Are you torn between getting a gaming monitor or a TV for gaming? You’re not alone. Many gamers have found themselves torn between the responsiveness of a monitor and the outstanding image quality of an HDTV. This guide will help you cut through the options and pick what’s best for your gaming setup.

We compare gaming monitors and TVs with the following in mind:

1. Features and Day-to-Day Function
2. Image quality
3. Game Performance
4. Movies & Streaming TV
5. Value
6. Verdict

Gaming Monitor Vs. TV: Features and Day-to-Day Function

At their most basic level, a gaming monitor and TV do the same thing: they display an image from an input device. Still, there are differences between the features of each.

Gaming Monitor common features

• HDMI and DisplayPort inputs – rarely DVI and VGA, too.
• Low input lag
• Small display size with high pixel density
• Adjustable stand, easy to move
• No TV tuner

Gaming monitors support a wide range of inputs. This includes both HDMI and DisplayPort and sometimes DVI and VGA, though those are rare on new gaming monitors. Monitors lack a TV tuner, so they can’t display traditional over-the-air or cable TV signals.

Gaming monitors often have an advantage in pixel density and, because they use little to no image processing, most have almost zero input lag. These traits make for a crisp, responsive experience.

Of course, gaming monitors tend to be much smaller than TVs. They’re easier to fit on a desk. Most have an adjustable stand that makes it easy to achieve the best viewing angle and to use multiple displays at once.

TV common features:

• HDMI input
• Large display size
• Remote control
• HDR, built-in speakers
• Includes a TV tuner

Modern televisions have HDMI inputs and rarely anything else – except for a TV tuner, which is used for over-the-air TV signals. The TV tuner is what makes a television, well, a television.

Televisions also lean towards a larger display size. While some overlap with monitors, they size up to massive screens with a diagonal space of over 100 inches. This, of course, is much too large for a desk. Televisions have simple stands that offer little or no adjustment.

Most televisions pack in features. A remote control is virtually guaranteed. HDR support is common, as are built-in speakers. Smart TVs have a built-in operating system, so you don’t even have to plug in a device to watch Netflix.

Gaming Monitor vs. TV: Image Quality

Gaming monitors and TVs differ in image quality. Both look great, but in their own way.

Televisions have an advantage in many aspects of image quality including brightness, contrast, and color gamut. They often use fundamentally better technology, such as OLED panels or Mini-LED backlights, to deliver the best visual experience. There is some overlap, however: the best gaming monitors have OLED panels or Mini-LED backlighting.

The gap becomes wider in HDR content, which demands a range of contrast and brightness well in excess of what most monitors can handle. Budget televisions struggle, too, but mid-range televisions have an advantage.

However, gaming monitors strike back in sharpness. Most have a higher pixel density than comparable TVs. Some TVs use an unusual subpixel layout or to use a technique called chroma subsampling, which can cause problems with sharpness when displaying fine text or interface elements. This difference isn’t noticeable when sitting far away but becomes more obvious when sitting close.

Gaming Monitor vs. TV: Game Performance

Most gamers want a display that will provide excellent performance, and performance can usually be separated into three areas: input lag, refresh rate, and pixel response times.

Input lag is the delay between user input and that input appearing on-screen. Most monitors add just a few seconds of input lag. Some TVs have low input lag, but others don’t, so it’s important to read TV reviews and avoid those with high input lag.

Refresh rate, expressed in hertz, is the number of times a display will refresh its image each second. A higher refresh rate means smoother motion. The baseline is 60Hz, but even budget gaming monitors can achieve 144Hz. High-end gaming monitors can hit 240Hz or even 360Hz. Monitors that achieve up to 500Hz are on the way.

Some newer 4K TVs can achieve 120Hz, but many are still stuck at 60Hz. It’s important to note that television brands often advertise a high “motion rate,” or similar. This is a marketing buzzword and it’s not the same as refresh rate.

TVs are less likely to support adaptive sync. This feature lets a display sync its refresh rate with an input device for silky-smooth motion that offers proper pacing between each frame.

