What is refresh rate and why does it matter for TVs?

Shopping for a new TV used to be just a matter of TV brand and screen size. These days, there’s way more to consider, like the different types of display technology, HDR support, and smart features.

One label that you’re sure to see on just about every TV box is refresh rate. It’s a hardware specification that describes how motion is handled on any given TV. Before you buy your next TV, it’s worth taking this spec into consideration—particularly if you’re an avid gamer or sports fan who watches a lot of fast-paced action. We'll help dispel the mysteries of this technology to help you make the right decision.

What is refresh rate?

To put it in the simplest terms, a display’s refresh rate describes the number of times per second the display resets the image, whether you’re shopping for a TV or a computer monitor. The refresh rate is measured in Hertz (Hz).

Essentially, the higher your display's refresh rate, the less amount of time that will pass between each individual video frame being displayed on screen. Higher refresh rates mean that a TV or monitor can display more frames per second (fps) which, depending on the content it's fed, could affect how smooth and pleasing your video looks.

What is a good refresh rate for a TV?

There are essentially two types of common refresh rates available when it comes to contemporary TVs: 60Hz and 120Hz. Generally, 60Hz TVs are more affordable than 120Hz TVs because the 120Hz spec is usually found on TVs that offer premium hardware and software features in addition to higher-quality motion handling.

In 2022, TCL and Samsung both announced TVs with a 144Hz native refresh rate. This spec has been available in some computer monitors for years, and in fact, some monitors offer native refresh rates that go much higher, up to 360Hz.

As far as TVs go, however, most people will end up choosing between 60Hz and 120Hz right now.

What’s the difference between refresh rate and frame rate?

While the refresh rate describes the number of frames of video per second a particular TV or monitor is capable of displaying, the frame rate describes the playback speed (in seconds) of a piece of video content. The frame rate of a piece of video content will be listed in fps (frames per second). A frame rate that divides cleanly into a TV’s refresh rate will make video smoother to watch.

For example, broadcast television in the U.S. plays at a standard 30fps (actually just below this at 29.97fps), which fits nicely into a 60Hz TV's refresh rate. However, most movies are shot at 24 frames per second (fps), which was settled upon in the early days of film. This is the frame rate you'll likely see when you pop in a Blu-ray disc or a film on streaming service. If you settle in to watch a movie on Netflix, you're probably watching something at 24fps.

The problem is, the average 60Hz TV can't render native 24fps content without a little bit of help, since every three seconds the TV gets out of sync. To combat this, many modern 60Hz TVs use a telecine technique called 3:2 pulldown, where frames are doubled in alternating sequences in order to "meet up" with the display's 60Hz refresh rate. Unfortunately, 3:2 pulldown usually results in a motion artifact called judder, where some sequences during playback can have a stuttering or skipping effect.

While many modern 60Hz TVs do 3:2 pulldown so successfully that you probably won't notice the amount of judder in most scenarios, you can save yourself any trouble by purchasing a 120Hz TV. That's because 24fps divides evenly (5 times) into a 120Hz refresh rate.

In addition, if you've recently bought a next-gen gaming console, you're likely going to be displaying content at much higher frame rates than film or broadcast TV. This is where having a TV with a higher refresh rate can really pay off.

What are the advantages of a high refresh rate?

One advantage of a 120Hz TV centers around the gaming benefits touched on above. In addition to being inherently better at handling fast-paced video games, the 120Hz spec also ensures that you’ll be able to play console games that offer 120fps game modes to perfectly sync up with the ultra-fast motion and get the best out of your gaming experience.

Currently, the Xbox Series X and the PlayStation 5 are all capable of displaying 4K games at 120fps, and while there aren’t very many games yet that hit this benchmark, you can expect to see more of them in the coming years. If you're a PC gamer who wants to play on the big screen, you'll also reap the benefits from a 120Hz TV, as high frame-rate games have been available in that ecosystem for quite some time.

If you own one of these consoles but don’t own a TV with a native 120Hz refresh rate, you won’t have the best possible gaming experience at your fingertips. That's not to mention other gaming advantages that often come with premium TVs, like Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM).

Regardless of frame rate, higher refresh rates tend to eliminate blur from fast motion, which isn’t just valuable for gaming: It also matters during high-action content, like sports. Because 120Hz TVs check for new information twice as often as 60Hz TVs, they can sometimes render particular sequences in sports with more clarity.

Should I buy a 120Hz (or higher) TV?

Ultimately, you might care more about landing a great deal on an affordable TV than you do about achieving the ultimate gaming or film experience. If you’re more of a casual viewer and sports broadcasts aren’t incredibly important to you and your family, there are plenty of budget-friendly 60Hz TVs that will fit your lifestyle perfectly.

That said, we highly recommend shopping for a 120Hz TV if you’re an avid gamer, a dedicated sports fan, or if you just want your movies and shows to look as easy on the eyes as possible. Motion handling can have a big impact on picture quality, especially for those specific content types.

All of the options in our round-up of the best gaming TVs feature a native refresh rate of 120Hz, and several of the picks in our round-up of the best TVs do, as well.

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