Technology
What is the refresh rate of TV? From 60 Hz to 120 Hz and beyond.
When it comes to TVs, smoothness is determined by the refresh rate, which can make a huge difference in the picture quality of live sports, video games and more. Here we’ll give you an introduction to what it all means and which refresh rate features are best for you.
Refresh rates: what are they? That is simple. A display’s refresh rate refers to how many times per second the screen is updated with a new image. It is measured in Hertz (Hz). You may be familiar with the term ‘frames per second’ (fps). Whatever the number in Hertz is, that is also the standard number of frames per second at which a screen works. A 60Hz screen can therefore display up to 60 images in a row in one second, while a 120Hz screen can display up to 120 images, and a 240Hz screen up to 240 images.
How does the refresh rate work? And why should I care?
There are multiple video sources that your TV will display. Movies are typically shot at 24 fps, which means that each second of movie consists of 24 still images displayed one after the other. When turned into a DVD or streaming video, the 24 fps footage is typically converted to 30 fps through a process called “3:2 pulldown,” which adds six “extra” frames by creating a large number of frames which are composed of two of the 24 fps frames. (This is one of the reasons why the image is often not particularly clear when you pause a video, even though it seems very clear when you watch in motion.)
Displaying 30 fps on a 60 Hz (or 120 Hz or even 240 Hz) screen is a matter of either displaying each image for longer (basically refreshing the image one, two, or four times in the same frame) or creating “ intermediate” images on the fly using built-in programs (since televisions are basically computers now) often called something like “Motion Plus” or “True Motion” or some other buzzword. The technology forces every video into the maximum number of frames, but also creates a strange, unnatural smoothness in movies, which we are used to seeing at 24 fps (or 30 fps maximum). It can make a movie (shot on film) look and feel like a soap opera (shot on video), making it “feel” of lower quality, even though this isn’t technically the case.
VRR is a technology that enables variable (V) refresh rates (R). So ‘VRR’. VRR is important for inputs that do not have consistent fps or where the fps may change (e.g. video games). VRR also tends to be able to shift and pull back refresh rates to ensure the highest quality images without stuttering or ‘screen tearing’, visual artefacts that occur when there is a problem advancing the next frame causing the appears as if only part of the image is displayed. moves and the rest remains still.
Regardless of the size of the screen, the refresh rate has a huge impact on the quality of the image as it moves (rather than on the still image, which is more affected by things like resolution or color depth).
What are the disadvantages of high refresh rates?
The biggest downside to high refresh rates isn’t the refresh rates themselves, but what television manufacturers think we want. That frame rate upscaling in motion blurring technology is an eyesore for many people, only suitable for programming like live sports or concerts, and can make quality movies and shows look ‘cheap’.
Unfortunately, many TV stores leave this feature always enabled by default, which means you have to manually go into your settings and disable it to ensure everything looks “right” when you watch a movie or show that’s on film or film. included. emulate digital video. In addition to disabling this feature, you can improve the movie-watching experience by taking into account the lighting in your TV viewing room to better mimic a theater experience, for example with smart LEDs that sync with the image on the screen .
High refresh rates also use more power, but not so much that you would see a significant difference in your electric bill at the end of the month.
What programming advantages do 120Hz+ and VRR have and why?
Live sports and other live broadcasts and video games are the programs that benefit most from high refresh rates, with VRR being especially important for video games. Live sports, even though they usually come in 30fps, will look smoother and clearer thanks to the motion blur technologies that ‘ruin’ movies. This is because the images usually change so quickly that a simple 30 fps can make it difficult to track, say, a baseball or hockey puck. The extra frames of a 120Hz or 240Hz set really clarify those small elements moving at high speeds.
If you own a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, you’ll want at least 120Hz and VRR. That’s because multiple visual settings on those systems won’t even work if you don’t have a TV with those qualifications connected, and the consoles will eventually release a reduced visual quality version of the game that will be locked at 30fps for a while. 60 Hz display. PS5 and of how many visual elements fill the screen. VRR allows games to adjust fps output when visual elements are taxing the system processor and/or memory, ensuring the best possible visuals are displayed at that moment. (240 Hz is a nice little upgrade visually, but doesn’t unlock features like 120 Hz does compared to 60 Hz.)
Additionally, if you want to use your TV screen as a computer monitor by connecting your computer via HDMI, you will need a high refresh rate and VRR to produce a similar visual experience as a monitor. Monitors typically have greater visual depth than televisions because computer programs require more interaction with fine details. If your computer has a high-end graphics card and your TV is compatible with the technology, both AMD and Nvidia have technology (AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync, respectively) that allows the graphics cards to communicate directly with the VRR technology on your computer. TV, for better results when playing computer games on the TV screen. Computers can really push frame rates, colors, resolutions and other visual elements, much more than cable, streaming or gaming consoles. That’s why computer monitors can reach 360 Hz, while even the most advanced TVs top out at 240 Hz. But custom, expensive, high-end desktop computers are really the only source you’ll see that can take advantage of such high refresh rates.
Should I look for VRR and a high refresh rate on my next TV?
If you plan on watching a lot of live sports or playing video games, yes. The visual quality for sports and the visual output options for games are worth it. There are plenty of TVs under $1000 that have all the tech elements you need when it comes to VRR and refresh rate, so you don’t even have to go ultra-high-end to get super high-quality images.
If you’re mainly watching pre-recorded media/streaming content, you won’t get much out of the high refresh rates and certainly not from VRR. If Netflix has taken up permanent residence on your TV’s screen, 60Hz will suffice (although 120Hz or 240Hz still look better). If you want to play games on a desktop computer, a high-end 120Hz or 240Hz VRR TV will offer a bigger screen for your money, but a comparable computer monitor will offer even better picture quality, so you’ll have to decide which kind of setup it is. works best for you.
Final words on TV refresh rates
In short, the refresh rates allow your TV to show buttery smooth moving images, sometimes even when you don’t want it to! Along with the resolution, number of colors, and depth of black spaces in video, refresh rate and frame rate are one place where the technology behind a screen is constantly improving.
More will always be better when it comes to Hertz, but 120 is more than enough for most people, with VRR being a must for gamers. With that in mind, you can make a better decision about the refresh rate features you need for your next TV. Use the links below as a reference to help you decide which set best suits your space and your viewing habits. Happy watching!