Last but not least, is pixel response time. This is the time it takes for a pixel to change in color. This isn’t instantaneous, and the delay in pixel response is the cause of ghosting on many displays. Gaming monitors and TVs often perform similarly, but the more widespread use of OLED in the TV market does provide an edge. OLED has a nearly instantaneous pixel response time.

Gaming Monitor vs. TV: Movies & Streaming TV

TVs have a variety of image quality features and modes dedicated to improving, or just customizing, the viewing experience. Viewers can smooth out motion, dip into different HDR modes, pick between color gamuts, and much more. These options can often be changed and saved on a per-input basis, as well. Monitors offer some image quality adjustments, but they’re typically harder to access and less in-depth.

Most modern TVs have smart features, including apps that can access content without an external device plugged in. They’re often easier to use than apps on an external device, though the quality of the experience does differ between TV brands. A handful of new TVs even bundle game streaming right into the display. You can play games without a console or PC connected.

And don’t forget the remote control. A TV’s remote provides quick and easy access to a wide range of features. You can change volume, flip on game mode, or adjust image quality from across the room. There are a few gaming monitors with a remote (BenQ often includes one), but their function is more limited.

A gaming monitor can look great in movies and streaming content, but they can’t match the versatility, customization, and ease of use available on a TV.

Gaming monitor vs. TV: Ergonomics and multiple displays

Most monitors, including gaming monitors, are meant to be used at a desk and are designed to allow easy use alongside other monitors. This is why many monitors have an ergonomic stand that provides significant height, swivel, and tilt adjustment. Some also pivot 90 degrees for use in a vertical, portrait orientation.

All this makes a gaming monitor better if you want to use multiple displays. It’s technically possible to use a TV in the same way, of course, but most TVs have a basic stand that doesn’t adjust at all. You can mount the TV to a wall, but a third-party stand or arm sturdy enough to support a TV will be expensive.

This also makes a TV harder to adjust for an ideal viewing angle. You may need to crane or angle your neck to fully view the TV, especially if you are gaming at a desk. This could cause reduced image quality on TVs with a narrow viewing angle.

Gaming Monitor vs. TV: Value

Comparing the value of a gaming monitor and a TV can be tough, but there’s a couple obvious trends.

TVs have a value advantage if image quality is your top priority. It’s possible to buy a very respectable 4K HDR TV for around $500 to $750. It won’t have all the high-end features, like an OLED panel or super-bright HDR, but it will look outstanding next to similarly priced monitors. A TV will be bigger, too, which is always more impressive.

However, gaming monitors have a value advantage in game performance and responsiveness. It’s easy to find a budget gaming monitor with a 144Hz refresh rate, and some 360Hz gaming monitors now sell below $500. Nearly all monitors with an enhanced refresh rate support adaptive sync, as well. You’ll have to spend at least $650 for a TV with a 120Hz refresh rate and many models don’t support adaptive sync.

Gaming Monitor vs. TV: Verdict

I’d love to provide a clear, universal recommendation, but that’s not possible here. Neither a gaming monitor or TV is the best in all situations. The choice will come down to your needs and preferences.

A gaming monitor is the best choice for game performance. Their combination of low input lag and high refresh rate makes for unparalleled responsiveness. A gaming monitor is best for games on a desk or in a space where you’ll be just a few feet from the display. Monitors also have an edge if you want to use multiple displays.

TVs are the undisputed leader in image quality. They work best if you’re more than a few feet away and will be using the TV as the only display in the space. You’ll certainly prefer a TV if you want to watch movies and shows as often as you play games. Finally, TVs have an edge in HDR performance, so they’re great for flashy triple-A console games.

The Electric State is coming to Netflix, starring Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the long-gestating adaptation of Simon Stålenhag’s 2018 illustrated novel has been picked up by Netflix, with MCU directors Joe and Anthony Russo attached to direct.

Millie Bobby Brown will star as Michelle, an orphaned teenager traveling across a retro-futuristic American west with an eccentric drifter and mysterious robot, in search of her younger brother.

