Should I get OLED TV or gaming monitor for PS5?

If you‘re a proud new owner of the PlayStation 5 and looking for the best display to showcase its power, you‘re likely debating between an OLED TV or a high-end gaming monitor. Both options have their own advantages and disadvantages when paired with the PS5, so it‘s important to weigh the pros and cons. This comprehensive guide will compare OLED TVs versus gaming monitors to help you decide which is the better fit for your needs and budget.

Key Factors to Consider

Visual Quality: OLED TVs are renowned for their perfect black levels and infinite contrast ratios, made possible by self-emissive pixels. This allows for incredibly vivid images full of detail. Gaming monitors have improved in picture quality but still can‘t match the stunning depth and colors of an OLED TV.

Refresh Rate: Gaming monitors dominate here, commonly offering refresh rates of 144Hz, 240Hz or even 360Hz. This makes for extremely smooth, fluid motion perfect for fast-paced competitive multiplayer. OLED TVs max out at 120Hz refresh rates currently.

Response Time: The faster the response time, the less motion blur and ghosting you‘ll see in high action scenes. Gaming monitors can reach down to 0.5ms response times versus just 1ms for current OLED TVs.

Screen Size: OLED TVs come in larger screen sizes, typically 55 inches to 77 inches diagonally. This provides an immersive experience, especially for single player story games. Gaming monitors max out around 32-34 inches right now.

Features: Gaming monitors offer perks like height/tilt adjustable stands, blue light filters, and usb ports catered towards enthusiast PC gamers. OLED TVs boast integrated smart platforms with streaming apps.

Burn-in: Static HUD elements pose a burn-in risk for OLED displays over time. Gaming monitors do not have to worry about screen burn-in. Newer OLED models have greatly improved in this area though.

Below we‘ll explore each factor in detail to help determine if the visual splendor of an OLED outweighs the competitive edge of a high-spec gaming monitor for your PS5 gameplay needs.

Visual Quality

There is no contest when it comes to visual performance – OLED TVs are in a league of their own. Their ability to turn off pixels completely allows for truly infinite contrast, with blacks that are perfectly dark. This makes for incredibly realistic images, especially noticeable in darker games or nighttime scenes where shadows and details in black areas would normally be lost on an LED/LCD display.

The self-emissive pixel design of OLED also means they can be tiny in size and packed densely together. This results in 4K resolution looking even crisper and more lifelike. HDR content really shines on OLED TVs too thanks to the high dynamic range between the deepest blacks and peak brightness areas. Everything from sunlight glinting off metal to glowing embers of a fire will captivate your eyes.

Gaming monitors have steadily improved in picture quality over the years but they still can‘t match OLED due to their LED-backlit nature. Even with full array local dimming employed on premium monitors, the black levels simply can‘t get as truly dark to unlock that infinite contrast. Colours also tend to be more vibrant and natural looking on OLED. Side-by-side, a game‘s scenery will look more realistic on an OLED TV.

If visual immersion is your top priority for story-driven single player games, an OLED TV is the way to go. The unparalleled contrast creates images that feel like looking through a window into another reality. While certainly no slouch, gaming monitors can‘t compete with the lifelike depth and fidelity of an OLED for cinematic experiences.

Refresh Rate

Gaming monitors dominate the category of refresh rate, with many models boasting specs of 144Hz, 240Hz or even 360Hz – far higher than the maximum 120Hz supported on current 4K OLED TVs. This extremely fast refresh rate translates into much smoother, fluid motion perfect for ultra-responsive competitive multiplayer gameplay.

The higher the refresh rate, the more fps (frames per second) a display can show each second. So at 240Hz, up to 240fps rendered by the PS5 can be displayed, creating an exceptionally smooth experience. Higher frame rates mean lower input lag as well, which is the delay between hitting a button and seeing the effect on-screen. This quicker response time is vital for fast-twitch shooters and other multiplayer titles.

While 120Hz is no slouch and will provide excellent fluidity, competitive gamers looking for every advantage will want 240Hz+ monitors to react a split second faster to enemies and targets. This lightning quick motion clarity gives a real edge in pulling off precise shots and timing movements. For single player adventure and RPG titles though, 120Hz provides excellent smoothness already.

Keep in mind you‘ll need games consistently running at 140fps+ to take full advantage of the faster refresh rates on gaming monitors. This often requires sacrificing some graphical settings or resolution. The PS5 and Xbox Series X aim for 4K 60fps as an optimal target, so consider if you‘re willing to lower resolution for higher frame rates or not.

Response Time

Response time is another pivotal specification that determines how clear and fluid motion will be, especially in high action scenes. It measures how quickly a pixel can change from one color to another. The faster the response, the less chance for unwanted artifacts like motion blurring or ghosting to occur.

Gaming monitors currently achieve superior response times of around 0.5ms to 1ms for their fastest settings, enabling sharp and crystal clear motion even during frenzied sequences. OLED TVs average around 1ms response time, which is excellent but still a bit behind dedicated gaming monitors.

To visualize just how fast a 0.5ms response time is, consider that it takes about 1 second for a human to blink their eyes. At 0.5ms response, a display could change its pixels a staggering 2000 times in the time it takes to blink once! This eliminates nearly all possibility of motion blur or ghosting even at high frame rates.

