Cover graphic: a hand-drawn gaming monitor with rising bars for frame rate, connected by a cable to an upright console on a dark esports background with a glowing edge

Hardware8 min read

Best Monitor for PS5 and Xbox Series X: HDMI 2.1, 120 Hz and VRR – Buying Guide 2026

Gaming monitor for PS5 and Xbox: what HDMI 2.1, 120 Hz and VRR do, when 1440p is enough, plus five monitors from Sony, ASUS, Acer and AOC on Amazon.de.

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Contents
  1. What consoles need from a monitor
  2. 1080p, 1440p or 4K?
  3. HDR: marketing or a real gain?
  4. Five example models
  5. Side-by-side
  6. What to know about cables
  7. FAQ
  8. Sources

Playing on a PS5 or Xbox Series X and looking for a monitor for your desk instead of a TV? Then different things matter than on a PC: a console sends its picture only over HDMI, and that is where many monitors have limits. This guide explains what to look for in resolution, 120 Hz, HDMI 2.1 and VRR, and presents five models that are available on Amazon.de.

Transparency: We have not tested these monitors ourselves. The details come from PlayStation, the manufacturers (Sony, ASUS, AOC), TFTCentral, DisplayNinja and the verified Amazon.de product pages (as of November 2026). We do not list prices because they change constantly.

What consoles need from a monitor

  • HDMI, not DisplayPort: Consoles have no DisplayPort. What counts is what the monitor can do over HDMI. Many models quote their top figures for DisplayPort only. For the AOC Q27G42XE, AOC lists 180 Hz over DisplayPort but at most 144 Hz over HDMI.
  • 4K at 120 Hz needs HDMI 2.1. According to PlayStation, the PS5 supports HDMI 2.1 and 4K at 120 Hz. With HDMI 2.0 you cannot reach 4K/120. For 1080p and 1440p, TFTCentral says HDMI 2.0 is enough, even at 120 Hz.
  • VRR (variable refresh rate) matches the screen's refresh rate to the game's frame rate and is meant to reduce tearing and stutter. Sony says the PS5 outputs VRR at 1440p only to a VRR-compatible HDMI 2.1 display. According to TFTCentral, the Xbox Series X|S also supports FreeSync over HDMI, while the PS5 uses HDMI VRR only (as of 2022).
  • ALLM switches the display into game mode automatically. According to PlayStation, not every HDMI 2.1 display has ALLM, so check the manual or spec sheet.

1080p, 1440p or 4K?

4K is the highest resolution the consoles output. For 120 Hz you need a monitor with HDMI 2.1. 1440p was not possible on the PS5 at first, but it now outputs 1440p. According to Sony, the monitor needs to support 1440p at 60 Hz, or at 60 and 120 Hz. That makes it an affordable entry point, since a 27-inch QHD monitor can get by with HDMI 2.0. To check whether your monitor works, go to Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > Test 1440p Output on the PS5. According to TFTCentral, the Xbox Series X|S outputs 4K, 1440p and 1080p, and the Series S plays most games at up to 1440p. Not every game supports 120 Hz or VRR, and results vary by game, as Sony notes.

On size: at 27 inches, a 4K monitor has about 163 pixels per inch, according to ASUS. TFTCentral considers the benefit of 4K over 1440p small at 27 inches and says it gets more interesting from around 32 inches. If you want something bigger or sit on a couch, the gaming TV buying guide has alternatives.

HDR: marketing or a real gain?

TFTCentral advises ignoring monitors with an "HDR400" badge: they almost always have no local dimming and therefore no wider dynamic range. From DisplayHDR 600 up, TFTCentral says you at least get some local dimming, a wider colour gamut and 10-bit colour. Below, that applies to the Sony INZONE M9 II (DisplayHDR 600, full array) and the Acer Nitro XV275K P3 (mini-LED with 576 zones). The ASUS ROG Strix XG27UCS carries only DisplayHDR 400.

Five example models

Example model

PS5 focus: Sony INZONE M9 II

According to Sony: 27 inches, 4K, IPS with full-array local dimming, two HDMI 2.1 ports (24 to 144 Hz) with VRR, DisplayPort up to 160 Hz, DisplayHDR 600 with 750 cd/m² peak brightness and two PS5 features ("Auto Genre Picture Mode" and "Auto HDR Tone Mapping"). The stand adjusts in height and tilt, and Amazon lists a 3-year warranty. According to Amazon.de: sold and shipped by Amazon. At the time of checking (November 2026) only a few units were left in stock.

Panel
27" IPS, 4K, full-array LED
HDMI
2 × HDMI 2.1 (24–144 Hz), VRR
Refresh rate
160 Hz (DisplayPort)
HDR
DisplayHDR 600
Extras
PS5 features (genre mode, HDR tone mapping)

Right for you if you mostly play on the PS5 and care about HDR contrast.

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Example model

Mini-LED for console and PC: Acer Nitro XV275K P3

According to Amazon.de: 27 inches, 4K, IPS with mini-LED, 2 × HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, USB-C, USB hub, 160 Hz over DisplayPort and USB-C, 144 Hz over HDMI, FreeSync Premium. The listing says HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C and USB cables are included. DisplayNinja cites 576 dimming zones, HDMI 2.1 VRR and 1,200 cd/m² HDR peak brightness, but notes that the model is discontinued. On Amazon.de it was in stock in November 2026, sold and shipped by Amazon. Stock can change.

