Does PS4 Have DisplayPort?

To truly appreciate the experience a gaming console has to offer, you have to first understand what kind of display it can output. You have to check whether it can support high resolution or refresh rates.

The first step in gauging the display modes supported by your console is to check what type of video output port it offers.

There are two important video output ports out there i.e HDMI and DisplayPort. The former is very popular, but the latter is also quite popular mainly in the PC monitors and PC gaming niche.

So for those of you who wish to interface your PS4 console with a DisplayPort monitor may ask “Does PS4 have DisplayPort output port?”.

Unfortunately, the answer to this question is no. The Original PS4, PS4 Slim, and PS4 Pro DO NOT offer a DisplayPort and instead only offer a single HDMI port.

Let me expand on this topic a little further below:

PlayStation 4’s Display Features

The PS4 boasts several high-quality display features that accentuate its graphical performance.

However, when it comes to the types of output ports it possesses, the PS4 primarily relies on an HDMI port.

Compared to its older cousin, the PS3, the PS4’s choice of a single HDMI output port is an interesting departure since PS3 offered multiple analog outputs and an HDMI port.

This is similar to PS5 as well since PS5 also offers only a single HDMI port and does not offer DisplayPort or any other analog video output interface (i.e AV cable).

HDMI on PS4 And their Variants

It should be noted that while all PS4 variants offer an HDMI, they differ in terms of the version:

• Original PS4: HDMI 1.4
• PS4 Slim: HDMI 1.4
• PS4 Pro: HDMI 2.0

The version of the HDMI port holds a lot of significance since it dictates the maximum display mode supported.

The following table explains this further:

Since PS4 Pro is the only console rated at 4K @ 60FPS MAX, it naturally features an HDMI 2.0 port.

HDMI 1.4 supports a max of 4K @ 30Hz (30 FPS) or 1080P at 120Hz (However, the best PS4 can do is 60 FPS even at 1080P resolution).

Understanding HDMI on PS4

HDMI, as the primary display interface of the PS4, carries both video and audio signals over a single cable.

It has been the industry standard for consumer devices such as TVs, gaming consoles, and Blu-ray players due to its simple setup, high-quality output, and compatibility with a wide range of devices.

In fact, all versions of HDMI are backward and forward-compatible. Meaning you can connect your PS4 to a TV or a monitor with an inferior HDMI version i.e HDMI 1.2 or to a superior one such as HDMI 2.1.

Comparing HDMI and DisplayPort, it’s important to understand that these interfaces were designed with different objectives. While HDMI was aimed more at consumer electronics, DisplayPort was designed for the computer and professional IT markets.

As such, looking at the economics of it all, having an HDMI port makes a lot more sense than having a DisplayPort.

HDMI port serves the masses whereas the DisplayPort only severs a niche and a small segment of the gaming market.

So Does PS4 Have DisplayPort?

The short and simple answer is no. PS4 DOES NOT feature a DisplayPort due to the reasons mentioned above.

However, albeit quite rare, if you have a monitor with just a DisplayPort and you wish to connect your PS4 to it, you may not be able to do it natively, but you COULD use HDMI to DisplayPort adapters.

HDMI to DisplayPort Adapters

The primary solution to connecting PS4 to a DisplayPort lies in using HDMI to DisplayPort adapters.

These adapters convert the HDMI signal from the PS4 into a DisplayPort signal that the monitor can receive.

Before opting for this solution, gamers should be aware of the implications. Basically, there are two types of adapters out there, passive and active adapters.

Firstly, passive adapters will simply not work here. Passive adapters like a simple HDMI to DP cable will not work. While this can work the other way around DP to HDMI, going from HDMI 1.4 to DP will require active adapters.

Secondly, while these adapters can effectively transmit video signals, they might not support audio transmission. Gamers may need to make alternative arrangements for audio, such as using a headset connected directly to the PS4.

Lastly, it’s worth noting that adapters can introduce a minor delay, or latency, to the signal.

While this is usually negligible, for high-performance gamers requiring instantaneous responses, this could be a slight disadvantage.