Developers put in a lot of resources and manpower to make sure your gaming experience is as immersive as possible.
You may have the latest console or a beefed-up PC, but you won’t be able to experience the true essence of immersive gaming if you have a mediocre display to begin with. Therefore, it is necessary that you get a TV or monitor for yourself that can cater to high-resolution displays and fluid movements.
In this article, I will keep my focus on gaming monitors and what factors you need to look into when you are choosing one for yourself, so that you don’t miss out on your gaming experience.
Display Size and Resolution
The first thing you need to focus on is deciding the size of the monitor and the number of pixels in your display.
The least that you should aim for is a 1080p display (1920x1080p), especially if you are playing on a console such as a PS5, since 1080p, in 2026, is the bare minimum. A 24-inch display size should generally be the starting point if you tend to sit close to the monitor.
However, if you wish to take things up a notch and want a crisper resolution, then I would recommend that you go for a 2K display (2560x1440p) as it hits the sweet spot in terms of resolution and it isn’t too heavy on your budget either. If you’re aiming for a 2K display, then the minimum screen size you should go for is 27 inches.
If you can take a chunk out of your budget and are into PC gaming, then you should definitely get a 4K monitor (3840x2160p) for yourself, as the hyper-sharp display makes every game super interesting to play.
Make sure you keep the screen size in mind as you go for a certain resolution. For instance, if you get a 50-inch display with a 1080p resolution, you’ll notice that the display is pixelated, which means that you will experience a reduced resolution as you play your favorite games. The lower the resolution is, the smaller the screen size should be in ideal cases.
Refresh Rate
If you value fluid movement, then you definitely need a monitor that gives you a decent refresh rate. This is especially useful in competitive gaming because you need movement that keeps you on your toes at all times.
Most baseline monitors come with a 60Hz refresh rate, which is fair if you don’t really care much about movement and smoothness.
However, if you do want the extra fluidity, then you should aim for a 90Hz or above display. 120Hz hits the sweet spot and doesn’t make you break the bank either. If you wish to push things further, you can also aim for 240Hz to 500Hz, which may be overkill for most, but it’s great for competitive gaming.
The movement during online games has a lot to do with your internet connection as well, but not your download speed (which is a common misconception). Online gaming has a lot more to do with latency and packet loss, which is why it is necessary to connect your PC or console to a reliable internet connection, such as Spectrum internet. This way, you can ensure you make the most out of your gaming experience, especially if you are playing online.
Panel Technology
There are multiple panel technologies that you can choose from. For instance, the most basic is an OLED screen, which is also considered to be the premium standard.
It’s best if you want balanced black levels and deep contrast while you play games. Not only that, but it also gives you an almost instantaneous response time.
Next up, you can also go for an IPS (In-Plane Switching) panel, which is the most popular option among gamers. It also works best if you get a 2K monitor, so that the experience is as immersive as possible. It gives you vibrant color production and also gives you a greater viewing angle, which means that you don’t have to be right in front to get the best viewing angle.
You may also choose a VA (Vertical Alignment) router, which gives you the perfect middle ground with balanced contrasts and immersive blacks, but with a slightly slower response time.
Out of all of these options, I recommend that you go for an IPS display since it is already popular among gamers, gives you a great viewing angle, and wouldn’t cost you much either, helping you make the most out of your gaming experience.
So, these were all the major things you had to know about while choosing a monitor for yourself.
Now you just have to figure out whether you value resolution or fluid movement so that you can start looking for monitor options. In some cases, you may also get the best of both worlds with an immersive resolution and a high refresh rate as well, but you’ll definitely need a good budget for it.
