Television screens can be very expensive, and if you already have a gaming monitor, it may not seem like a good idea to spend money on another screen. Can you use a gaming monitor to watch TV and movies, and is it a good decision?
Gaming monitors can be used to watch TV. Televisions typically have features that make watching TV easier, such as remote controls, smart capabilities, and displays designed for TV viewing. However, setting up a gaming monitor for TV viewing is simple and the quality is often the same or better.
There are some benefits and drawbacks of using a gaming monitor instead of a television screen to watch TV. If you decide to use a gaming monitor to watch TV, it is important to know how to set it up and if all kinds of gaming monitors can be used to watch TV.
Benefits of Using a Gaming Monitor to Watch TV
When you’re deciding whether to use a gaming monitor or a television screen, it is important to know the benefits of using a gaming monitor to watch TV. Though gaming monitors and television screens may seem like they have similar functions, that doesn’t mean that they work in the exact same way and have the same features.
Television screens come in different sizes, but the majority of them are quite large, especially nowadays. This is usually a benefit of using a television screen, but this may also be a drawback. Sometimes you don’t have very much space, and the setup of your home or desk may be such that you don’t want an entire television screen taking up space. Whether a television just won’t fit or you end up being way too close to the screen, which can make it hard to watch, a full television screen may not be the right choice for you.
Monitors are smaller and they can come in a variety of different sizes, so it may be easier for you to find a monitor that fits your available space a lot better than a television screen. However, you may not want to jump to buying a gaming monitor and instead stick with a regular monitor if this is the case.
Gaming monitors will also sometimes have better quality displays and speeds than television screens. It really depends on the monitor and the television that you are comparing, but gaming monitors are known for being high quality and having very good graphics.
If you already have a gaming monitor or you would use one for gaming as well as watching TV, you should definitely consider using it to watch TV instead of buying a television screen. A display is a display, and gaming monitors can be used to watch TV just as effectively as a television screen. If you already have one on hand to use and aren’t sure about spending money on a television screen, a gaming monitor is effective, and you likely won’t notice much of a difference in display quality.
Drawbacks of Using a Gaming Monitor to Watch TV
The size of a gaming monitor may be a drawback for some people just as it is a benefit for others. If you have more space and want a larger display, you will be able to find larger television screens than gaming monitors. If you have the space for a television screen, you may want to use one of those instead of watching TV on a smaller gaming monitor.
Television screens are designed for watching TV, which means that their displays and functions are going to be geared toward that. Gaming monitors will not have the same features that television screens have, so they may not be as convenient for watching TV.
Television screens usually come with remote controls, which can make watching TV significantly easier. You can just push some buttons on the remote without having to leave your seat or even lean forward. Gaming monitors don’t come with remote controls, so you may need to use the buttons on the monitor itself or connect a mouse to the computer.
Television screens may also come with smart capabilities that make it easier to stream movies and TV. The displays of television screens are also designed to make TV and movies look good, while gaming monitor displays are designed to make games look good. This may translate to a better display for TV on a television screen than a gaming monitor.
Gaming monitors often don’t come with speakers. While television screens always come with speakers, your gaming monitor may not have any, so you may need to buy external speakers or use earbuds when watching TV on a gaming monitor.
If you are going to be buying a gaming monitor just to watch TV, you should probably reconsider. Many gaming monitors are just as expensive as television screens because of all the features that make gaming quality better.
However, most of these functions are not going to be any help to you if you aren’t gaming. It is pointless to buy a gaming monitor if you aren’t going to use it for gaming. If you already own a gaming monitor, you can definitely use it to watch TV, but you should purchase a television screen or a different type of monitor if you’re just going to watch TV.
How to Use a Gaming Monitor to Watch TV
To watch TV on a gaming monitor, you can connect a computer or laptop to the monitor using an HDMI cable; HDMI ports are standard on gaming monitors since they are so commonly used. After connecting a computer to the monitor, you can stream content on the internet. Newer monitors may also be compatible with Chromecast or other services that you can use to connect your phone to the monitor so that you can stream on your phone and it will display on the monitor.
Can You Watch TV on a Curved Monitor?
You can watch TV on a curved monitor, but the display may be a little strange. TV is filmed and edited to fit a certain screen size, and curved monitors are often longer than regular television screens or monitors.
When I watch TV using my curved monitor, I usually end up with black bars on the sides because the monitor is too long. When gaming, the resolution can be adjusted so that it takes up the whole screen because you often have the ability to see in all directions in a lot of games. Adjusting a movie or show the same way is not possible.