Unboxing a new gaming monitor and hunting for a speaker grille is a pretty common moment. A lot of buyers assume a display this expensive must come loaded with decent audio, then get surprised either way, sometimes pleasantly, sometimes not. So do gaming monitors have built in speakers, and if they do, are they actually worth using?
- Most modern gaming monitors do include small built-in speakers, often rated around 2W to 5W per channel.
- Built-in speakers work fine for system sounds, Discord calls, and casual browsing between matches.
- For competitive gaming or anything with real bass and positional audio, a headset or external speakers still wins.
- Some monitors skip speakers entirely to save cost, so it is worth checking the spec sheet before buying.
What Comes Built Into a Typical Gaming Monitor
Plenty of gaming monitors from brands like Dell, ASUS, and BenQ ship with a small pair of stereo speakers tucked into the back or bottom bezel. They are usually rated somewhere between 2 watts and 5 watts per channel, which is enough for basic sound but not much more.
- Stereo 2x2W or 2x3W speakers are the most common setup on mid-range monitors
- Some higher-end panels advertise 2.1 audio with a small built-in subwoofer
- Budget and ultra-thin bezel monitors often skip speakers to save space and cost
According to BenQ’s own breakdown, manufacturers generally prioritize the panel and refresh rate over audio components, so speakers tend to be an afterthought rather than a selling point.
How the Sound Actually Holds Up
Built-in monitor speakers are fine for casual use. Watching a YouTube video, hearing a Discord notification, or catching a Windows alert while multitasking, they handle all of that without issue.
Where they fall short is anything that needs real depth. Small drivers crammed into a thin plastic chassis cannot produce meaningful bass, and stereo separation is limited because the speakers usually sit inches apart facing backward or downward instead of toward your ears.
Reality check: even monitors that advertise “enhanced” or “premium” speakers are still working with drivers a fraction of the size found in a basic soundbar. Treat built-in audio as a convenience feature, not a replacement for a headset.
When Built-In Speakers Are Genuinely Useful
There are real situations where skipping external audio makes sense.
- Shared spaces where you do not want a tangle of extra cables and a speaker set on the desk
- Quick multitasking sessions, like coding or writing, where background audio just needs to be audible
- Anyone who already wears headphones most of the time and only needs backup sound for system alerts
When You Should Skip Them and Go External
Competitive shooters and anything that relies on positional audio, footsteps, gunfire direction, that sort of thing, really benefit from a proper headset. Built-in speakers cannot deliver the imaging needed to tell where a sound is coming from.
Movies, music, and open-world games with a strong soundtrack also lose a lot through tiny monitor drivers. A basic external speaker pair or a decent headset will outperform almost any built-in monitor speaker on the market.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do all gaming monitors have speakers?
No. Many ultra-thin bezel and budget models leave speakers out entirely to cut costs and slim down the chassis. Always check the spec sheet before assuming.
2. Are built-in gaming monitor speakers loud enough for a small room?
Generally yes, for background sound and notifications. They struggle once you want fuller volume with any bass, especially in a larger room.
3. Can I use a monitor’s speakers and a headset at the same time?
Most monitors let you switch output through the OSD menu or Windows sound settings, but usually only one output is active at a time rather than both playing together.
4. Do curved or OLED gaming monitors typically include better speakers?
Not necessarily. Panel technology and speaker quality are unrelated, so a premium OLED panel can still come with basic 2W speakers.
This article is for general informational purposes only. Always check the exact specifications listed by the manufacturer before purchasing a monitor for its audio capabilities.