Chris Pratt is also in talks to join The Electric State in an undisclosed role.

The Electric State has been in the works for some time, originally at Universal, until rising costs forced the team to put the film into turnaround, eventually being picked up by Netflix. The film’s new budget is thought to be upward of $200 million – another hefty price tag for a Netflix production.

The script is currently being penned by Russo collaborators, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, who also wrote the script for Avengers: Endgame, which the Russo Brothers directed.

The Russo Brothers purchased the rights to The Electric State back in 2017 with Andy and Barbara Muschietti expected to direct the adaptation as recently as 2019. But the Russo Brothers have since had a change of heart, opting to helm the project themselves.

As for who will voice Michelle’s toy robot Skip in The Electric State, that remains a mystery – but considering Chris Pratt is voicing both Mario and Garfield, he could be adding another name to the list.

Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

GeForce RTX 30 series video cards can now be had at MSRP, or in some rare cases, below MSRP. That's a far cry from last year, when people woud pay hundreds of dollars over MSRP for any of the RTX 30 series video cards. If you've been delaying your new gaming PC build because of the price gouging, you can finally go head and start that project of yours. Here are the best deals we've found on RTX 30 series GPUs from the powerful RTX 3080 to the power efficient and budget friendly RTX 3050.

The Best of the Best: ASUS ROG STRIX GeForce RTX 3080 OC 12GB GPU for $799

The GeForce RTX 3080 GPU really doesn't need any introduction. This is the de facto card to get if you plan to run current generation games at 4K, since it's up to 50% faster than the previous generation RTX 2080 SUPER and doesn't command the exorbitant price of the RTX 3080 Ti or RTX 3090 (both of which are a mere 3%-5% faster in real world performance). It has an HDMI 2.1 port for passing through 4K @ 120Hz, which it has the power to drive even in resource hungry games like Elden Ring, Battlefield 2042 or Cyberpunk 2077.

The ASUS ROG STRIX model is considered by many to be the very best RTX 3080 variant on the market. It's usually hundreds of dollars more than the 3080 FE price. That's in large part because of the incredible cooling potential of the massive 3-slot heatsink combined with the quietest triple fan cooling you'll find on any RTX 3080. Despite the low noise levels, the ROG STRIX offers a significantly OC'ed 1890MHz boost clock compared o the stock 1710MHz boost on the 3080 FE. This model also comes with 12GB of GDDR6X VRAM instead of the 10GB of VRAM that comes standard and most other RTX 3080 GPUs.

EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 GPU Starting at $749.99

EVGA's XC3 Ultra model is a "smaller" dual slot heatsink with triple fan cooling and a protective metal backplate. It has approximately similar dimensions as the 3080 FE, so it can fit in smaller or more restrictive cases. It boasts a modest 1755Hz Boost overclock compared ot the stock 1710MHz Boost on the 3080 FE.

EVGA's FTW3 Ultra model comes equipped with a ridiculously large triple slot heatsink with triple fan cooling and a protective metal backplate. This amount of dissipation allows the card to run cooler and quieter than the reference model RTX 3080 FE. This also enables the FTW3 Ultra model to have a bit more aggressive 1800MHz Boost overclock. Lastly and certainly the least important detail, let's not forget about the RGB lighting. There's enough there to make this card stand out in both traditional and vertical orientations.

More RTX 30 Series Video Cards in Stock on Amazon

For the first time since the RTX 30 series launch, Amazon has a decent supply of select RTX 30 series video cards available. Mind you most cards are still priced over MSRP, but they aren't as exorbitant as they used to be, and most 3rd party cards have factory overclocks and rugged aftermarket cooling solutions to sweeten the deal. We've only highlighted video cards that are shipped and sold from Amazon directly; dealing with an unauthorized 3rd party marketplace vendor will in many cases void your video card warranty.

For over a decade, fans perhaps knew Robert Pattinson best as Edward Cullen, the vampire from the Twilight movies – and in the years since he broke big at the box office as the co-lead of that franchise, he's used his star power to land fascinating roles in edgy, challenging independent films.

