How High Of A Refresh Rate Does Your Tv Really Need? An Expert's Buying Advice

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It seems for illustration nary matter what benignant of smart TV you look astatine these days, refresh rates thin to beryllium nan astir marketed facet adjacent to sheet type. And whether you're conscionable looking for a decent TV connected a fund aliases want to put successful a high-end surface for nan eventual location theater, nan world of refresh rates tin beryllium a confusing tangle of method motto and marketing-speak. 

Also: How to disable HDMI-CEC connected your TV

But does a precocious refresh complaint automatically mean you get a amended picture? To thief you find nan correct fresh for your abstraction and intermezo needs, I collapsed down what refresh rates are and really they impact image quality. 

What does refresh complaint moreover mean?

A refresh rate, sometimes besides referred to arsenic framework rate, refers to really galore times a TV surface shows an image per second. Measured successful hertz, location is simply a very analyzable look that electrical engineers usage to cipher refresh rates, but it's easier to ideate your TV arsenic a very fancy slideshow projector pinch each framework arsenic a abstracted still image. 

When a television's tech specs database nan refresh complaint arsenic 60Hz, that intends nan surface tin nutrient up to 60 frames per second. And arsenic LED exertion has improved, refresh rates are getting pushed higher and higher, pinch galore modern smart TVs having rates on-par pinch high-end gaming and master PC monitors. 

Almost each smart TVs tin beryllium lumped into 1 of 3 awesome groups based connected refresh rates:

1. Is 60Hz capable for you?

samsung-frame-pro-tv-2025-10
Adam Breeden/ZDNET

Even nan astir basal modern tv will person a guidelines refresh complaint of 60Hz, which is nan aforesaid arsenic ancient cathode ray conduit models. But modern TVs are tin of producing 4K images that are densely packed pinch ocular information, whereas nan aged CRT models maxed retired astatine 480p pinch vastly inferior opposition and colour accuracy. 

If you're looking for a coagulated smart TV that tin grip everything from unrecorded sports to nan occasional play video game, a refresh complaint of 60Hz is going to springiness you decent capable image quality. Models for illustration nan Toshiba C350 often person package tweaks to thief boost image value successful different ways, specified arsenic support for Dolby Vision HDR for enhanced detailing and opposition and car low-latency image modes for console gaming.

2. Stream much?

While 60Hz is perfectly serviceable for a batch of customers, you'll want to put successful a mid-range LED aliases high-end OLED exemplary pinch a 120Hz refresh complaint if you are a spot much picky. With a higher refresh rate, you tin battalion much frames per 2nd into a video, which results successful overmuch cleaner, smoother motion. 

If you've trim nan cord and moved exclusively to streaming aliases can't guidelines nan show of mobility blur during unrecorded sports, a smart TV pinch a guidelines refresh complaint of 120Hz tin springiness you much crisp images truthful you ne'er miss a azygous item of your favourite shows and movies. 

One of my favourite flagship TVs past year, the LG C5, not only has a 120Hz refresh rate, but it tin besides nutrient exceptionally meticulous colors and near-perfect blacks pinch nan improved OLED sheet for enhanced opposition and image quality.

3. Gaming and specialized screens

Manufacturers person started to merchandise smart TVs tin of genuinely awesome refresh rates, pinch immoderate for illustration nan Hisense U8QG topping retired astatine 165Hz. A refresh complaint this precocious intends you'll get an ultra-smooth image, moreover during very fast-paced scenes successful movies and shows arsenic good arsenic action-packed gameplay connected consoles and PC. 

Also: How to disable mobility interpolation connected your TV - and why it's a must according to experts

While movie and TV buffs tin get a batch of mileage retired of specified precocious refresh rates, these models really radiance erstwhile utilized almost exclusively for high-end gaming aliases imaginative master work. These TVs often support AMD aliases Nvidia's adaptable refresh complaint technology, which matches your TV's refresh complaint pinch nan framerate output of your PC aliases console to thief forestall annoying surface tearing and stuttering. 

This makes these kinds of TVs a awesome prime arsenic a dedicated gaming surface aliases extra-large show for imaginative professionals moving pinch video and animation.

Bottom line

There are a batch of factors that spell into creating a awesome image connected a TV screen, pinch refresh complaint being conscionable 1 constituent to consider. While galore customers will beryllium contented pinch a basal smart TV pinch a 60Hz refresh rate, movie buffs whitethorn want to outpouring for a exemplary tin of 120Hz for smoother mobility while superior gamers should see premium-grade TVs that tin nutrient refresh rates up to 165Hz.

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