Hey there! Have you ever considered connecting your computer or laptop to your big, beautiful television to use as a monitor? I‘ll admit – that huge screen real estate sure sounds appealing compared to the smaller display on most monitors. But take it from me – as an experienced data analyst and hardware geek – using a TV for your daily computing is disadvantageous for 7 big reasons. I recently made this monitor-to-TV switch myself and sorely regretted it.
Throughout this guide, I‘ll outline all the critical flaws with TVs for computer use based on my first-hand experience. We‘ll dive deep into the specific technical disadvantages compared to real computer monitors. My goal is to steer you away from the temptation of using your TV as a desktop display. Let‘s first quickly summarize those 7 big reasons not to use a TV for PC gaming/work:
1. TVs have vastly different optimal viewing distances that lead to eye strain
2. Low pixel density causes blurry, illegible text
3. Higher input lag destroys responsiveness for gaming & applications
4. slower 60Hz refresh rates compared to 144 – 360 Hz gaming monitors
5. Lack optimized eye care capabilities to prevent headaches
6. Default color & brightness settings geared for video not desktop use
7. More power hungry leading to extremely high energy bills
Now, let‘s explore each disadvantage with TVs as monitors in more detail…
1. Ideal Viewing Distances Are Too Different
Monitor makers design their displays to be viewed from approximately 18-24 inches away on average. This allows you to easily make out all the fine details on screen and provides a wide yet comfortable viewing angle. Monitors are meant for arm‘s length interaction – allowing you to easily reach out and manipulate applications by mouse, touch, or pen.
Meanwhile, television engineers assume you‘ll be lounging on a couch or recliner several feet away from the screen. Just think about typical living room configurations…the couch sits 6 feet or further away from the TV entertainment center against the wall.
Now imagine trying to sit that 6+ feet away from a 40-65 inch television used as a PC monitor. From that distance you couldn‘t make out desktop icons or text on most applications. Leaning way forward to get closer would quickly get uncomfortable. So right away this mismatch in ideal viewing distance creates a pretty terrible user experience.
2. Blurry Text from Low Pixel Density
Let‘s talk technical specs for a moment. Computer monitors have highly condensed pixels thanks to typically higher resolutions crammed into smaller screen sizes. For example, a 24 inch 1080p monitor packs in 91 pixels per inch.even entry level monitors start at 1080p (about 90 PPI), with 1440p and 4K being common on larger displays.
Compare that to a 50 inch 4K TV with only 55 pixels per inch. And that‘s among the BETTER televisions out there. A 50 inch 1080p set only provides 35 pixels per inch. That‘s extremely low density given how close you sit to a "monitor".
Such little pixel density means you get extremely fuzzy, hard-to-decipher text in desktop applications, web pages, documents, spreadsheets, programming IDEs, etc. We computer users spend most of our time staring at text after all! It‘s imperative text remains tack sharp, or eye strain sets in almost immediately.
3. Much Higher Input Lag Destroys Responsiveness
Let me throw some numbers at you here. The average 4K TV has between 20-50ms of input lag. That‘s the time delay between pressing a key or moving your mouse to when the corresponding change actually occurs on screen. Now compare that to a quality gaming monitor with under 5ms input lag.
You may be thinking 20-50 milliseconds doesn‘t seem overly delayed. But in reality perceived responsiveness DOUBLES for every 10 ms of input lag. So 50 ms lag can make interfaces feel 3-4 times more sluggish compared to 10 ms. And remember we computer users expect near instantaneous feedback when typing, editing documents, working through menus, etc.
While manageable for passive television viewing, such high input lag absolutely cripples productivity on a computer. Forget about precision mousing in applications or games demanding fast reaction times. It feels like you‘re constantly waiting for catch-up with a TV as a monitor replacement.
4. Low 60 Hz Refresh Rate Bottlenecks Onscreen Motion
Gaming monitors offer buttery smooth motion clarity thanks to high refresh rates up to 240, 300, or even 360 Hz at high end models. This allows the screen image to update 3-6 times more often than a TV for dramatically more fluid visuals.
Meanwhile TVs typically cap out at 60 Hz refresh rates since movies and television provide 60 fps video feeds. Some TVs boast 120 Hz panels…but often that draws each frame 2-3 times rather than accepting a native 120 fps input signal from a PC. Either way, 60 Hz makes scrolling web pages, panning maps, and especially gaming far more choppy and strained on the eyes.
It‘s imperative your monitor refreshes at least 144 times per second for high quality motion clarity in your peripheral vision. Expect frustrating jitteriness if trying to use a bog standard 60 Hz television as your desktop display.
5. Lack Proper Eye Strain Reduction Capabilities
Long term computer use poses increased risk of eye fatigue, discomfort, headaches, and even nearsightedness over time due to blue light exposure and flicker at typical brightness levels. Decent modern monitors build in multiple technologies to reduce eye strain such as flicker-free backlights, blue light filters, and hardware based low blue modes.
Meanwhile televisions are designed under the assumption you‘ll only view them for 1-2 hour movies or a couple hours of sports before powering down. So they lack those critical eye protection capabilities computer users demand when staring at screens 8+ hours per work day. Using a TV guarantees sore, tired eyes after just an hour or two of spreadsheet work.
6. Default Color & Brightness Geared for Video
Televisions showcase advancements in display technology catered specifically to dynamic video entertainment in your living room. So they emphasize heavily saturated color, high contrast, and very bright screen settings that make movies pop with vibrance. These defaults simply don‘t translate well to desktop computing though.
When viewing mixed static and video imagery on colorful desktop operating systems, having such oversaturated, hyper-real color presets make everything appear distorted and garish. Likewise presets maxing out brightness to overcome well-lit living rooms wash out detail in darker images on screen.
You could manually tune down settings like color intensity and backlight brightness every time you use your computer connected to the TV…but at that point why not just buy a proper monitor designed for desktop use right out of the box?
7. Massive Difference in Energy Efficiency
Giant televisions demand lots of processing power and backlighting to maintain image quality across 50-65 inch screens. This requires much higher energy draw – often over 200 watts for a 65" 4K monster. Considering today‘s electrical rates averaging $0.14/kilowatt hour here in the US, that could cost an EXTRA $300 per year in your energy bill.
Meanwhile even a 34 inch computer monitor sips under 50 watts in most cases. The latest models with LCD backlights and energy efficient panels can use as little as 15-30 watts. Not only are computer monitors gentler on your eyes…they save BIG on your wallet over years of prolonged use as well.
Bottom Line
I hope considering that laundry list of disadvantages with using a television for desktop needs convinces you to avoid this shortcut. Perhaps you currently use a TV screen with your gaming PC or laptop out of necessity? I urge you to start saving up for a proper computer monitor replacement!
Your eyes, posture, productivity, accuracy, electricity bill, and general sanity will all massively improve after upgrading to a monitor designed specifically for desktop use cases. Here are three great monitors to consider at various budgets:
BenQ 4K Monitor – $250
Tons of screen space plus built-in eye care technology
Acer Predator Gaming Monitor – $450
165 Hz refresh & 1 ms response time for buttery smooth fragging
Dell 24" Monitor – $150
Reliable brand with ergonomic stand to avoid neck strain
No matter if you‘re working, gaming, editing video, or just browsing the web, a purpose-built monitor provides better comfort, accuracy, performance, and efficiency compared to even the nicest modern television. Ditch the TV and join the world of real desktop displays! Your body and eyes will thank you.
Let me know if you have any other questions about choosing the best monitor! I‘m happy to offer specific buying recommendations based on your needs and budget. Game on my friend!
