Every gamer or streamer has probably debated whether or not they should upgrade from a 60Hz TV to a 120Hz TV or gaming monitor.
If a 60Hz TV or monitor works well for me, I don’t see any need to shell out the extra cash for a 120Hz one.
In this article, we will analyze the differences between 120Hz and 60Hz systems and examine whether or not an upgrade is required.
The Distinction Between a 60hz- and a 120-Hz Screen
The symbol Hz is often shorthand for “Hertz,” which is the name of the SI base frequency unit.
Hertz refers to the rate at which a screen refreshes, usually expressed in how many times per second a computer or television screen is updated.
A 60Hz TV refreshes its image 60 times per second. The screen redraws the image at intervals set by the refresh rate.
A higher refresh rate has its advantages.
Assuming an increase is desirable is logical. That’s accurate to some extent. The blurring of moving images may be minimized by increasing the refresh rate.
Has it ever happened to you while watching a movie that the image started to blur or became softer during a particularly dramatic scene? Motion blur is a typical criticism leveled at today’s LCD and OLED screens.
Even if you’re not aware of it, motion blur may be quite distracting. If you often watch fast-paced media like sports or movies, a 120Hz screen may be worth the investment.
When making purchases through television, keep an eye out for deceptive advertising phrases.
There are a wide variety of TVs on the market today, including Samsung’s Motion Rate 120 and LG’s TruMotion 240. Consumers often wrongly assume that the television’s refresh rate can be deduced from the model number.
These models use a larger number than the TV’s “native” refresh rate to deceive the viewer. To provide just one example, the Samsung Motion Rate 120 features a native refresh rate of 60 Hz.
To make it seem like you’re viewing at 120 frames per second, the TV interpolates the frame rates and inserts black frames.
When asked to define “Frame Rate Interpolation,” what do you mean?
Motion interpolation, also known as motion interpolation or motion-compensated frame interpolation, is a kind of frame rate interpolation that helps create a smoother picture by decreasing motion blur (MCFI).
As a result of frame rate interpolation, TVs may provide the illusion of having a much faster refresh rate than they really do.
The “black frame insertion” serves what purpose, exactly?
The addition of a black border in between scenes may also help decrease motion blur on LCD and OLED screens.
Black, full-screen images have been inserted between the source’s original frames. This might trick your mind into believing that things are moving faster than they are at peak periods.
Although the idea of inserting a black frame into an otherwise normal video was proposed in 2006, it has not caught on due to the prevalence of other motion-blur reduction methods.
This approach fails for valid reasons. As much as 50% screen brightness reduction and significant flickering may result.
What Role Do Frame Rates and Refresh Rates Play in a Video Game?
Both frame rates and refresh rates tend to go up and down together. The frame rate of a gadget is the average number of frames it can produce per second.
Each member of this couple must respect the other at all times. When playing a game that boasts a certain frame rate (in this example, 60FPS), it’s best to do so on a display that can match that rate (60Hz, in this case).
If two objects are of different sizes, the motion between them will seem blurred. As opposed to other forms of entertainment, games put a far greater value on frame rates.
Read on to learn why a 120Hz display is ideal for gamers.
New gaming consoles with 120 Hz displays
The release of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles in 2020 sparked renewed interest in 120Hz TVs and gaming screens.
Both of these cutting-edge systems can produce 4K video at 120 frames per second. Every serious gamer knows that a high frame rate is crucial to making the most of their system’s capabilities.
60 Hz was the standard for older-generation game consoles. Plus, only a few years ago, everyone considered 30Hz to be perfect enough. Faster frame mates make the game flow more smoothly.
You’ll be able to pick out more subtle features at this frame rate than you would at a lower one. As a result, you’ll be able to respond more swiftly to events on the screen.
If you’re a serious gamer who wants to make the most of the features on your next-gen console, a 120Hz TV or monitor might be a good purchase.
However, it should be mentioned that there aren’t actually that many console games available that support 120Hz as of August 2021. But the truth is that we expect this pattern to grow.
Seek a TV that supports a variable refresh rate and has a 120Hz input. These changes have made for a very smooth and glitch-free gaming experience.
Video Game Refresh Rates
PC gamers have favored high-refresh-rate screens for some time. Nowadays, 120Hz or even 240Hz refresh rates are commonplace in gaming panels, and most serious gamers utilize them.
