Using a TV for a computer monitor seems like the ultimate no-brainer. Why cough up large wads of cash for two screens with 4K resolution if you can make do with one? It is indeed an idea with some value. But it is also one that should be treated with some caution.
That is because, despite their similarities, TVs and monitors are designed for two very different purposes. It’s very unlikely, for instance, that you’d want to edit photos on a TV. Accurate color rendition isn’t a top priority for TV design.
However, there are some situations where it makes sense. A TV makes a very viable gaming monitor, for instance. And if space is at a premium, it can make sense to have one screen that does it all.
One word of caution. A big 4K TV takes the same number of pixels as a smaller 4K monitor and spreads them over a larger distance. So the picture will not appear to be as sharp. Sitting close to a large TV will produce disappointing results.
Taking all those things into consideration, if you’re looking for a TV for a computer monitor, we’ve chosen a few that will do the job well for you.
What Is the Best TV for a Computer Monitor?
As if the field wasn’t as full as you could wish, there is an added layer of complexity in choosing the best TV for a computer monitor. That layer of complexity is size. Monitor sizes are fairly standard and fairly limited. TVs come in a wide range of sizes.
With several of our recommendations, you’ll find we are writing about one particular size. But there are other sizes available. And most features should remain consistent across all size options. You will also find some manufacturers offering packages with or without a sound bar. Sound is the Achilles heel of many flat-screen TVs, so you might want to consider this option.
Before we look at our choices in more detail, here is a summary of our recommendations.
- Huge 65-inch display
- QLEDs for exceptional contrast
- Anti-reflective coating
- Variable refresh rate up to 120 Hz
- Exceptional price for the features
- Built-in 50 W sound system with subwoofer
- Local dimming mini LEDS for great contrast
- Variable refresh rate up to 144 Hz
- Variable refresh rate up to 60 Hz
- Dolby Vision HDR
- Chromecast built in
- Sports mode to enhance gaming
- Powered flexible screen
- Up to 900 R curve
- Fast variable 120 Hz refresh rate
- Self-lit OLEDs for maximum contrast
- Superb contrast from full array LEDs
- Optimized for Playstation 5
- Built-in Google Assistant
- Cognitive Processor for precise image control
- Excellent value for money
- Up to 50 Hz refresh rate
- Smart thin bezel design
- AI brightness control to optimize viewing experience
Choosing the Best TV for a Computer Monitor
All of the TVs in our will bring your latest binge-watch to life. But as you’ll see, they will work well as a computer monitor as well.
1. SAMSUNG QN65QN90BA 65-Inch Class Neo QLED 4K
| Brand |
Brand
Samsung
|
| Screen Size |
Screen Size
65 inches
|
| Maximum Resolution |
Maximum Resolution
4K
|
| Connectivity |
Connectivity
HDMI, USB, Ethernet, RF, Optical
|
| Wi-Fi? |
Wi-Fi?
Yes
|
| Virtual Assistant? |
Virtual Assistant?
Alexa
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
Dolby Atmos, HDR10+, QLED technology
|
| Best For |
Best For
Stunning TV experience and monitor use as well
|
The Samsung QN65QN90BA is a beast of a TV. Your television experience will be enhanced by a host of advanced features and the massive 65-inch screen. The images come from Samsung’s Quantum LEDs (QLED). An extensive array of mini LEDS provides illumination. Because there are so many, they also prevent bleed. This makes blacks truly black.
There are many ways to connect to the TV. It offers voice control via the built-in Alexa. Or you can connect it to whatever Internet of Things (IoT) network you have. Apple AirPlay and Smart View are supported. And with the SmartThings app installed on your phone, you can simply tap your phone on the TV to transfer it to the big screen.
Features such as the anti-reflective coating help to make the TV viewable from many angles and in bright conditions. The Dolby Atmosphere sound responds to action on the screen, making full use of the spatial sound. And Samsung adjusts the contrast of foreground images in movies and games to make them more pronounced. Overall, it’s an impressive TV package.