Now though…Pattinson is freakin' Batman.

And not just Batman, but a very well-recieved Batman in Matt Reeves' excellent, grim reboot of the Caped Crusader as a fledgling vigilante tracking down the Riddler while learning to transtion from a symbol of fear to a symbol of hope. With a new hit franchise in Pattinson's future, we've ranked the actor's best films, from the dreamboat daze of Twilight-mania to playing one of the darkest versions of the Dark Knight yet.

10. Twilight

Where to Watch: Prime Video, Peacock, Fubo, or rentable on most platforms

Though performances by the cast weren't exactly considered a highlight of Catherine Hardwicke's Twilight, as well as its subsequent blockbuster sequels, Pattinson became an instant movie star thanks to his role as 108-year-old vampire/high school student Edward Cullen. The success of these films also allowed Pattinson to explore acting and take risks in much smaller films for much of the last decade. Fan or not of the Twilight Saga, Pattinson was magnetic and showcased that all important "It Factor" charisma.

Read our review of Twilight.

9. The Devil All the Time

Where to Watch: Netflix

This Netflix generational thriller movie was headlined by Tom Holland but it also featured Pattinson, going dark and delusional, as a charismatic but morally corrupt preacher. Both Holland and Pattinson garnered praise for their parts, though it was Pattinson, not Spider-Man's Holland, who got to pour venomous spiders all over his head in the film.

Read our review of The Devil All the Time.

8. Cosmopolis

Where to Watch: Prime Video, Roku (w/ads), Vudu (w/ads), Pluto TV (w/ads), Tubi (w/ads), or rentable on most platforms

Robert Pattinson exploded his image as a steely sex symbol with David Cronenberg's challenging and twisted drama, about a young billionaire who wanders New York City in his top of the line limousine and over the course of one day falls desperately into self-destruction. Cronenberg's film is a damning treatise of soulless capitalism, and Pattinson's portrayal of a brilliant, tormented playboy is intriguingly despicable.

7. Tenet

Where to Watch: HBO, HBO Max, and rentable on most platforms

Christopher Nolan's Tenet may have stumbled and struggled due to its pandemic delays and ill-timed release (and a story which, even in Nolan terms, was abstruse), but Pattinson flexed his more traditional leading man chops as ground support for John David Washington's "protagonist," as they battled against a small army, funded by a future world intent on destroying the past, who can move backwards through time. It's a Christopher Nolan movie worth watching.

Read our review of Tenet.

6. The Rover

Where to Watch: Showtime & Showtime apps/add-ons, Fubo, and rentable on most platforms

David Michôd's dystopian thriller stars Robert Pattinson as Rey, a troubled American who falls in with a mysterious loner, played by Guy Pearce, who will stop at nothing to retrieve his stolen car against the lawless backdrop of the outback. Pattinson plays Rey like a sick puppy, dangerous and dependent, who seems likely to bite at any moment.

Read our review of The Rover.

5. The Lost City of Z

Where to Watch: Prime Video, Paramount+, Fubo, Hoopla, and rentable on some platforms

Charlie Hunnam and Robert Pattinson explore the wilds of the Amazon in search of a mysterious, lost city in James Gray's acclaimed historical drama. Although it's Hunnam's film, and the actor reaped the accolades, Pattinson's turn in the film was transformative and further proof that the actor could transform into whatever was needed.

Read our review of The Lost City of Z.

4. High Life

Where to Watch: Showtime & Showtime apps/add-ons, Fubo, and rentable on most platforms

Robert Pattinson's third A24 film – after The Rover and Good Time — was an acclaimed sci-fi thriller from the incredible French filmmaker Claire Denis, about prisoners who are sent to the far reaches of space, towards a black hole, and subjected to scientific experiments. Pattinson's performance was once again praised as he exuded brooding intelligence and remarkable physical grace.

