You do not need a 4K TV to play on a PS5 or an Xbox Series X. Both consoles work on any screen with an HDMI input, from 1080p upward. What the screen decides is which extras you get: 4K at 120Hz and variable refresh rate need an HDMI 2.1 port on a display with a 120Hz or faster panel. A 4K 60Hz TV is a fine match for an Xbox Series S, and a 144Hz gaming monitor works with every current console, running at up to 120Hz.
What each console outputs
| Console | Top resolution | 1440p output | 120Hz | VRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PS5 | 4K | Yes | Yes, in games that offer it | Yes, over HDMI 2.1 |
| Xbox Series X | 4K | Yes | Yes, in games that offer it | Yes, HDMI VRR and FreeSync |
| Xbox Series S | Built around 1440p, can send a 4K signal | Yes | Yes, in games that offer it | Yes, HDMI VRR and FreeSync |
The console and the game decide the frame rate, not the screen. Most games run at 30 or 60 frames per second, and only some offer a 120 frames per second mode, often at a lower resolution. The Xbox Series S is the less powerful machine: it renders most games below 4K and scales the picture up, so it gains less from a high-end display.
Do you need a 4K TV?
No. On a 1080p screen both consoles still look good, because they can render at a higher resolution and scale the image down, which smooths edges.
Whether 4K is worth having depends on screen size and viewing distance. On a large living-room TV it is clearly sharper, and almost every TV of that size is 4K anyway. On a 24-inch desk monitor 1080p is acceptable, and on a 27-inch monitor 1440p is a sensible middle ground.
Is a 4K 60Hz TV fine for an Xbox Series S?
Yes. A 4K 60Hz TV shows everything the Series S does in its standard modes. Games at 60 frames per second play at full smoothness, and HDR works if the TV supports it.
What you give up is the 120Hz mode in the games that have one, and usually VRR, since many 60Hz TVs do not support it. For a Series S that is a small loss. The same TV also works with a Series X or PS5, where you simply play in the 60 frames per second or quality modes.
HDMI 2.1 versus HDMI 2.0
- HDMI 2.0 carries up to 18 Gbps. That is enough for 4K at 60Hz, or for 1080p and 1440p at 120Hz.
- HDMI 2.1 carries up to 48 Gbps. That is what 4K at 120Hz needs, and the standard also defines VRR and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), which switches a TV into its game mode automatically.
Three practical cautions:
- The label alone is not a guarantee. A port can be called HDMI 2.1 without supporting every 2.1 feature. Look for “4K at 120Hz” or “4K 120Hz” stated for the HDMI input.
- Not every port is equal. Many TVs have 4K 120Hz on only one or two of their HDMI inputs. Use that input for the console, and switch on its enhanced HDMI mode in the TV menu if there is one.
- The cable matters. The cable supplied with a PS5 or Xbox Series X handles 4K at 120Hz. If you replace it, buy one certified as Ultra High Speed.
120Hz and VRR, and why they matter
120Hz means the screen can show up to 120 frames each second. In a game with a 120 frames per second mode, motion looks smoother and the controls feel more immediate.
VRR, variable refresh rate, lets the display follow the frame rate of the console moment by moment, so a game that dips below its target does not tear or stutter visibly.
Both features are switched on in the console video settings, and the two console families handle VRR differently. The PS5 supports the HDMI 2.1 form of VRR, so it needs a display with HDMI 2.1 VRR. Xbox Series consoles support HDMI VRR and also AMD FreeSync, so VRR works on a wider range of monitors.
Does a 144Hz TV or monitor work with a console?
Yes. A 144Hz or 165Hz display accepts a 120Hz signal, and that is what the console sends. The console tops out at 120Hz, so the extra headroom is only used by a gaming PC.
The one thing to check is the HDMI port. Consoles have HDMI output only, and on some monitors the headline refresh rate is available only through DisplayPort, with the HDMI inputs limited to a lower rate or resolution. A monitor sold as 4K 144Hz gives a console 4K at 120Hz only if its HDMI input is HDMI 2.1 with enough bandwidth.