Its monitor capabilities are impressive too. Obviously, you won’t want to be sitting too close for photo editing. But gaming will be very “in-your-face” on this TV. Where this TV would really come into its own would be as an external display for sharing your work with a larger audience.
Because of its wide viewing angles, and exceptional brightness, it works superbly as a large screen display. Samsung even makes a dedicated display stand for just such purposes. Or you can use a VESA mount to hang it on a wall. Even your videos will impress with the 120 Hz refresh rate.
The Samsung QN65QN90BA is an impressive TV and works excellently as a monitor for your computer.
2. Hisense 65-Inch Class U8 Series Mini-LED ULED
| Brand |
Brand
Hisense
|
| Screen Size |
Screen Size
65 inches
|
| Maximum Resolution |
Maximum Resolution
4K
|
| Connectivity |
Connectivity
HDMI, Ethernet, USB, RF, Optical
|
| Wi-Fi? |
Wi-Fi?
Yes
|
| Virtual Assistant? |
Virtual Assistant?
Google Assistant
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
Google TV built-in, 1500 nits peak brightness, 50 W speaker system
|
| Best For |
Best For
Anyone looking for a great TV with superb sound
|
The Hisense 65-inch Class U8 Series Mini-LED ULED is another behemoth of a TV. As you’d expect, the picture quality is impressive. But the Hisense adds excellent sound to the equation. The 50W speaker system includes a subwoofer and “overhead” speakers. These work with the Dolby 2.1.2 surround sound for an immersive experience.
Of course, sound isn’t usually the main priority when buying a TV for a computer monitor. Picture quality isn’t necessarily everything, but it is the main thing. The Hisense doesn’t disappoint here, either. There are 1,620 local dimming zones for the mini LEDs that make up the picture. Local dimming allows much better contrast, as blacks remain black.
Those enhanced blacks allow the TV to meet HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG standards. Dolby Vision IQ means that the TV adjusts to the ambient light conditions to give the optimal output. The screen’s refresh rate also adjusts automatically between 48 and 144 Hz. Again, this provides the optimum setting for the content.
The Hisense is a good deal cheaper than our top pick. One area where it falls short is in the viewing angle. Although it’s not bad, and more than adequate for TV viewing. But if you were to sit too close, you’d notice some fall-off or dimness at the edges. Maybe this isn’t a huge problem, as we wouldn’t recommend sitting that close anyway with such a big screen.
The Hisense 65-inch Class U8 Series Mini-LED ULED makes for a great choice if you want a big, bright, and feature-packed TV at a more affordable price. Make no mistake, it’s still a lump of money. But it’s well worth a look.
3. Hisense 43-Inch Class A6 Series 4K UHD Smart Google TV
| Brand |
Brand
Hisense
|
| Screen Size |
Screen Size
43 inches
|
| Maximum Resolution |
Maximum Resolution
4K
|
| Connectivity |
Connectivity
HDMI, Ethernet, RF, RCA, Optical
|
| Wi-Fi? |
Wi-Fi?
Yes
|
| Virtual Assistant? |
Virtual Assistant?
Alexa, Google Assistant
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
Dolby Vision HDR, voice control, Chromecast
|
| Best For |
Best For
Anyone looking for a great-value TV and monitor
|
The Hisense 43-inch Class A6 Series 4K UHD TV is a smaller, cheaper TV than others. And it has fewer features. But it still packs a lot of features into a very good value package. It’s a backlit screen, so the blacks will not be as convincing as the more expensive technologies. But even in its 65-inch size, it’s about a third of the price of the U8 Class Hisense TV.
Despite the price, you get Dolby Vision HDR and HDR10. There’s also a 60 Hz refresh rate, which isn’t record-breaking. But it’s not too bad for a budget TV, especially as it varies as needed in gaming mode. And sports mode adjusts motion and color to make the most of your favorite game.
As for its strengths as a TV for a monitor, you’ll appreciate the decent lack of lag. This can be an issue with displays that aren’t designed as monitors. And it can become frustrating if your mouse pointer lags behind your movement, but it’s not such a problem here. You’ll also find that the good viewing angles allow you to get close without losing quality.
