The 5 Best Console Gaming Monitor

Since the release of the Magnavox Odyssey in 1972, gaming consoles have famously used TVs, rather than a monitor, as their primary display device. When it comes to the TV vs. monitor decision, console gamers generally gravitate towards huge TVs as they tend to prefer the couch experience—who doesn’t? As time went on, HDMI became the new video standard, turning gamers to gaming monitors that offer a better picture over a television.

You see, the best gaming monitors are specifically designed for video games due to the technology they use to make your titles stand out. Commonly featured among modern monitors, AMD’s FreeSync is a technology that allows you to see details you’d only see on a high-end TV. Another feature monitors offer that make them preferable over TVs, is that they are super responsive. I mean, you truly can’t miss a thing with a response time of 1ms!

With all of that said, let’s take a look at the best gaming monitors for console gaming in 2020. 🖥️ 🎮

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Pros & Cons

• Dual HDMI ports for multiple devices
• AMD FreeSync technology for the best visuals
• GamePlus and GameVisual technology for in-game enhancements

• Poor viewing angles

Specifications:

• Size: 24-inch
• Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
• Panel Type: TN
• Response Time: 1ms
• Refresh Rate: 75Hz

Asus VG245H Console Gaming Monitor Review

Despite its basic design, the Asus VG245H packs plenty of power and practical features, so don’t be fooled by aesthetics alone. With ergonomic adjustments that allow you to position the monitor the way you feel most comfortable, Asus’ VG245H boasts a -90°-to-90° swivel range, as well as a -32.5°-5° tilt range. This way, you won’t sacrifice your back for a game of The Witcher 3.

If you don’t fancy placing the Asus VG245H on a gaming desk, you can easily detach the stand before mounting the monitor to a wall. All you need to do is remove the base, screws, and then the hinge—it’s as easy as pie!

If you do choose to pop the VG245H on a desk, you’ll be pleased to know that despite the plastic material used, the stand is extremely stable—providing good support to the monitor.

Spin the monitor around and you’ll see a simple port selection that includes audio in/out headphone jacks, a VGA/D-sub port, two HDMI ports, and a DC-in port. The two HDMI ports found on the monitor allows you to keep an Xbox One and PS4 plugged in simultaneously, preventing you from having to get up and plug in a different console every time you want to use it.

No wonder it’s one of the best Xbox One X monitors around.

Onto picture quality, the color accuracy is superb. Albeit, the low contrast ratio can make blacks appear gray in dark rooms. So, for those of you game at night, I guess you’re going to have to turn on a light when using the Asus VG245H. As a TN panel is used, viewing angles aren’t the best, either. Though, for $199, it’s something that can be overlooked.

Performance wise, it’s extremely responsive thanks to the 1ms response time and 75-hertz refresh rate. However, 75Hz refresh rate won’t matter as consoles tend to be capped at 60Hz. Therefore, you won’t see a noticeable boost in motion clarity.

On the other hand, if you play PC alongside a console, AMD’s FreeSync technology assists in smoothing out tearing to give you the best visuals. Which is why the ASUS VG245H is our best choice gaming monitor for console gaming in 2020.

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Pros & Cons

• Slim, curved design
• Curved screen for an immersive gaming experience
• Features Eco-Saving Plus to save power

• The screen is slightly dimmer than other monitors

Specifications:

• Size: 27-inch
• Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
• Panel Type: VA
• Response Time: 4ms
• Refresh Rate: 60Hz

Samsung LC27F398FWNXZA C27F398 27″ Curved LED Monitor Review

Larger than our best choice option, The Samsung C27F398 features a minimalistic yet basic design. As it’s so big, the 18.5-inch wide stand that supports the monitor has a pretty large footprint.

So, if you live in a dorm with small office space, this is definitely going to be a problem. Another downside to the stand is that you can only tilt it as there isn’t a swivel range, so it can be pretty difficult to find the ideal viewing position.

However, at 27-inches, the screen size is large enough for you to view from a distance mounted to a wall. Due to the Samsung C27F398’s curved screen, it will stick out of the wall further than most other monitors. Albeit, it’s the price you have to pay for a curved monitor.

