For ages, TVs and computer monitors have held dedicated positions within the home. Your TV was always a device made for entertainment, while monitors tackled any computer-related task, pulling double duty with gaming elements. Now the lines are starting to blur with monitors including media-friendly settings and PC users bringing their computer into the entertainment center. So, we are here to answer the question: Can your TV be a good monitor?
Before we get into whether your TV makes a good monitor, we need to look at what the main differences between the two are. It seems like an easy answer as you can visually compare the two, but it goes deeper than that. There are a few more elements to think about aside from the size, such as the resolution of the screen, how fast it performs, and even the type of panel that is being used. On a surface level, it doesn’t seem like much, but as we break apart each part of both devices, we discover the truth.
Resolution and Pixel Density
So first, let’s take a look at resolution. We see a ton of TVs and monitors sport a 4K, 3840 x 2160 resolution, but what we don’t always pay attention to is pixel density. This relates to how many pixels are on a screen of varying size. For example, a 32-inch 4K monitor could have a pixel density of 137 Pixels Per Inch (ppi). This means that every square inch has 137 pixels. When you start bumping up the size of that monitor into the TV realm, let’s say a 45-inch TV, it becomes around 97 ppi.
A lower pixel density is not a bad thing by any means. Pixel density between 50 and 70 is fairly normal especially for larger TVs. Considering how far you should be from your TV, which is 1.5 to 2.5 times the TV’s diagonal screen size, chances are you will never notice the pixels. It is when you get to a monitor where the pixel density really matters, as a higher density in a smaller display makes images really pop with detail. If you are a photo editor, a good ppi is incredibly important especially if you are printing these images out.
Speed and Refresh Rate
Resolution is important when it comes to still images, but motion is equally significant. A lot of film is recorded at 24 Frames Per Second (fps). That means every second is displaying 24 individual frames and a lot of TVs support that speed. But when you get into other digital content such as YouTube videos and video games, speed becomes a bit more complex.
A lot of TVs offer a baseline of 60 Hz which means you get up to 60 fps in various formats. Newer TVs will support an upwards of 120 Hz which means games can achieve smoother speeds. Monitors often hit 120 Hz and can go even faster, going as far as 480 fps! But there is a delicate balance to this. The higher the refresh rate goes, the lower the resolution. In gaming, some titles will offer different settings like 4K visual mode that caps the frame rate to 60 fps while a performance mode will lower the resolution but provide the faster 120 fps speed.
Now one thing that most monitors have that TVs do not is some type of vertical synchronization technology, otherwise known as VSync. This locks the framerate of whatever program you are using to match the same refresh rate of the monitor. Now this is typically revolving around the device you are plugging into the TV. Most computers and gaming consoles will have some sort of synchronization technology, and while not perfect, it is manageable. Granted, because of the locked 60 and 120 Hz, it is easy to program a device to hard cap the frame rate to those levels. Monitors can dance across multiple frame rate windows easily but can fail due to lack of any synchronization, causing massive amounts of distortion.
Panel Type
Another important contributing factor in the world of displays is the panel type. LCD tends to be the standard amongst many brands, and it works a bit differently between TVs and monitors. A TV will traditionally adopt a type of LCD panel like LED, QLED, Mini-LED and more. Then, they implement different types of backlighting such as full array or edge-lit designs which determine how the overall picture could look. These have different features and benefits that coincide with the resolution and speed of the picture that we have already discussed.
Then we have OLED technology, which provides a unique one-of-a-kind panel that offers one of the brightest, smoothest, and overall best-looking images currently. These use pixels that are individually controller to provide the best brightness, enhanced contrast levels, and the darkest black color by turning completely off. These are typically more expensive than other types of panel technologies.
Monitors are a bit different with their panel technology. They also come in the LCD standard but utilize a different naming convention. Panels could be an In-Plane Switching (IPS), Vertical Alignment (VA), Twisted Nematic (TN), or OLED variants. IPS panels tend to be one of the most popular because they offer great color space support, solid performance, and look very nice. Curved monitors tend to use a VA panel to maintain steady contrast ratios, making them great for HDR content. And TN panels are often revered for their fast performance with increased refresh rates.
The use of OLED technology in monitors is still growing and plenty of people have been weary of using them. Due to computers mostly featuring static images, people have been concerned about the potential of burn-in. Various companies have been really focused on preventing OLED burn-in, so they offer options and technologies like motion sensing technology that dims the display when you walk away.
Can a TV Be Used as a Monitor?
After breaking down each of these important aspects of TVs and monitors, I can confidently say that you do not want to use a TV as a monitor. Even if you get into the smaller sized TVs like 27” and 32” models, it just makes more sense to go for a full-fledged computer monitor. Companies don’t often make TVs that size anymore and it’s because monitors have become more advanced over time. If you do happen to find a small TV, chances are that it won’t have the resolution or speed to accommodate anything you need.
But there are some exceptions. Your TV in your living room is the centerpiece of your entertainment center. It easily supports Blu-ray players, streaming devices, and gaming consoles because those are designed specifically for that experience. Despite how advanced a computer can be and dependent on the visual output of your graphics card, they could still be connected to a TV. Some folks exclusively play PC games on their high-end TV with a controller as if it was a video game console.