For the money, you’d be pushed to find a better TV for a computer monitor than the Hisense 43-inch Class A6 Series 4K UHD TV. There are brighter, sharper, and faster TVs. But not at this price.
4. LG 42-Inch Class OLED Flex Smart TV with Bendable Screen 42LX3QPUA
| Brand |
Brand
LG
|
| Screen Size |
Screen Size
42 inches
|
| Maximum Resolution |
Maximum Resolution
4K
|
| Connectivity |
Connectivity
HDMI, USB, RF, Ethernet, Optical
|
| Wi-Fi? |
Wi-Fi?
Yes
|
| Virtual Assistant? |
Virtual Assistant?
Google Assistant, Alexa
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
Powered flexible screen, 120 Hz refresh rate
|
| Best For |
Best For
Anyone looking for a TV and monitor with a flexible screen
|
The LG 42-inch Class OLED Flex Smart TV is a remarkable device. It is a flatscreen monitor until you press a button on the remote control. Then the screen curves to your desired extent. All the way to 900 R. That means if the curve made a whole circle, it would have a radius of 36 inches (90 cm). That’s a very pronounced curve. Most curved monitors these days are about 1800 or 2000 R.
This might seem like a gimmick. But when talking about using a TV for a monitor, it makes a lot of sense. A curved monitor would make a horrible TV. And a flat TV isn’t ideal as a gaming monitor. At the touch of a button, you overcome both those hurdles.
The screen itself is more than a one-trick pony. The screen features self-lit OLEDs. This means each individual pixel is lit as necessary. So black areas are constructed pixel by pixel, with no light bleeding in. Perfectly black pixels allow pretty much infinite contrast. This makes for dramatic viewing of games, videos, and photos.
The LG has a very low latency response time of 0.1 ms. That’s incredibly fast. This combines with a 120 Hz refresh rate to make gaming, videos, and films super smooth. And when you’re done with the TV, there’s a thoughtfully placed button to switch over to monitor mode.
The LG 42-inch Class OLED Flex Smart TV really seems to bridge the TV/monitor gap. But this is one very expensive piece of kit. But if you need a TV and a monitor but don’t have room for both, it becomes a solid temptation.
5. Sony X90J 50-Inch TV: BRAVIA XR Full Array LED 4K Ultra HD Smart Google TV
| Brand |
Brand
Sony
|
| Screen Size |
Screen Size
50 inches
|
| Maximum Resolution |
Maximum Resolution
4K
|
| Connectivity |
Connectivity
HDMI, USB, Ethernet, Optical
|
| Wi-Fi? |
Wi-Fi?
Yes
|
| Virtual Assistant? |
Virtual Assistant?
Google Assistant
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
Cognitive Processor, full array LEDs
|
| Best For |
Best For
Anyone looking for a top brand at a decent price
|
The Sony X90J 50-inch TV sits somewhere in the middle of our price range. It’s not the cheapest, but it’s cheaper than most and a long way off the most expensive. And that’s quite something for a TV from one of the world’s leading brands. And it delivers rich, crisp images with lots of contrast.
Google Assistant is built in, as is Google TV. And if you have an Alexa device in your home, you can control the TV with it. Sony made this TV to work beautifully with the PlayStation 5. So if that is your thing, then it’s an added bonus.
As a computer monitor, the Bravia has what it takes. Fifty inches is large for a 4K screen when viewed up close. But you won’t get too close, or the whole screen won’t be visible. As such, 50 inches is something of a sweet spot. And the superb contrast and brightness will be a definite bonus.
The Sony X90J 50-inch TV gives the sort of performance you’d expect from a prestigious brand. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of more expensive sets. But as a TV for a computer monitor, it’s a good compromise.
6. LG UHD UQ75 Series 43 (43UQ7590PUB)
| Brand |
Brand
LG
|
| Screen Size |
Screen Size
43 inches
|
| Maximum Resolution |
Maximum Resolution
4K
|
| Connectivity |
Connectivity
HDMI, USB, RF, Optical
|
| Wi-Fi? |
Wi-Fi?