Contrasting our best choice monitor for console gaming, the Samsung C27F398 has a very good native contrast ratio (2909:1). Though, in a bright room, it can be difficult to see the screen as the C27F398 isn’t very bright. Fortunately, for gamers who prefer to sit in their room with their curtains closed to hide the fact that they are sat in their boxers—this won’t be an issue.

With a native refresh rate of 60Hz that can be overclocked to 72Hz when FreeSync mode is enabled, motion handling on the Samsung C27F398 is excellent. Of course, there is a slight motion blur behind fast moving objects when in the middle of an intense game, yet it performs like a beast when overclocked.

To the back of the monitor, there are only a few inputs: 3.5 mm headphone port, HDMI and DisplayPort, so it isn’t great for connecting multiple devices at once. Disappointing, yes, but this gaming monitor brags excellent low input lag when gaming at 1080p in FreeSync mode.

Alas, as this is our premium pick gaming monitor for console gaming, it does come with a price tag of $220—a hefty price to pay for those on a budget. If you’re looking for more 27″ options, check out our guide on the best 27 inch gaming monitors.

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Pros & Cons

• Frameless design for immersive visuals
• HDMI, DVI, and VGA inputs for multiple devices
• Stunning IPS display

• You can’t adjust the monitor

Specifications:

• Size: 21.5-inch
• Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
• Panel Type: IPS
• Response Time: 4ms
• Refresh Rate: 60Hz

Acer R221Q bid Monitor Review

On the topic of budgets, the Acer R221Q bid Monitor is our best value choice gaming monitor for console gaming. At $129.99, it’s one of the best budget gaming monitors on the market in the sub-$150 range.

As it’s such a budget-friendly monitor, there are going to be some cons to the R221Q, though truthfully, there aren’t many. Before we get into the downsides, let’s first look at the good stuff.

Available in 21.5-inch (RR21Q), 23.8-inch, 25-inch, and 27-inch models, this gaming monitor accommodates to the needs of many. Whether you’re a college student who doesn’t have much desk space or a freelancer who has a larger office space, the size will not let you down.

Despite its price, the R221Q comes armed with a full HD IPS widescreen display with 1920 x 1080p resolution—it truly doesn’t get any better than that! But wait, there’s more; thanks to its zero frame design, you can enjoy the 21.5-inch display for an immersive visual experience, without a thick frame in the way.

The Acer R221Q bid is a fantastic gaming monitor supports HDMI, VGA, and DVI inputs suitable for multiple devices. With that said, you can only tilt the monitor -5° to 15° and it’s not VESA mount compatible, two downsides that might put some gamers off. Although for $129.99, this IPS panel gaming monitor might just be worth it.

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Pros & Cons

• Comes with a versatile stand
• Ultra-narrow 2mm bezels
• Full HD display

• No HDMI port

Specifications:

• Size: 22-inch
• Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
• Panel Type: IPS
• Response Time: 5ms
• Refresh Rate: 60Hz

AOC I2267FW 22-Inch Class IPS Frameless/Slim LED Monitor Review

Sometimes, even $30 is over budget, so we’ve included one of the best gaming monitors that come in under $200. Like our best value monitor choice, the AOC I2267FW is another ‘frameless’ monitor that brags an IPS panel, all for just a $100. With its sleek design and 2mm ultra-narrow bezels, it’s a monitor suitable for any office or gaming corner.

If you have children running around the place, touching everything they possibly can with their greasy fingers, you’ll be delighted to know that the screen has a matte anti-glare coating. This way, you don’t have to worry about tiny smudges or fingerprints all over your screen.

On the topic of the screen, the IPS panel is a superior panel that offers high definition and excellent color accuracy for a true-to-life gaming experience.

Alas, it only comes with one VGA port and one DVI-D port, so you’re going to need an adaptor if you want to use this monitor as a primary display device. You can’t mount it on a wall, either, though most gamers tend to sit their monitors on a gaming desk—so this isn’t exactly a problem. Besides, for $99.99, you really can’t complain about the AOC I2267FW gaming monitor.

