If there’s one thing that we can learn from people’s obsession with smartphones, it is the fact that people just love multi-purpose devices. The same thing goes for two-in-one laptops that are getting more and more popular every year. However, is a multi-purpose device always the best answer? Nowhere is this question as relevant as when it comes to the issue of gaming. So, the question that we have to ask is –can a multi-purpose device like a TV really be as good as specialized gaming peripherals like a monitor? Let’s find out.
On average, TVs are bigger
On average, TVs are much bigger than monitors which can be both an advantage and a disadvantage. You see, for those who prefer adventure games, turn-based strategies and other video game genres where you have the time to enjoy the scenery, the bigger the screen, the more immersive the experience. On the other hand, in competitive video gaming, the inability of the player to see the entirety of the screen at once may become a significant disadvantage. When it comes to this, you also need to keep in mind that TVs are meant to be looked at from afar, while monitors are supposed to be just a couple of feet away from you. This too is something you need to consider when planning your setup.
Resolution and use
The first thing you need to understand when it comes to choosing a perfect screen for your gaming experience is the fact that the terminology is different for TV and monitor screen resolutions. When it comes to monitors, 1080p is Full HD, 1440p is QHD (commonly referred to as 2K) and 2160P is UHD (which is known as 4K). With TVs, you have 720p, which is HD ready, 1080p which is Full HD and 2160p, which is 4K. As you can see, Full HD is completely missing from the list. One more problem that TVs often face is the issue of aliasing, which happens due to the relationship between the screen size and the resolution, which results in a different pixel density.
Response
The problem with specifications regarding the responsiveness mostly lies in the fact the numbers are never revealed by the manufacturer. There are, in general, two ways for you to stay safe on this end. The first one is to go for a high-end gaming monitor, seeing as how these devices are designed with quick response in mind. When choosing a TV, what you should do is opt for a device from a renowned manufacturer like Samsung, LG or Phillips.
Ideally, you would be able to test this device in practice but, seeing as how this would usually imply that you have to buy it first, it’s probably a lot safer for you to find a device review/comparison video on YouTube. While this is not 100 percent reliable, by watching several of these videos you’re increasing the likelihood of getting an accurate estimate.
Split-screen multiplayer
When it comes to the idea of split-screen multiplayer, which is quite important for console users and might be coming back to PCs, the TV is a clear winner. Video games like Outward which are featuring traditional split-screen multiplayer are just one of the reasons why this gaming trend might be worth considering even in 2019. Still, due to the fact that a large number of PC gamers currently have a multi-screen setup, this too might become something that split-screen developers might want to take into consideration. As of today, making this scenario work takes too much time and effort or require a mod, which is usually a less than satisfactory solution.
Additional features
The most notable difference between monitors and TVs are the additional features that are specialized for gaming. The first thing that comes to mind here is the refresh rate. According to today’s monitor standards, about 144 Hz to 240 Hz is considered optimal, while with TVs, this range is usually between 60 Hz and 120 Hz. Naturally, some developers are working hard towards developing hybrid TV monitors, yet, monitors (especially those specialized for gaming) and TVs are still not one and the same. Needless to say, these hybrids can sometimes offer a refresh rate that’s quite close to those of gaming monitors.
The last thing you need to keep in mind that there’s innovation in both of these fields and that both TVs and monitors have a difficult job keeping up both with each other and with new GPUs in the market. Fortunately, with the concept of multi-screen setups becoming more and more popular, perhaps the best choice for you is not choosing at all.