A difference of just 0.5ms may not seem like much at first, but it gives gaming monitors an edge when it comes to crystal clear clarity for esports and other twitch gameplay requiring pixel perfect accuracy and reactions. For more cinematic, laidback single player experiences though, the 1ms response of OLED TVs is still fantastic.

Screen Size

If you want the most immersive, expansive display for your PS5 gaming, OLED TVs have a clear advantage in their available screen sizes. They commonly come in 55-inch, 65-inch, and even 77-inch flavors. This allows you to experience cinematic, sweeping vistas fully encompassing your field of view, especially if you‘re able to sit closer to a large 77-inch model.

More modest gaming monitors typically max out at around 32 inches to 34 inches for mainstream models. Even ultra-wide monitors don‘t venture past the 40-inch mark at this time. So OLED TVs provide a much bigger viewing experience overall. Their 4K clarity remains pin sharp even on a 77-inch screen due to the high pixel density.

However, bigger isn‘t always better for every situation. Larger screens mean you‘ll need to sit further back to take in the full view. For PC gaming setups where you sit just 1-2 feet from the display, a 32-inch monitor will feel suitably immersive already. OLED TVs work better when you‘re able to sit 6 feet or further back from the screen.

Consider your typical seating distance from the display to choose an appropriate size. Competitive gamers also tend to prefer smaller 24-27" monitors which allow easily glancing around the screen without excessive head movement. For kicking back on the couch and enjoying epic vistas though, OLED TVs are hard to top.

Features

Gaming monitors are tailored specifically for enthusiast PC gamers, packing in bonus features that provide added functionality. This includes ergonomic stands with extensive height, tilt, swivel, and rotation adjustments to achieve the perfect viewing angle and positioning. Some models even offer portrait mode rotation for certain games.

USB ports are common on gaming monitors as well, allowing convenient access to charge controllers or connect peripherals without reaching around back of the display. Integrated blue light filters that reduce eyestrain are also commonplace, adjustable via handy settings menus.

Gaming monitors also support AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync compatibility for variable refresh rates up to 120Hz at 4K. This matches the display‘s refresh rate with the rendered frame rate of the game in real time. The result is ultra smooth gameplay free of stuttering and screen tearing.

On the other hand, OLED TVs offer extremely intuitive smart platforms and operating systems thanks to their origin from major manufacturers like LG, Sony and Samsung. This provides easy access to built-in streaming apps like Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Spotify and countless others. For an all-in-one entertainment hub, you can‘t beat an OLED TV. But serious PC gamers may still prefer the fine-tuned features of a dedicated gaming monitor.

Risk of Burn-In

One of the most cited downsides of OLED TVs is the risk of burn-in on the display. This is most notably an issue with static elements like channel logos, heads-up displays (HUDs), and desktop icons remaining on-screen for very prolonged periods. If an OLED constantly displays these static elements, their fixed pixels can wear differently over time, leaving subtle ghost images permanently burned-in.

Modern OLED TVs have vastly improved in preventing burn-in, through methods like pixel shifting and periodically refreshing the panel. Most average viewers will never experience any long-term retention issues. But hardcore gamers playing the same game excessively for thousands of hours do still face a minor risk depending on the HUD elements.

Gaming monitors on the other hand essentially never suffer from any noticeable burn-in issues, even after displaying static content for extremely long durations. Their LED backlights don‘t wear out or decay in brightness like OLED pixels. So competitive gamers who stick to just one or two games can confidently enjoy static-free gaming on a high-end monitor.

In summary, screen burn-in shouldn‘t dissuade the average gamer from considering an OLED TV, especially with recent improvements made. But ultra hardcore fans playing a single game religiously over years may want the total peace of mind offered by a gaming monitor immune to burn-in. Be sure to vary content regularly to minimize any long-term image retention risks.

Final Recommendations

So which display reigns supreme for PlayStation 5 gaming – OLED TV or high spec gaming monitor? The truth is, it depends on your priorities. Here are some final recommendations based on typical use cases:

• For fast-paced competitive multiplayer games like Call of Duty, Fortnite, Rocket League or eSports titles, a 240Hz+ gaming monitor is optimal. Their higher refresh rates and ultra-low response time provide every advantage for split-second reaction times and crystal clear motion.

• For primarily single-player cinematic games like God of War, Horizon Forbidden West, The Last of Us or Assassin‘s Creed, the visual splendor of a premium 4K OLED TV really shines through. Their larger screen sizes also unlock immersive scale.

• For those wanting the best of both worlds, look for a 4K 144Hz gaming monitor with HDR, VRR and low response time. While not OLED-level visuals, these provide excellent graphics with the smoother action of higher refresh rates. Popular models include the LG 27GN950 and ASUS PG27UQ.

• On a budget, quality 1080p 144Hz+ monitors can be had for under $300, offering ultrasmooth gameplay for esports titles without breaking the bank. The ASUS VG258Q and Acer Nitro XV253QX are great choices.

• For OLED enthusiasts still worried about burn-in, LG‘s new QNED Mini LED TVs provide nearly OLED-level contrast and blacks without burn-in risk. Mini-LED backlighting with over 2500 zones achieves this, but at a premium price.

No matter your final choice, remember that any modern display will provide a massive upgrade over outdated TVs. The PS5 can flex its muscle whether it‘s paired with an OLED TV or high refresh gaming monitor. Choose based on your priorities and you‘re sure to enjoy stunning next-gen games however they‘re displayed. Game on!