The best TVs as PC monitors

2023/05

Currently, the best choice is probably the LG OLED Flex, designed as a addition to the 2022 line-up. This model is technically based on the LG OLED evo C2 and was developed especially for gaming use. A unique feature is the adjustable shape. Thus, the TV can transform from a conventional flat screen into a curved device if required.

For this purpose, the Flex has a total of 20 adjustable curvature levels that can adapt the panel to a screen curve of up to 900R. LG calls this the Shield Design.

Powered by the α9 Gen 5 AI 4K processor, the OLED Flex features the webOS platform and eARC for audio passthrough. With its HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, the TV also supports all gaming features at 4K@120 Hertz – essential for a smooth and sharp gaming experience.

Compared to devices such as the OLED evo C2 or OLED evo G2, the screen has a special anti-reflective coating called SAR. Based on this, reflections are further minimised and thus the reflection resistance is increased additionally.

The TV comes with a height-adjustable stand that is removable and houses both the mechanism for curving the panel and LG Fusion Lighting. Similar to Ambilight, this RGB backlight synchronises with the screen content or to sound effects via Sound Sync.

An additional feature of the OLED Flex is the integrated gaming microphone and a customisable user interface. This allows you to play games on smaller parts of the 42-inch screen or split the display to show different content at the same time.

If you are looking for a more extravagant monitor replacement, the Philips OLED707 could be the ideal choice for you. This TV is available from 48 inches. Although this puts the screen diagonal at the upper inch limit – in our opinion – it is still OK for use as a second monitor if positioned appropriately.

In addition to various HDR formats – including Dolby Vision support – this TV has 3-sided Ambilight and can bring more colour into your setup if needed. Thanks to the panel, you also benefit from a brilliant picture with perfect black levels on this OLED.

In terms of gaming functionality, the OLED707 offers two HDMI 2.1 ports, which have all the features such as an Auto Low Latency Mode to minimise input lag and provide a high data transfer rate for a responsive picture refresh.

If you select PC mode as a preset, all picture enhancers such as interframe calculation, artificial contrast adjustments and other AI-supported image functionalities are turned off in one fell swoop. The result is a faster response time and a sharper and clearer display of graphics and texts especially.

This way, the TV is already pre-configured and can then be directly controlled in the video settings of the PC to act as an extended display, for example.

With the Q60B from Samsung’s QLED series, you can get an affordable model with so-called dual-LED technology from 43 inches onto your desk. This technology ensures better colour matching and can be especially helpful when working on graphic tasks. A VA panel provides sufficiently good contrast, but does not offer the best viewing angles.

Due to the comparatively low price, you will also have to do without one or two additional features. These include support for HDMI 2.1 at a frame rate of up to 120 hertz per second. Instead, 60 hertz is available at best.

In terms of brightness performance, the backlit Q60B is not near the top either, but it is certainly suitable for somewhat brighter lighting conditions.

The TV scores with its input delay and response time of about 10 milliseconds each. If you are a budget-conscious person who only needs solid picture performance and doesn’t put much emphasis on gaming, this model is a good solution for a rather small purse.

Despite its name, the A90K is technically below the A80K in terms of performance and is therefore not the most powerful device in the conventional line-up of Sony OLEDs. The brightness performance, in combination with the relatively small screen sizes of 42″ and 48″, nevertheless makes the A90K an ideal TV for gamers who are looking for a larger monitor for their home PC.

Thanks to its gaming-friendly features, such as an optimised 120 Hertz panel, variable refresh rate and an extremely short response time of just 0.3 milliseconds, it’s really well equipped for this purpose.

With the option of extending the screen, you can increase the distance to the bottom of the cabinet if necessary, creating more space for additional devices such as a game console or soundbar below the screen.

In addition, Dolby Vision enables excellent colour reproduction and contrast presentation, which makes it easier to work with graphical applications or watch media content.

An additional benefit of Sony TVs is the often well-tuned tone mapping. This ensures that dark and bright areas are typically transferred quite accurately into the dynamic range that can be displayed by the TV.