1440p monitors
Both console families output 1440p, so a 1440p gaming monitor is a good match. On the PS5, 1440p output arrived in a system update, and the console runs a short test to confirm that the monitor accepts it. If it does not, the console falls back to 1080p.
Because 1440p at 120Hz fits within HDMI 2.0, a 1440p monitor does not strictly need HDMI 2.1 for 120Hz. It does need to accept that mode over HDMI, which varies by model, so check that the manual lists 1440p at 120Hz for the HDMI input.
HDR
Both consoles output HDR in the HDR10 format, and Xbox Series consoles also support Dolby Vision for games on TVs that have it. How good HDR looks depends almost entirely on the display. Real HDR needs high peak brightness plus either an OLED panel or a backlight with local dimming.
This is where TVs usually pull ahead. Many gaming monitors carry an entry-level HDR badge but lack the brightness and dimming to show much difference. Monitors with OLED or mini-LED panels do HDR properly, and they cost more.
Speakers and sound
Every TV has speakers. Many gaming monitors have none, and where they are fitted they are usually small and thin-sounding. The console sends audio over HDMI, so with a monitor you have these options:
- A headset plugged into the controller. Both the PS5 and Xbox controllers have a 3.5mm headphone jack.
- Headphones or powered speakers on the headphone output of the monitor, if it has one.
- A monitor chosen for its speakers. See our monitors with built-in speakers guide.
TV or monitor?
| TV | Gaming monitor | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical size | Mostly 43 inches and up | 24 to 32 inches |
| Best for | Sofa, living room, shared play | Desk, bedroom, also used with a PC |
| HDR | Usually stronger | Strong only on OLED and mini-LED models |
| Speakers | Built in | Often absent or weak |
| Response | Good in game mode | Usually faster |
A gaming monitor, such as one from the LG UltraGear range, is a good screen for a console as long as the specific model has the right HDMI input. A range name like that covers many models with different panels and ports, so check the one you are considering for HDMI 2.1 if it is 4K, or for 120Hz over HDMI if it is 1440p or 1080p. Our monitors for PS5 and Xbox guide lists models chosen for exactly that, and the 4K gaming monitors guide covers screens that also suit a gaming PC.
If the console lives in the living room, a TV is the natural choice. Our 65-inch TVs guide covers a common living-room size.
Do I need a 4K TV for a PS5 or Xbox Series X?
No. Both consoles work on 1080p and 1440p screens as well as 4K ones. A 4K 120Hz TV with HDMI 2.1 unlocks every display feature the consoles offer, but it is not required to play.
Is a 4K 60Hz TV good enough for an Xbox Series S?
Yes. It shows the Series S at its standard 60 frames per second modes with a 4K signal and HDR where supported. You miss only the 120Hz modes that some games offer, and often VRR.
Does a 144Hz monitor work with PS5 and Xbox?
Yes. The console sends up to 120Hz and the monitor displays it. Just confirm that the HDMI input, not only the DisplayPort input, supports 120Hz at the resolution you want, because consoles connect by HDMI only.
Do I need HDMI 2.1 for 120Hz?
Only for 4K at 120Hz. At 1080p, and at 1440p on monitors that accept it, 120Hz fits within HDMI 2.0. VRR on a PS5 does need an HDMI 2.1 display, while Xbox Series consoles can also use FreeSync.
Is a TV or a monitor better for console gaming?
It depends on where you play. A TV suits a sofa and usually has better HDR and built-in speakers. A gaming monitor suits a desk, tends to respond faster and doubles as a PC screen, but often needs a headset or separate speakers for sound.
For specific models, start with our best TVs for PS5 and Xbox gaming guide if you play from the sofa, or the best monitors for PS5 and Xbox guide if you play at a desk.
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