No, a 4K TV is not a necessity for the PS5. While the console supports 4K resolution, it still delivers a worthwhile gaming experience on lower-resolution TVs. Factors like budget constraints, gaming preferences, and the type of gamer you are influence whether upgrading to a 4K TV is essential. The PS5’s power and features, including faster load times and superior graphics, are notable even on non-4K displays, making it accessible to a broader audience.
Keep the following in mind:
1). The Type of Gamer
What type of gamer are you? That question matters because a PS5 can reduce input lag when paired with the right TV. The term ‘Input Lag’ refers to the time it takes for your commands (via a controller) to produce a response on the screen.
Input lag and response time are intimately intertwined. The response time is the duration it takes a pixel to change colors. You want to reduce the input lag while increasing the response time. A slow response time creates blurry trails whenever a screen displays a fast-moving object.
These variables are vital to eSports enthusiasts because they can determine whether a professional gamer succeeds or fails in competitive settings. For that reason, professional gamers need 4K TVs. Ordinary gamers can get by without them. In fact, the casual gamer won’t notice the difference between 1080p and 4K displays.
2). The Cost Of A 4K TV
Gaming consoles are expensive. This is particularly true for the PS5. For many casual gamers, it isn’t a question of whether they need a 4K TV for their PS5 but rather if they can afford to buy a PS5 as well as a 4K TV.
This Statista graph shows that the price of 4K TVs fell significantly between 2012 and 2017. This CBS News report from October 2022 also confirmed that TVs had become cheaper, with prices reducing by a whopping 17.9 percent.
However, $898 for a Hisense U8H TV is still too high. Ultimately, your budget will determine your next step. If you have the money, a 4K TV will enhance your gaming experience drastically.
3). The Power Of A PS5
The PS5 made headlines when it debuted because the console represented a noticeable technological leap in the gaming industry. Even with a normal non-4K TV, the PS5 is worth it. You can still look forward to superior particle effects, 3D sound, haptic feedback, faster load times, and more.
Gamers on this Reddit thread have attested to playing PS5 games on a 1080p screen and enjoying the experience. According to CNET, the PS5 can work on any TV with an HDMI port.
Recommended TV Resolution For PS5 Console
The PS5 supports 4K and 120Hz. Therefore, to get the best out of your console, you need a 4K TV. While TVs with lower resolutions can work, don’t expect the images to pop the same way they would on a 4K TV.
Can You Use A 1080p TV With The PS5?
Yes, you can. The PS5 supports 1080p and 4K. Tech Radar published an article in September 2022 announcing Sony’s decision to roll out an update that allows the PS5 to support 1440p. This excited PC games because most of them use 1440p monitors.
If you run the PS5 through a 1440p or 1080p display, it will automatically downgrade to accommodate the screen’s limitations. This compromise begins to make sense once you realize that 4K content is only a tiny fraction of the games on the market.
If the PS5 could only support 4K screens, it would alienate the majority of gamers, many of whom cannot afford 4K TVs. Therefore, the PS5 will continue to support lower resolutions.
Benefits Of Gaming On A 4K TV With PS5
If the PS5 can work on 1080p screens, why would anyone waste money on a 4K TV? Because 4K TVs offer a plethora of benefits, including the following:
1). 4K TVs Are Massive
Have you noticed that 4K TVs are larger than their lower-resolution counterparts? That isn’t an accident. You are unlikely to appreciate the difference between 1080p and 4K on a small screen.
Therefore, if you want a 4K TV, you are almost guaranteed to buy a much larger TV than a conventional 1080p model, which is bound to enhance your gaming experience.
2). 4K TVs Create Immersive Gaming Sessions
A 4K TV’s large screen size isn’t just for show. It takes advantage of the TV’s pixel count, which quadruples a 1080p TV’s pixel count. The result is crystal clear images.
High Dynamic Range technology delivers a broader collection of incredibly vibrant colors. This makes your gaming experience more immersive. The fictional worlds in your favorite video games feel so real you can practically touch them.
3). 4K TVs Support Competitive Gaming
As you now realize, a PS5 running through a 4K TV will increase response time and lower input lag. The result is a dynamic and fluid gaming experience that gives competitive gamers an edge, especially when they play titles in which every millisecond counts.
4). 4K TVs Are Compatible With Future Gaming Advancements
If you think 4K is impressive, wait until you see 8K. Technically, 8K displays already exist, but they are not widespread. Eventually, gaming consoles will embrace 8K, and if you can’t afford 8K displays by then, you can make do with a 4K TV. In other words, buying a 4K TV now means you are future-proofing your gaming setup.
TV Requirements To Maximize PS5 Performance
To identify the best TV requirements for maximizing the PS5’s performance, you must understand the attributes the PS5 supports. That includes HDMI2.1, 4K, and a refresh rate of 120Hz. These variables are responsible for the fluid gameplay consumers associate with the console.
A decent 4K TV ticks all those boxes. The New York Times has identified the LG C3 OLED as the best TV model for the PS5 (and even the Xbox Series X) because it ticks every box that matters to the console, including a variable refresh rate and an automatic low-latency mode.