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Pros & Cons

• Black eQualizer to brighten dark scenes
• Dual HDMI ports
• Flickering has been eliminated

• TN panel

Specifications:

• Size: 24-inch
• Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
• Panel Type: TN
• Response Time: 1ms
• Refresh Rate: 75Hz

BenQ ZOWIE RL2455S Gaming Monitor Review

With a 24-inch 1080p responsive display, the BenQ ZOWIE RL2455S is a remarkable gaming monitor that costs less than $150. For most PC gamers, 60Hz sometimes isn’t enough. Luckily, consoles tend to get capped at 30-60 FPS. so there really isn’t a point in spending more money on a 144Hz monitor.

As this BenQ monitor comes equipped with a TN panel, response times are extremely fast (1ms) which prevents annoying motion blur. On another note, colors and contrasts are brilliant for the low price, though vibrancy is limited compared to an IPS panel monitor.

This specific model comes with a Black Equalizer feature used to enhance contrasts to improve grayscale performance. This way, deeper blacks are visible, without tinting the output’s white balance.

To the back of the gaming monitor is a range of input/output connectors, such as D-Sub, DVI-D Dual Link, and two HDMI ports. You’ll also notice a handy headphone jack that you can use to plug in the best gaming headphones for an immersive audio experience.

Although the BenQ ZOWIE RL2455S didn’t make it to our top 3, it sure is a terrific gaming monitor suitable for console gaming.

Console Gaming Monitors: Buying Guide

Now that you’re aware of the best gaming monitors for console gaming, you should know some of the important terms and specifications we have mentioned.

Resolution

One of the most important factors to consider when buying a gaming monitor is the resolution. These days, most monitors come with a resolution of:

• 1080p (Full HD)
• 1440p (QHD/2K)
• 2160p (UHD/4K)

As most console games run at 1080p (Full HD), we recommended that you look for a monitor with a resolution of 1920 x 1080.

Panel Type

Most monitors on the market rely on the following two types of panel:

• TN (twisted nematic): supports faster response times
• IPS (in-plane switching): better visuals owing to the vibrant and accurate colors

Response Time

Measured in milliseconds (ms), response time is how much time a single-pixel needs to shift from black to white or between different shades of gray. In simple English, this means that the lower the response time, the faster and more fluid actions on-screen are.

Refresh Rate

Measured in hertz (Hz), the refresh rate is how many times the monitor can refresh the displayed image per second. Most monitors on the market have a refresh rate of:

• 60Hz
• 144Hz
• 240Hz

Note, that as consoles tend to be capped at 60Hz, therefore, higher refresh rates won’t make a difference.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the Best Monitor for Console Gaming?

Our best choice gaming monitor for console gaming is the Asus VG245H Console Gaming Monitor—one that balances cost and quality very well.

Is a Curved Monitor Better for Gaming?

Curved monitors allow for an immersive gaming experience. Albeit, they aren’t exactly better than an ‘ordinary’ monitor—that just depends on your personal preferences. If that’s what you’re looking for, check out our guide on the best curved gaming monitors.

When it comes to console gaming, curved monitors are less of a requirement than they are regarding desktop gaming. This is because PCs can sport advanced hardware that makes better use of curved monitors’ uncommon designs.

What Is the Best Monitor Size for Gaming?

A monitor with a 24-inch screen or larger is suitable for gaming. Just make sure that whatever size monitor you choose, it fits where you intend it to go—whether that’s on a gaming desk or hung up on the wall.

Are Monitors Good for Console Gaming?

Absolutely! Some gamers prefer a huge TV, while others prioritize quality over the screen size. As we mentioned, gaming monitors are often more responsive than televisions, and for console gaming, there really isn’t any need to go higher than 60Hz.

Conclusion

In conclusion, gaming monitors tend to be much better than a standard television for console gaming. In 2020, most monitors on the market are extremely responsive, with response times of around 1ms to 4ms depending on the panel type. As we’ve mentioned, IPS panels are superior, though TN panels do the job just as well—plus, they support faster response times.

There is one other solution, however. If screen size is the only thing important to you, go ahead and check out the best projector for gaming.

Trust us, your display size will be enormous.

Sources:

1. How to Find a Good Console Gaming Monitor, BenQ Support
2. Troubleshooting a blank TV screen or monitor while your Xbox One is on, Xbox Support