4K monitor vs 4K TV – which one is better?

To 4K TV or to 4K monitor, that is the question.

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If you want to settle the “4K monitor vs 4K TV” debate and get the right product for your setup, then we have you covered right here. 

Whether you’re Netflix-ing, gaming, or creating something, a 4K display can take your visual experience to a whole new level. With so much content available in 4K, it makes sense to invest in a display that can output that high-resolution picture. Now the question is – should you get a 4K monitor or a 4K TV?

With rapidly developing technology, it doesn’t come as a surprise that you have a wide variety of 4K TVs and 4K monitors at your disposal – so you can be as picky as you like and still find something within your budget. 

Monitor or TV – the “right” product will depend on your use case, preferences, and budget. For instance, if you’re looking for a monitor for your creative work, then a 4K monitor with a wide color gamut and high color accuracy would be a better fit than a plain 4K TV. 

With that being said, our team of experts at WePC has researched and compared products and put together a brief guide to help you choose between 4K monitors and 4K TVs.

4K monitor vs 4K TV – Quick Comparison

We have compared 4K monitors and 4K TVs based on three use cases – media consumption, creative work, and gaming.

Media consumption 

If media consumption will be your primary use case, then a 4K TV is the better option for you. Picture this: you’re snuggled up on the couch with your favorite snack, ready to watch your favorite movie, and you’re greeted by a massive 65-inch screen that makes the movie come to life. With HDR support, you’ll get bright and vivid colors that pop and deep blacks that provide excellent contrast (especially with OLED screens). 

On the other hand, a 4K monitor may deliver the same resolution as a 4K TV, but usually, monitors tend to be a lot smaller than TVs and may not give you the same immersive experience. Further, you will also have to invest in a sound system to get that cinematic experience with your movies or shows. 

So, if media consumption is your primary use case, then you will be better off with a 4K TV as the visuals are optimized to give you a cinematic experience. 

Creative work

If you’re professional content creator, then a 4K monitor would be better suited to your needs. With a 4K display, you’ll be able to see your work in stunning detail, and colors will look as accurate and vibrant as they are in real life. Plus, with a good monitor, you’ll have the option to calibrate it to set accurate color reproduction, which is vital in the creative industry. So, if you’re a professional media creator, a 4K monitor is a must-have. 

A good example of a 4K monitor would be the Asus ProArt Display. This monitor comes with a 27-inch screen and UHD resolution, which should deliver high picture quality. Plus, it has a wide color gamut, high color accuracy, and many connectivity options for easier workflow.

Meanwhile, TVs are generally not equipped for this sort of work at all, so you just cannot expect TVs to carry out professional creative work. 

Gaming 

Now, if you plan on using your display for serious gaming, then a 4K monitor will be better suited. Generally, 4K gaming monitors have a high refresh rate, low response time, and support for adaptive sync, which deliver a better gaming experience overall. You can also use 4K gaming monitors with PCs and consoles. 

On the other hand, 4K TVs have the same resolution, but they fail to reproduce the same pixel density and have way fewer gaming features. Due to their lower capabilities, 4K TVs won’t deliver the same buttery smooth gameplay that a good 4K monitor can. 

With this in mind, 4K gaming monitors are, of course, good for serious gamers looking to get the most out of their gaming setup. But if gaming is not your primary use case and if you play casual, leisurely games, then you can consider getting a 4K TV. 

Conclusion

To sum up, a 4K monitor is a good choice if creative work, productivity, and serious gaming are your primary use cases. On the other hand, if you want a display for media consumption or casual gaming, then a 4K TV will be a more suitable choice. Ultimately, it boils down to your use case, preferences, and budget. 

For reference, you can check out these 4K TVs and monitors –