Yes. A PS5, Xbox Series X|S or Switch 2 only needs an HDMI port, and most gaming monitors have one. Many players like a monitor on a desk: it is sharper at arm's length, often cheaper than a TV, and can react faster. The catch is that a monitor with "4K" and "144 Hz" on the box may still not give your console its best picture. Whether it can depends on one thing: how much data the HDMI port can carry.
The PS5 and Xbox Series X|S can output 4K at up to 120 Hz, with variable refresh rate (VRR) and an automatic low-latency mode (ALLM). All three need HDMI 2.1. On an older HDMI 2.0 port you still get a picture, but 4K is capped at 60 Hz.
Every frame is a grid of pixels, and each pixel is a few bits of colour. Multiply it out: pixels per frame, times frames per second, times bits per pixel. HDMI 2.0 can carry about 14.4 Gbit/s of picture data. HDMI 2.1 can carry about 42.6 Gbit/s. Try combinations below and watch which port copes.
Two things stand out. First, 4K at 60 Hz in standard colour fits HDMI 2.0, but 4K 60 Hz with HDR is already over the line, so the console quietly drops colour detail (called chroma subsampling) to make it fit. Second, 4K at 120 Hz needs far more than HDMI 2.0 can carry, at any colour setting.
| Label | What it does for you |
|---|---|
| HDMI 2.1 | The port that can carry 4K at 120 Hz. Without it, 4K stops at 60 Hz. |
| 120 Hz / 144 Hz | Smoother motion in games that offer a 120 Hz mode. Consoles output at most 120 Hz, so 144 only helps on a PC. |
| VRR / FreeSync | The screen waits for each frame, which removes tearing when the frame rate wobbles. |
| ALLM | The monitor switches to its low-lag mode by itself when a console is connected. |
| HDR400 | A basic HDR label. It adds some brightness range, but not the punch of a brighter panel. |
Not every game has a 120 Hz mode, and many run at 60 Hz in their best-looking setting. If you mostly play slower, story-led games, a 60 Hz console picture is fine and a cheaper HDMI 2.0 monitor can do the job. If you play fast shooters or racing games with a performance mode, HDMI 2.1 is worth paying for.
The PS5 and Xbox Series consoles can output 1080p, 1440p and 4K. A 27-inch 4K screen at desk distance looks very sharp. A 32-inch is better if you sit further back, such as on a sofa. A 1440p monitor is a good middle path: cheaper, easier for the console to feed, and still crisp at 24 to 27 inches. Just check that its HDMI port accepts what you want, because some 1440p monitors have HDMI 2.0 only.
Consoles use HDMI only. DisplayPort, which many gaming monitors list first, is no use to a PS5 or Xbox. Many monitors also have just one HDMI 2.1 port and a second that is older, so plug the console into the right one. And you need a cable labelled Ultra High Speed HDMI (48 Gbit/s); an old cable can cause flicker or limit you to 60 Hz. Finally, most monitors have weak speakers, so plan on a headset.
Around €300 to 400: an HDMI 2.1 port, a 4K panel, VRR and a 120 Hz or higher refresh rate. Size is a taste choice, and a 32-inch is common at this price.
Around €400 to 500: the same basics, plus a sharper 27-inch screen, better HDR or a faster panel. Read the HDR label: a bigger number such as HDR1000 means more, HDR400 means little.
Above €500: bigger screens or extra features. Pay for these only if you will use them, because the core console features are already covered at lower prices.