most console games are moving towards 120Hz, it also makes sense to get a 120Hz monitor.

HDMI ports and version—what to check

Just make sure your monitor includes HDMI 2.0 or HDMI 2.1. If you think that doesn’t matter, you’re wrong. Here’s the simple reason:

  • HDMI 2.0 s 4K at 60Hz
  • HDMI 2.1 is capable of 4K at 120Hz usage, but also adds VRR (variable refresh rate) and features to help with better colour and faster loading.

HDMI 2.1 pairs nicely with either the PS5 or Xbox Series X. For older consoles, HDMI 2.0 is also sufficient. Just make sure you have the right cable as well.

types—how the colours and view angles look

These are the three most common types of display s you will find in monitors:

  • IPS: Rich colors and wide viewing angle. Looks nice from any angle. Ideal for friends that watch you play.
  • VA: High contrast and deep blacks. Suitable for dim rooms in video games or movies.
  • TN: Response time is fastest, weak colours.

IPS s tend to be the best choice for gamers looking for decent colour and fluid motion. It is a balanced picture, and most people agree to how natural the game appears natural over it.

Built-in speakers and extra features—do they matter?

For completely new product categories (like monitors), it’s worth searching for products that include basic features (like speakers). They’re nice to have, if you don’t have extra speakers around or a headset lying around. Maybe they won’t be super loud, but that should be enough for casual play or moments when you don’t want to wear headphones. In addition, if you are searching for a portable monitor with battery, you do not want to have to purchase a monitor that does not power the sound.

Other things that your next gaming monitor can have include:

  • Headphone jack
  • Adjustable stand
  • Blue light filter to reduce eye strain
  • FreeSync or G-Sync for less screen tearing (if your console s it)

Curved or flat—what feels better?

A curved or flat monitor feels better? Flat monitors are decent and work well in all types of rooms. Curved monitors slightly pull your view into the screen more, which is nice if you sit very close. However, if your monitors are big and above 32 inches, a curved one is better because it feels more natural to look around, but the small gaming monitor is excellent. Thus, if you play alone and you are using a big screen, a curved screen is fun, but when you use a medium size or you like to sit a bit far, flat is still OK.

HDR —colours that pop

HDR (High Dynamic Range) makes colour vibrant and realistic. HDR makes games feel more vibrant and alive. Sunlight is sharper, dark spaces deeper, and everything just feels more alive to me.

If your console and game HDR, it’s nice to have a monitor that s it as well. Seek out monitors that “HDR10” or “VESA DisplayHDR.”

Budget talk—can I get a good monitor without spending too much?

Yes, you definitely can. Nice 1080p or 1440p monitors with 60Hz or even 120Hz are available in a friendly price range. If your budget isn’t constrained, invest in 4K with HDMI 2.1 capabilities that will set you up for the future.

Well, the good news is that in 2025, even budget monitors are loaded with decent features. Hear that? Because all you have to do is consider what your console needs and what you want from your gaming sessions.

Final thoughts—what makes a good gaming monitor?

By 2025, a proper gaming monitor should also spruce up your console games, making them look crisp, feel smooth, and play without any lag at all. It doesn’t need to be costly or extremely elaborate. It needs to be just right for your space; the performance needs to align with your console; and it has to feel nice to sit down and play on after a long day.

Screen size, resolution, refresh rate, HDMI version, and type. If it meets those things, and you are happy using it, you’ve chosen well.” Gaming should be easy and exciting, and your monitor is key to that.

Tech

About the author 

Kyrie Mattos


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