Best 4K Monitors for PS5 - Top 5 PS5 Gaming Setups in 2021
The PlayStation 5 (PS5) has been released for a while now and we, as gamers, are always looking to get the best possible gaming experience. We all know that the experience can be ruined if the gaming monitor we use is not on par with the capabilities of the PS5, and since the PS5 can output content at 4K resolutions up to 120fps we really want to take advantage of this.
Unlike it’s main competitor, the Xbox Series X, the PS5 does not support 1440p, so when shopping for a new gaming monitor for our shiny new PS5 a 4K gaming monitor is a must.
Why a gaming monitor and not a 4K TV? Generally TVs have a higher input lag than a gaming monitor, which is not ideal for gaming, especially in high competitive games like shooters. Also a gaming monitor have better ergonomic stands, take way less space than a TV and you can use them for work.
If you want the ultimate gaming experience, one of the best options is BenQ EX3210R Monitor featuring 165Hz refresh rate at 2K resolution. But to give you a pertinent top 5 gaming monitors for the PS5, we tested more than 50 monitors and after an in depth comparison here is what we can recommend.
You can also check our recommendations for the best 4K monitors for PC gaming review.
LG 32UL500-W - Best Budget 4K Monitor for PS5
The LG 32UL500-W is our best budget gaming monitor for PS5 in our best 5 gaming monitors for 2021 that we can recommend. It has a 32 inch 4K VA panel and provides good game immersion. The monitor offers high contrast ratio that produces deep blacks, which is excellent for late night gaming, especially with the lights turned off. It’s viewing angles are average though, but still good for a VA panel, which is ok for playing co-op games, but not great if you are sharing something that requires high image accuracy.
The major problem this monitor has, is it’s refresh rate of just 60Hz, but for budget monitors this is somewhat a standard. To compensate this, the LG 32UL500-W comes with a low input lag and supports variable refresh rate technology for screen tearing reduction.
Since it is a budget monitor, we did not expect it to be very bright, and this model is just that, so it is not ideal for a well illuminated room, but it can handle light reflections well enough to not ruin your gaming experience. Although we recommend to darken the room before starting your gaming session if you choose to go with this monitor.
Its ergonomics are not great either and it only allows tilt adjustment, but you can solve this with a VESA-mount, as there is a quick release feature to remove its standard stand, which makes the mounting process very easy. If you are interested in using VESA-mounts you can check here our best monitor wall mounts review or best dual monitor stands review for some tips and tricks.
LG OLED48CXPUB - Best Large 4K Gaming Monitor for PS5
If you want a big gaming monitor, than this is the monitor for you. Well we would be lying if we were to continue naming this screen a monitor, as it is actually a TV. Yes, we said that TVs are not that great when it comes to gaming, but the LG OLED48CXPUB is a TV that comes with the specs of a gaming monitor!
How is this possible? Thanks to its OLED panel, HDR looks fantastic due to the self-emitting pixels that can produce near-infinite contrast ratio.
This monitor meets all the standard requirements for the best gaming experience on the PS5, and much more. The 4K display panel can run at 120Hz which basically means that if your game can run at 120fps you will have an awesome experience. The LG OLED48CXPUB has an excellent response time, near-instant, as well as a very low input lag. It supports FreeSync and HDMI Forum VRR.
But as with all things that sounds too good, there are a few issues. Because OLED panels are well known to be susceptible to permanent burn-in if static elements if you use it for a long period of time, you might want to think twice before going with such a display for long gaming sessions or even work. Yes, this risk is quite small, and there are built-in safety features to prevent this from happening, the risk still remains.
In the end, this monitor is the best for PS5 gaming if you are looking for a large screen and you are doing light to moderate gaming sessions.
Philips 436M6VBPAB - Best Alternative Large 4K Gaming Monitor for PS5
If you are still looking for a large gaming monitor for your PS5, and you don’t want to take a risk with OLED panels, the PHILIPS 436M6VBPAB can be a valid alternative.
It won’t have near-infinite contrast ratio like the LG, and it runs at just 60Hz, but it is a 4K VA panel which makes it more affordable and is bright enough to ignore glare in high lightning conditions. HDR is very good, response time is decent, although it may be not ideal for high competitive gamers, and you might notice some motion blur. The input lag is low and it supports FreeSync VRR.
So if size is your main criterion, then this monitor comes as a great alternative for the LG. Our advice will still be to go with the LG PLED48CXPUB if you want the best PS5 gaming experience due to its exceptional image quality.
LG 27GN950-B - Best 4K Monitor for PS5
From our tests, the LG 27GN950-B marks the highest score. It comes with a lot of features, including RGB ambient lights and a 27-inch IPS panel that runs at 160Hz. Unfortunately since the PS5 does only support HDMI 2.0, you will be limited to play 4K games up to 60Hz. Bummer, right? Well blame it on the PS5 not the monitor, as it could do it if it would be allowed to.
Still, the monitor has an incredible response time with low input lag at 60Hz, which should make most people happy. The 27-inch screen offers increased pixel density, which delivers cristal clear images, and it’s viewing angles are very wide, perfect for co-op gaming.
HDR experience is not that great though. Its contrast ratio makes blacks look gray sometimes. On the plus size, it comes with Picture-in-Picture, so you can display an image from your PC and a PS5 at the same time, perfect from when wanting to take a brake from work and doing some gaming without changing display outputs. In the end, this monitor will be a great choice for you and it is still the only monitor that delivered the best PS5 gaming experience for us.
BenQ EW3270U - Best 4K Monitor for PS5 Alternative
If you don’t like the LG 27GN950-B then the BenQ EW3270U can be a great alternative, especially if you game in a darker room. It has narrower viewing angles than the LG due to it’s VA panel, but it has much better contrast ratio which makes it display almost perfect blacks. The BenQ has a refresh rate of just 60Hz, but, as mentioned above, that is alright for the PS5.
The BenQ’s input lag is low and comes with a flicker-free backlight to help you reduce eye strain in long gaming sessions. It comes with built-in speakers as well, which will help a lot if you don’t have a dedicated sound system (but you should if you want a great gaming experience as these built-in speakers are not that great). The monitor supports HDR10, but same as the LG, it isn’t bright enough to make highlights stand out.
In the end, if you want the best gaming monitor your PS5 can support, then go with the LG, but if the contrast ratio of the LG does not appeal to you then the BenQ EW3270U can be a great alternative.
Final Notes
The monitors presented in this short review are based on what we think are the best monitors for PS5 gaming. They should be valid for most PS5 gamers, but we are not mentioning in any way that these are the absolute best.
We do encourage you to make your own decisions and consider the above mentions just as guidelines that may or may not help you make a decision on your next monitor purchase for your PS5.