Panel
27" IPS, 4K, mini-LED
HDMI
2 × HDMI 2.1 (144 Hz)
Extras
USB-C, USB hub, cable set
HDR
576 dimming zones, up to 1,200 cd/m² per DisplayNinja

Right for you if you want PS5, Xbox or PC on the same monitor and a strong HDR effect.

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Example model

Several consoles: ASUS TUF Gaming VG27UQ1A

According to ASUS: 27 inches, 4K, Fast IPS, two HDMI 2.1 ports, DisplayPort 1.4, 160 Hz, HDR10, Adaptive-Sync, NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible and AMD FreeSync Premium, two 2-watt speakers. The stand only tilts; height is not adjustable. There are several variants (for example height-adjustable or curved), so make sure you select the one you want on the product page. According to Amazon.de: in stock, sold and shipped by Amazon.

Panel
27" Fast IPS, 4K
HDMI
2 × HDMI 2.1
Refresh rate
up to 160 Hz
Sync
Adaptive-Sync, FreeSync Premium, G-SYNC Compatible

Right for you if you want to connect a PS5 and an Xbox at the same time without needing an HDMI switch.

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Example model

4K with one HDMI 2.1 port: ASUS ROG Strix XG27UCS

According to ASUS: 27 inches, 4K, Fast IPS, 160 Hz, one HDMI 2.1 port, DisplayPort 1.4, USB-C with DisplayPort signal, FreeSync Premium and G-SYNC Compatible, VESA DisplayHDR 400, stand with 120 mm height adjustment. The ASUS spec sheet has no explicit HDMI VRR entry, only FreeSync and G-SYNC Compatible. If you want to use VRR on the PS5, check this before buying, for example with ASUS or in reviews. According to Amazon.de: in stock, sold and shipped by Amazon.

Panel
27" Fast IPS, 4K
HDMI
1 × HDMI 2.1
Refresh rate
up to 160 Hz
HDR
DisplayHDR 400
Stand
height-adjustable (120 mm)

Right for you if one console sits on the HDMI port and your PC or laptop runs over DisplayPort or USB-C.

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Example model

Budget entry to 1440p: AOC Q27G42XE

According to AOC: 27 inches, QHD (2560 × 1440), Fast IPS, 180 Hz over DisplayPort, up to 144 Hz over HDMI 2.0 (two ports), 1 ms (GtG), Adaptive Sync, G-SYNC Compatible, HDR10, two 2-watt speakers and a 3-year warranty. According to Amazon the stand is not height-adjustable, and the monitor is VESA 100×100 compatible, so you can use a monitor arm. The Amazon page contradictorily lists one or two HDMI ports; AOC lists two. Sold and shipped by Amazon, 14 units in stock in November 2026.

Because of HDMI 2.0, this is not a VRR monitor for the PS5; Sony specifies an HDMI 2.1 display for that. For the Xbox, TFTCentral describes FreeSync over HDMI 2.0.

Panel
27" Fast IPS, QHD
Refresh rate
180 Hz (DP), 144 Hz (HDMI)
HDMI
HDMI 2.0
Extras
speakers, VESA 100×100

Right for you if your budget is tight, you want to play at 1440p and do not need 4K/120.

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Side-by-side

Model Resolution HDMI Max. Hz HDR
Sony INZONE M9 II 4K 2 × HDMI 2.1 160 (DP), 144 (HDMI) DisplayHDR 600, full array
Acer Nitro XV275K P3 4K 2 × HDMI 2.1 160 (DP/USB-C), 144 (HDMI) mini-LED, 576 zones
ASUS TUF VG27UQ1A 4K 2 × HDMI 2.1 160 HDR10
ASUS ROG Strix XG27UCS 4K 1 × HDMI 2.1 160 DisplayHDR 400
AOC Q27G42XE QHD HDMI 2.0 180 (DP), 144 (HDMI) HDR10

What to know about cables

According to the accessory lists from Sony and ASUS, the INZONE M9 II, ROG Strix XG27UCS and TUF VG27UQ1A come with a DisplayPort cable, not an HDMI cable. For the Acer, the Amazon listing mentions an HDMI cable in the box. According to PlayStation, an HDMI cable comes with the PS5, and it recommends that one or an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable for 4K/120. If you need a longer or a second cable, the HDMI 2.1 cable buying guide helps.

FAQ

Do I need HDMI 2.1 for the PS5?

For 4K at 120 Hz, yes. VRR on the PS5 also requires a VRR-compatible HDMI 2.1 display (Sony states this for 1440p). For 1080p and 1440p at 120 Hz, TFTCentral says HDMI 2.0 is enough.

Is a 144 Hz monitor enough if the PS5 and Xbox output 120 Hz?

Yes. According to PlayStation and TFTCentral, the consoles support frame rates up to 120 Hz. You only use the monitor's 144 or 160 Hz on a PC.

Does the PS5 support FreeSync?

According to TFTCentral (as of 2022), the PS5 uses HDMI VRR only. Before buying, check whether the manufacturer explicitly lists HDMI VRR.

Is a monitor better than a TV?

That depends on distance and size. 27 inches is common on a desk. For the couch, a gaming TV offers more size, and for competitive games with a high frame rate and OLED, take a look at the OLED gaming monitor buying guide.

Which monitor suits both PC and console?

One with HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort, such as the Acer Nitro XV275K P3 or the two ASUS models. For more PC-focused models see the gaming monitor buying guide.

Sources

As of November 2026.

Manufacturers occasionally change specs and variants. Check the exact model name when you buy.

* Ad link: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Links go to Amazon.de – the price stays the same for you.