Why We Don’t Use TVs in Our Arcade Cabinets — The Truth About Monitors vs. Televisions

A lot of builders brag about using “smart TVs” in their arcades, claiming they’re doing you a favor. The truth? They’re doing it because it’s cheaper.

At Simple Arcades, we use real computer monitors in every full-size cabinet — and for good reason. This isn’t about being anti-TV. We sell tabletop systems, like the RETROBASE, that are designed to plug into your TV or projector — because that’s how they’re meant to be used.

But when a display is built directly into the cabinet, and your face is one or two feet away from it, that’s when the difference between an arcade monitor vs TV truly matters.

Monitors react instantly — TVs delay the action. That’s why we only use monitors inside our cabinets.

The Price Difference Tells You Everything

Compare a 32-inch smart TV to a 32-inch computer monitor and you’ll notice something fast: the TV is cheaper. That’s because TVs are built for viewing content, while monitors are built for interacting with it.

A monitor costs more because it’s engineered for accuracy — fast refresh rates, sharp detail, and low latency. When you press a button, the monitor reacts instantly. A TV adds delay, smoothing, and processing you don’t want in an arcade.

Arcade Monitor vs TV — Why the Difference Matters

It’s tempting to think a TV is “just as good.” But side by side, the difference is night and day. Monitors are made for real-time input; TVs are made for pre-rendered video.

TVs rely on image tricks — motion smoothing, frame interpolation, and post-processing — to make movies look fluid. But when you’re playing Galaga or Street Fighter, that same processing causes lag, ghosting, and sluggish response.

That’s why, inside an arcade cabinet, a true monitor is non-negotiable.

Response Time Defines Gameplay

When you move a joystick or press jump, you expect the screen to react instantly. Even a 30- or 40-millisecond delay can ruin that connection. TVs introduce that delay through image processing and scaling you can’t always disable.

Monitors eliminate it. You get crisp motion, zero ghosting, and pure control — exactly how classic arcades were meant to feel.

TVs Are Built for Movies, Not for Movement

TVs are perfect for watching — not playing. They’re tuned for sitting 8 to 10 feet away on a couch, watching shows, not sitting two feet from a cabinet tapping controls. Brightness, contrast, and motion filters make movies pop but distort the fast pixel changes games rely on.

That’s why we reserve TVs for our HDMI-connected systems like RETROBASE, where they belong — across the room. But in an arcade cabinet, where precision matters, we use monitors only.

Features You’ll Never Use Inside a Cabinet

Smart TVs pack in apps, Wi-Fi, and built-in speakers — all useless once sealed behind an arcade control panel. They also create more lag, heat, and bulk than you need. You’re not watching Netflix on your arcade — you’re playing games. So we use parts built for gaming, not streaming.

The Simple Arcades Standard

Every full-size Simple Arcades cabinet uses a computer-grade monitor tuned for:

• 1080p clarity and 75 Hz refresh rate

• Low latency and fast response

• Accurate color without motion smoothing

They cost more, but they deliver the authentic feel of a true arcade — smooth, sharp, and instant.

The Bottom Line — Be an Informed Buyer

If a builder tells you a TV is “just as good,” ask them why. Then compare the specs, response times, and intended uses. A TV can display a picture — but a monitor delivers an experience.

At Simple Arcades, we’ll always choose the right part for the job. TVs belong in your living room; monitors belong in your arcade.