Yes
|
| Virtual Assistant? |
Virtual Assistant?
Google Assistant, Alexa
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
Thin bezel design, voice control, HDR10
|
| Best For |
Best For
Anyone who needs a budget TV and monitor combined
|
The LG UHD UQ75 Series 43 is about as cheap as you can get for a 43-inch 4K TV. It’s less sophisticated and has fewer features than the more expensive models. But it’s still an impressive device. And not everyone has upwards of a thousand dollars to spend on a TV.
What you get is a proper 4K TV in a slim, narrow bezel design. LG uses “4K upscaled” to describe how their image processor will make non-4K footage look like 4K resolution. And this model isn’t light on smart features either. For instance, you get AI brightness control, which adapts the output to the ambient light.
The refresh rate maxes out at 50 Hz, and you won’t get the deepest blacks in a backlit LED display. And using it as a TV for a computer monitor will suffer some of the same consequences. But compared with what you would expect even a few years ago, this TV still produces impressive pictures.
The 43-inch model will make the 4K resolution look sharp. But you probably won’t find gaming to be the best experience. And there might be some tearing when you scroll quickly through a document.
Let’s be honest—many people are often looking for the best they can get within a certain budget. And that means you have to make compromises. The LG UHD UQ75 Series 43 sits comfortably at the budget end of TVs that will work as a computer monitor.
Buyer’s Guide—The Best TV for a Computer Monitor
There’s no doubt that adding “should work well as a computer monitor” to your requirements for a TV adds a layer of complexity. So here’s a quick guide to some of the things to look out for.
How Important Is Resolution?
All these TVs are 4K. What that means is there are (roughly) 4,000 horizontal lines in the image. In reality, that means 3,840 for a 4K monitor. And that is four times the total number of pixels in a Full HD (also called 1080p) display.
You will notice a sharp uptick in clarity if you move to a 4K TV for the first time. Those pixels become even more important when you’re using the screen as a monitor. A big screen spreads those eight million or so pixels over a larger area. So, up close, they become more visible. This can be an issue for a computer monitor, so 4K is going to be the minimum you need.
My 2015 iMac has a 5K display spread over a 27-inch screen. So a 65-inch 4K television will not match that for regular monitor work.
What About the Refresh Rate?
When you choose a dedicated computer monitor, you will come across the refresh rate in all the specs. The refresh rate is important because it describes how many times a second the image refreshes. An old CRT TV used to run at 25 frames per second—in effect, a 25 Hz refresh rate. Modern TVs are much faster than that.
You will see the benefit of a faster refresh rate most with fast-moving games. But it also has an impact if you are scrolling through windows. A faster refresh makes for smoother scrolling.
How Important Is Connectivity?
All of these TVs have more than one HDMI input. This is important because if you want to connect multiple devices, you can keep them all plugged in at once. Most computers these days can connect to HDMI directly or via a dongle.
Where these TVs fall short as a computer monitor is their lack of superfast connections like Lightning or USB-C. In an ideal world, you would be better off with a dedicated computer monitor if you need that connection.
All of these TVs have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. This allows you to use them with your home network and virtual assistants. It also allows features such as Apple Airplay, allowing you to stream your phone or tablet to the TV.
Should I Be Worried About Color?
Computer monitor manufacturers spend a lot of effort to control the color output of their displays. You’ll find technical descriptions of the color gamut, sRGB, and many other features. The primary needs of a TV are to produce clearly visible images, at a distance, from multiple angles, and often in strong light. But if color calibration is a big factor for you, you might need to look for a dedicated monitor.
Conclusion: The Best TV For A Computer Monitor
They say a Jack of all trades is a master of none. In this case, you have some pretty masterful TVs that also work well as a computer monitor. They’re not the best monitor for some circumstances, but that’s fine. If you’re deep into photo editing, you’re probably committed enough to dedicate the cash needed to get a specialist monitor.
Otherwise, these TVs do at least a decent job of working as a computer monitor as well as being excellent TVs.
