- Top Pick: Samsung 32" Odyssey (G55C) Series QHD 1000R Curved Gaming Monitor,
- Best Value: SANSUI 32 Inch Curved 240Hz Gaming Monitor High Refresh Rate, FHD 1080P
- Premium Choice: Sceptre New 22-Inch Gaming Monitor, FHD 1080p, Up to 144Hz, HDMI, DisplayPort, Built-in Speakers, Machine Black (E225W-FW144 Series, 2026)
Call of Duty on PS5 runs at up to 120fps in multiplayer, so the monitor you pair with it matters more than it would for a single-player game locked at 30 or 60fps. The console can output a 120Hz signal over HDMI 2.1, but a lot of monitors sold as “gaming monitors” still cap out at 60Hz or 75Hz, which throws away half of what the PS5 is doing. Getting this right is less about chasing the biggest spec sheet and more about matching three things: refresh rate, panel type, and input lag.
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Why 120Hz is non-negotiable, 144Hz+ is a bonus
In Warzone and multiplayer, COD on PS5 targets 120fps in its performance modes. If your monitor is 60Hz, you’re capped at 60fps no matter what the console is pushing, which means you’re losing the single biggest advantage of playing on current-gen hardware. A true 120Hz panel with HDMI 2.1 and VRR support is the baseline, not a nice-to-have.
Going higher, to 144Hz or 165Hz, doesn’t help you on PS5 specifically, since the console won’t output past 120fps. It’s not wasted money if you plan to also use the monitor with a PC, but for PS5-only use, 120Hz is the ceiling that actually matters. Don’t pay a premium for 240Hz thinking it’ll make COD smoother on console; it won’t.
Panel type: VA, IPS, or OLED
Panel choice is where most of the real trade-offs show up, and it’s also where people overspend without understanding why.
- VA panels give you the best contrast and deepest blacks for the price, which helps spotting enemies in dark corners of maps like Rebirth Island at night. The downside is slower pixel response, which can smear fast motion, especially bright objects moving across dark backgrounds (muzzle flashes, tracers).
- IPS panels have better color accuracy and wider viewing angles, and modern “Fast IPS” panels have mostly closed the response time gap with VA. Blacks are weaker, so dark scenes look slightly gray by comparison. This is the safer all-rounder if you also stream or watch content on the same screen.
- OLED panels have near-instant pixel response and perfect blacks, which is genuinely the best motion clarity you can get for a fast shooter. The catch is cost and burn-in risk from COD’s static HUD elements (minimap, ammo counter, killfeed) if you leave the game paused or on a loading screen for long periods. If you go OLED, use the TV/monitor’s pixel-shift and logo-dimming features and don’t leave the game idle on screen for hours at a time.
| Panel | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| VA | Dark maps, contrast, budget | Motion smearing in fast scenes |
| IPS | Color accuracy, mixed use | Weaker black levels |
| OLED | Motion clarity, best overall image | Price, static-HUD burn-in risk |
For most people buying specifically for COD on PS5, a Fast IPS panel at 120Hz-144Hz hits the best balance of price and performance. If budget allows and you’re comfortable managing burn-in risk, OLED is the upgrade that actually feels different in a firefight. You can compare current options under 120Hz gaming monitors for PS5 to see what’s available at each panel tier.
HDMI 2.1 and VRR aren’t optional extras
The PS5 needs a full HDMI 2.1 port to deliver 4K at 120Hz. A lot of monitors advertise “HDMI 2.1” but only implement a partial version of the spec with reduced bandwidth, which quietly caps you at 1440p120 or 4K60 instead of 4K120. Check the actual bandwidth spec (should be 40Gbps or higher) rather than trusting the HDMI 2.1 label alone.
VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) matters almost as much as the refresh rate number itself. COD’s frame rate dips in busy firefights, and without VRR those dips cause visible stutter and tearing. With VRR enabled, the monitor adjusts to match the console’s output frame by frame, so drops from 120fps to 95fps feel smooth instead of jarring. This is a bigger real-world difference than going from 120Hz to 144Hz.
Size and resolution: 27-inch 1440p is the sweet spot
A 27-inch monitor at 1440p is the most common pairing for PS5 shooters, and for good reason: it’s sharp enough to read names and icons at distance without needing to sit unreasonably close, and it’s far easier for a 120Hz panel to drive than native 4K. 4K monitors look sharper in menus and cutscenes, but on PS5 you’re often trading resolution for frame rate anyway, since not every game (and not every COD mode) hits 4K120 simultaneously.
If you sit close to your desk, 27 inches is right. If you’re on a couch setup more than 6 feet back, go up to 32 inches or consider a TV instead, since a 27-inch screen will look small from that distance regardless of how good the panel is. You can browse 27-inch 1440p 144Hz monitors to see this size/refresh combination in practice.
Input lag is the thing nobody puts on the box
Response time (ms) gets advertised everywhere, but input lag, the delay between your controller press and the screen updating, is what actually affects your hit registration and reaction time in COD. Look for monitors with input lag under 10ms at their max refresh rate; this is usually only published in third-party reviews, not manufacturer spec sheets. A monitor with a mediocre contrast ratio but low input lag will often feel better to play on than a gorgeous panel with sluggish processing.
One practical tip: enable “Game Mode” on the monitor itself if it has one. This disables extra image processing (motion smoothing, overscan) that adds lag you don’t need for competitive play.
When the cheap option is genuinely fine
If you’re playing campaign or casual multiplayer and don’t care about competitive edge, a solid 60Hz 1440p IPS monitor is still a perfectly good experience, COD looks great at 60fps with ray tracing on in modes that support it. The jump to 120Hz matters most if you’re playing ranked, Warzone resurgence, or anything where split-second reaction time decides fights. Don’t feel pressured into OLED or 240Hz-capable panels for PS5 use; the console simply won’t use what you’re paying for beyond 120Hz, 4K, VRR, and HDMI 2.1.