3. The Lighthouse

Where to Watch: Showtime & Showtime apps/add-ons, Fubo, and rentable on most platforms

Robert Eggers' follow up to his acclaimed debut, The Witch, was a shadowy surreal two-man show starring A24 darlings Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe as two lighthouse keepers who get stuck on their island by a storm and descend into madness. The Lighthouse is equal parts horror, thriller, comedy, and maritime mystery. This gripping, lean fable opens itself up to many interpretations, anchored by two leads giving darkly exciting performances.

Read our review of The Lighthouse.

2. Good Time

Where to Watch: Showtime & Showtime apps/add-ons, Fubo, and rentable on most platforms

Robert Pattinson received some of the best reviews of his career for Josh and Benny Safdie's crime thriller, about a bank robber who goes on the lam with his brother, who is developmentally challenged. Good Time represents a critical career high for post-Twilight/pre-Batman Pattinson and the film itself still survives, years later, as a sharp, visually-distinctive, commanding crime drama.

1. The Batman

Where to Watch: HBO, HBO Max, or rentable on most platforms

Like most of the actors cast as Batman, Pattinson was pre-judged harshly by some fans, before they'd even seen him don the cape and cowl. Also like most actors cast as Batman, Pattinson delivered the goods as the Caped Crusader, giving us the most insanely-driven Bruce Wayne to date in Matt Reeves' The Batman. In a dour daze during his second year of trying to rid Gotham of crime as Batman, Pattinson's Bruce gets a wake up call in the form of The Riddler, who feels a kinship toward Batman as a fellow vigilante. It's one of the best Batman movies ever made and a key role for Pattinson.

Read our review of The Batman.

This article was originally published in 2019 and updated to include more recent films.

This story contains slight spoilers for Everything Everywhere All at Once.

The appearance of Raccacoonie in Everything Everywhere All at Once was one of the film’s highlights, and a major talking point… and it turns out, it used a real, very-much-deceased, raccoon.

During an interview with The Ringer, makeup and effects supervisor Jason Hamer revealed how he made the incredible Raccacoonie prop.

“The guys were like, ‘Think cheap. We don't want it to look good. It should look goofy, like a bad taxidermy.’” The idea was the make Raccacoonie look low budget… but Hamer took their direction a bit too literally and used raccoon taxidermy as a basis for his animatronic raccoon.

Raccacoonie is first mentioned in a hilarious gag when Evelyn (Michelle Yeoh) misremembers the title of the Pixar classic, Ratatouille. But later, Everything Everywhere All at Once uses this weird gag to illustrate the breadth of the multiverse.

“The idea that whatever she got wrong was real was a very exciting way to explore the multiverse,” said co-director Daniel Scheinert in an interview with Vulture. “That’s always when we know a joke is going to be worth pursuing—when first the idea is so ridiculous that we can’t stop thinking about it.”

Ultimately, Raccacoonie made it into the movie… but the directors didn’t want it to look perfect. “That was one of the challenges,” said Hamer. “The guys [were] going, ‘Cheap and quick and dirty.’ And I'm going, ‘No. Cool and beautiful and funny!’”

Of course, the logistics were… tricky. “You’ve got to think about the challenges of, you’ve got an actor and we’ve got to mount it to his head,” he said. “Are we going to do puppet arms? Are we going to make it animatronic?”

Ultimately, the taxidermy raccoon was used as a skeleton for a complex system of animatronics… while the outside was kept as lo-fi as possible. Hamer himself is renowned for his impeccable makeup and effects, having been nominated for an Emmy for his work on Westworld. So, how do you hold back the instinct to make it look better?

“It's going not as far as you would like to go, is basically what it is,” he said. “It's taking less time to blend the hair, or painting on the fur.”

The end result is an utterly charming (and hilarious) take on a Pixar classic that became a big subplot in the film as Evelyn helps chef Chad (Harry Shum Jr.) rescue his talking raccoon pal. Quite a step up for a taxidermized raccoon.

Everything Everywhere All At Once stars Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, Jenny Slate, Harry Shum Jr, James Hong, and Jamie Lee Curtis. The film was both written and directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert.

Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.