When it comes to competitive PC gaming, every millisecond matters, making the decision between 60Hz and 120Hz crucial.
A frequent tactic for getting a leg up on the competition is to crank up the frame rate as high as it can go. Displays with a refresh rate of 120 or 240 hertz have other benefits as well.
- More defined and less hazy images
- Fixes display tearing caused by a mismatch between the monitor’s refresh rate and the video’s frame rate.
- less time elapses between the input and the output, and a faster response time.
While professional players will get the most benefit from a display with a fast refresh rate, even casual gamers will likely see an uptick in performance.
Finding a new gaming display with a refresh rate of at least 120 hertz should be a top priority. Don’t make a hasty choice; give it some serious consideration.
To get the best sense of what’s available, it’s best to buy such things close to home.
Which is Better, a 60Hz or a 120Hz Screen for Watching Movies and TV?
Your needs will vary from those of someone who intends to play video games on their TV to those who want to just stream content or watch sports.
After the month of August 2021, 120fps content will be exclusive to next-gen video games.
In general, prominent streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video provide frame rates that vary from 24 to 60 frames per second.
Most movies use a 24 fps frame rate. If you’re watching a program on Netflix that runs at 60 frames per second, the experience will be the same on a 120 Hz TV.
However, whether watched from a Blu-ray disc or other media source, a film shot in native 24fps may seem somewhat different.
The reason is, a 60-hertz TV must interpolate between 3 and 2 frames in each of the 24 shown in order to keep the refresh rate constant at 60 hertz.
This is known as the 3:2 pulldown and might result in some juddering on the screen.
However, a 120Hz TV has to interleave 5 frames between the original 24, creating a pulldown ratio of 5:5. If five frames are consistently added to the mix instead of three or two, the picture will have a much more fluid appearance.
Different Screen Refresh Rates for Smartphones (60Hz, 90Hz, and 120Hz)
Major manufacturers have also released smartphones with a fast refresh rate. The OnePlus 7 Pro was the first smartphone to have a 90-hertz refresh rate. Numerous manufacturers, including:
- S21, S21+, and Ultra, Samsung’s Newest Galaxy (120Hz)
- Asus’s ROG Phone 5 (144Hz)
- Moto G60 (120Hz)
- Pixel 5, the latest iteration from Google (90Hz)
- Pro version of the OnePlus 9 (120Hz)
Does This Mean I Have to Settle for a 60 Hz Phone?
According to your requirements, a phone will serve its purpose. Smartphones with 120Hz screens offer both pros and cons.
One advantage of a 120Hz display is that animations and page transitions run more smoothly. Furthermore, many users report experiencing decreased eye fatigue after lengthy use.
However, the use of such enhancements often results in shorter battery life. Even 90Hz material is scarce, much alone 120Hz material. However, this might change in the future.
You may want to look for a phone with a higher refresh rate if you’re worried about being left behind in terms of technology and are in the market for a new device.
Mobile Gaming on 120Hz Phones
Like with TVs, it seems that mobile games might benefit from a higher refresh rate. Frame rates greater than 60 fps are being supported by more and more mobile games, and this trend is projected to continue.
Your mobile gaming experience may be greatly enhanced by upgrading to a device with a refresh rate of 90 or 120 hertz.
Can you really tell the difference between 60 and 120 hertz?
Video games, 24-frames-per-second movies, and other forms of multimedia benefit more from 120Hz than from 60Hz.
So if you’re content with your 60Hz TV and you’re not a gamer, going to 120Hz may not be worth it. Most modern televisions now include a 120-hertz refresh rate.
120Hz may become the standard in the future. Those wanting to get a new 4K TV should pick for 120Hz, as it will keep their TV current for many years.
There are a few things consumers should think about when purchasing a new TV:
HDR support and a resolution of 4K are available.
Screen Types: OLED vs. LCD Screen Resolution: Multiple HDMI Ports
Buying a new TV is a significant financial investment. You should look around until you find the one that best suits your needs and your budget.
Quick Links:
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- Who Makes Hisense TVs? Here’s What We Found
Conclusion: 60Hz vs 120Hz 2024
Everything about this situation was covered above. If so, I’m glad to have helped ease your mind with this article and I hope you found it useful. We appreciate you taking the time to read this.
