![\"what](\"https:\/\/www.hellotech.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/refresh-rate-1024x448.jpg\")
<\/span>Refresh rate is measured in Hertz (Hz), which is a frequency. For example, a 60Hz TV can refresh the screen 60 times per second, while a 120Hz TV can refresh the screen 120 times per second. However, TVs with faster refresh rates are not necessarily better at handling motion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Refresh Rate vs Frame Rate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Refresh rate refers to how many frames your screen can display per second, while frame rate is how many frames the video source can display per second. To reduce motion blur, you want your TV\u2019s refresh rate to be equal to or greater than a video\u2019s frame rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All movies and TV shows are made of a series of still images (or frames). These frames are shown in quick succession to give the appearance of motion. If a video\u2019s frame rate is too low, you will be able to see the individual frames.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Videos with higher frame rates usually have smoother motion, as long as your TV has an equal or higher refresh rate. If your TV\u2019s refresh rate is slower than your video\u2019s frame rate, you won\u2019t be able to see each frame, which will make motion look choppy, and the overall image will be blurry.<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"What](\"https:\/\/www.hellotech.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/frame-rate-vs-refresh-rate.gif\")
<\/span>Most TV shows in the US are filmed at 30 frames per second (fps), while most movies are filmed at 24 fps. So, you only need a TV with a refresh rate of 30Hz to watch most content. However, getting a TV with a faster refresh rate is a good idea for a few reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
60Hz vs 120Hz<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re going to buy a new TV these days, it will have a refresh rate of either 60Hz or 120Hz. While they will both look identical when watching TV shows filmed at 30fps, TVs with a faster refresh rate are generally better at handling motion when watching movies filmed at 24fps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In order to match your refresh rate with a video\u2019s frame rate, your TV will display each frame multiple times. For example, if you\u2019re watching a TV show filmed at 30fps on a 60Hz TV, the TV will simply double each frame and play them each for half as long.<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"60hz](\"https:\/\/www.hellotech.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/60hz-at-30fps-Done_2.jpg\")
<\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThat same video will look identical on a 120Hz TV since the TV will just display each frame four times and play them a quarter as long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the problem comes when you want to watch a movie on a 60Hz TV. This is because most movies are shot at 24 fps, which is not a good divisible of 60. So, a 60Hz TV uses a method called \u201c3:2 pulldown\u201d to match the refresh rate to the frame rate. To do this, the TV will display one frame twice and then the next frame three times.<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"60Hz](\"https:\/\/www.hellotech.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/60-hz-24-fps_Done_2.jpg\")
<\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nSince the video displays some frames longer than others, you might experience \u201cjudder\u201d when watching movies on a 60Hz TV. This effect will make motion look jerky, and it can also cause the video to play slightly slower than it should.<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"Audio](\"https:\/\/www.hellotech.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Audio-and-Video-Home-Theater-Need-help-with-a-home-theater-device-SQUARE.png\")
<\/a><\/div>\n\n\nOn the other hand, if you\u2019re watching a movie on a 120Hz TV, it can just display each frame five times, which means the movie will retain the look that the filmmaker intended. And while there is not much 120fps content, some movies and videos games do use the high frame rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Response Time<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Response time is how long it takes the pixels in a TV to change color. A slow response time is one of the major reasons behind motion blur. If it takes a long time for your TV to process images, it can create ghostly trails around moving objects, making them look blurry.<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"gaming](\"https:\/\/www.hellotech.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/gaming-tv-response-time-1024x641.jpg\")
<\/span>Ideally, you should only get a TV with a response time lower than 30ms (milliseconds). However, if you are a gamer, you should not get a TV with a response time higher than 10ms. These days, you can find TVs with response times as low as 1ms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What About 240Hz TVs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Some high-end TVs are advertised as having an \u201ceffective refresh rate\u201d of 240Hz. However, no TVs made these days have a native refresh rate faster than 120Hz. Many TVs have features that artificially double the refresh rate, so a 240Hz TV is really only 120Hz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To reduce motion blur, some TVs use frame interpolation, which adds totally new frames to a video. To do this, the TV analyzes two frames, and it creates a new hybrid image by \u201cguessing\u201d what should happen between them.<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"motion](\"https:\/\/www.hellotech.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/motion-interpolation.png\")
<\/span>While frame interpolation can help reduce motion blur, it also leads to the \u201csoap opera effect,\u201d or ultra-smooth motion that can make movies look unnatural. This feature also requires a lot of processing power, which can cause latency when gaming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some TVs also use frame insertion to reduce motion blur by adding a black screen in between each frame in a video. While this can also trick your brain into seeing smoother motion, it will make your screen darker. Plus, because the backlight turns on and off rapidly, this feature can also create \u201cflicker,\u201d which causes some people to get headaches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
All major TV manufacturers use different names for their frame interpolation or black frame insertions features. For example, the Samsung Frame TV with \u201cMotion Flow XR\u201d is advertised as having a 240Hz refresh rate, but it really has a native refresh rate of 120Hz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is a Good Refresh Rate for TVs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Every modern TV has a refresh rate of either 60Hz or 120Hz. While 60Hz TVs are good enough for watching almost any videos without any problem, 120Hz TVs are usually better for watching movies and playing video games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The only problem is that most TVs still have HDMI 2.0 inputs, which limits your video sources to a refresh rate of 60Hz. If you want to take full advantage of a 120Hz TV, make sure to look for a model with an HDMI 2.1 port, especially if you have a next-generation gaming console.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shop: Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are looking for a gaming TV, a refresh rate of 60Hz is good enough for older consoles. However, the Xbox One S\/X, Xbox Series X, and PS5 all support 120Hz, so motion will look better on TVs with a faster refresh rate. Just make sure that your TV has the HDMI 2.1 port.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition, you also want to find a TV that supports VRR (variable refresh rate). This feature will sync the refresh rate of your TV and the frame rate of your game in real-time. So, if the frame rate of your game drops, your TV will automatically switch to a lower refresh rate. <\/p>\n\n\n There are two VRR formats: FreeSync and G-Sync. Nvidia’s G-Sync is usually found in PC monitors and high-end gaming TVs, but it is not compatible with any next-gen consoles. FreeSync is found in more TVs, and it is supported by the Xbox Series X.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re currently shopping for a new flat screen, check out our TV buying guide<\/a> to learn all the terms you need to know.<\/p>\n\n\nWhat Is a Good Refresh Rate for a Gaming TV?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"what](\"https:\/\/www.hellotech.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/what-is-a-good-refresh-rate-for-gaming-tv-1024x697.jpg\")
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![\"TV](\"https:\/\/www.hellotech.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/TV-Mounting-General-Mount-Your-TV-the-Right-Way-SQUARE.png\")
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