A TV with a high refresh rate is one of the most important criteria to look for when purchasing a television.
TV refresh is something that most of us are not familiar with. Many people often mistake it for frame rate.
In this article, we shall discuss everything about the refresh rate. We will learn about its significance and also look at the good refresh rates for TVs and gaming TVs.
We will also learn why a TV with high refresh rate matters.
Let us start our discussion.
Table of Contents
What Is Refresh Rate?
The refresh rate of a television refers to the number of times an image on the screen refreshes per second. You measure the refresh rate in Hertz (Hz). Let us say a TV has a refresh rate of 120 Hz. It implies that the image on this TV refreshes 120 times per second. The higher the refresh rate, the better is the picture quality.
Televisions that have faster refresh rates have better motion-handling capabilities. Handling motion is crucial especially when you are watching an action movie on TV r playing video games.
When you compare a TV that has a high refresh rate of 120 Hz with the one having 60 Hz, the former will have a better picture quality than the latter. As mentioned earlier, if the TV has a high refresh rate, better will its picture quality be. When you are looking to purchase a new television, you will come across devices with various refresh rates., 60 Hz, 120 Hz, 240 Hz, and even more. When it comes to the LCD TV, most appliances will have a regular refresh rate of 60 Hz. 120 Hz is usually considered the native refresh rate, which is commonly seen in most expensive TV models.
What is Frame Rate and How it is Different from the Refresh Rate?
Refresh rate and frame rate are two terminologies that people often mistake one for the other. In reality, both are different. A refresh rate is nothing but the number of frames your screen displays per second. Whereas, frame rate refers to the number of frames the video source displays every second. Your TV should have a refresh rate that is equal to or more than the video frame rate. This is a thumb rule if you want to minimize the motion blur on the screen.
Videos that contain higher frame rates have smoother motion, provided the TV has an equal or even more higher refresh rate. Let us assume that the television has a slower refresh rate than the video frame rate. In such a case, the frame will not be clear, and even the overall image will be a blur.
There is a difference between TV shows and movies. They film the former at 30 frames per second (fps) and the latter at 24 fps. If you have a TV with a 30 Hz refresh rate, it will suffice to watch the maximum content. Nevertheless, it is advisable to purchase a TV that has a faster refresh rate.
What Is The Difference Between a 60 Hz TV and a 120 Hz TV?
There is much debate on which TV to buy? Whether to purchase the one having a refresh rate of 60 Hz or the one with 120 Hz? Both devices look identical when you are watching a show filmed at 30 fps. However, there is a huge difference in how each appliance handles the motion. The television with a higher refresh rate is better at handling motion for watching movies that are filmed at 24 fps.
The refresh rate of your television should match the video frame rate. In order to achieve this, the device will display each frame several times. For your better understanding, here is a simple example: Let us assume you have a TV with a 60 Hz refresh rate and are watching a show filmed at 30 fps. To match both the rates, the TV doubles each frame and displays the single one as half for long.
When you take a TV with a 120 Hz refresh rate, the same video filmed at 30 fps will look identical. This is because the television here quadruples each frame and displays the single one as a quarter for a long.
While this all seems to be fine, the actual problem arises when you have to watch a movie on a TV with a refresh rate of 60 Hz. We all know that most movies are filmed at 24 fps. This rate is not a preferable one for a 60 Hz TV. We will tell you why: In order to match the refresh rate with the frame rate, this device follows an approach called 3:2 pulldown. In this method, it displays one single frame two times and then the next frame thrice.
In the 3:2 pulldown method, you can notice that the video displays a few frames longer than the others. As a result, when you are watching a movie on 60 Hz TV, you are bound to observe the judder effect. Following this, the motion looks jerky, and the video plays slower than it actually should.
Let us consider a TV with a refresh rate of 120 Hz and assume that you are watching a movie on this device. Here, the television displays every single frame five times. That said, the look intended by the filmmaker will not be lost. You will hardly find any content with 120 fps content. However, there are some movies and videos games that use a high frame rate.
Let us now learn which is the good refresh rate for television and gaming TV.
What is an Ideal Refresh Rate for TVs?
Usually, televisions come with a refresh rate of either 60 Hz or 120 Hz. Both the models are good and help you watch movies or videos without any problem. However, an appliance with 120 Hz is the best option to watch movies or play video games. Televisions that have faster refresh rates have better motion-handling capabilities. Hence, TVs with a refresh rate of 120 Hz are usually considered an ideal figure.
When it comes to televisions, they have a problem. Most devices feature HDMI 2.0 inputs. This functionality restricts the video sources to a refresh rate of 60 Hz only. As a result, even if it is a TV with a refresh rate of 120 Hz, you cannot enjoy the video to its maximum capacity. In order to make the most out of your 120 Hz TV, this is what you can do. Ensure that the model you purchase has an HDMI 2.1 port. This is a must for a next-generation gaming console.
What Is an Ideal Refresh Rate for a Gaming TV?
For a gaming TV with older consoles, a refresh rate of 60Hz will suffice. However, fewer models like the Xbox One S/X, Xbox Series X, and PS5 come with a capacity to support 120Hz. That said, they have a faster refresh rate and will guarantee a better display of the motion.
When watching sports like basketball, a gaming TV with a higher refresh rate keeps with the pace on the basketball ground. It enables a smooth picture and reduces the blurriness of the image. However, there is one thing you need to take care of. If you want to make the most out of your 120 Hz TV, ensure that the TV you purchase has an HDMI 2.1 port.
Apart from the above, there is one more thing you require for your gaming TV. Your television should have a special feature that helps support the VRR (variable refresh rate). The specialty of VRR is that it synchronizes the TV’s refresh rate to the frame rate of your game and that too, in real-time. Let us assume that the frame rate of your game has dropped. In such a case, this feature allows the TV to automatically switch to a lower refresh rate.
The VRRs are usually available in two different formats, and they are – FreeSync and G-Sync. G-Sync is a new display technology developed by Nvidia. You can find this sync technology in most PC monitors and other high-end gaming TVs. However, the only downside is that it lacks compatibility with the next-gen consoles. You can find the AMD FreeSync technology in more TVs. Even the Xbox Series X supports this sync technology.
What Are the Different Refresh Rates Available From Different Sources?
Depending on the manufacturing brands, the technology used in the TVs differs. Different companies use different technologies for enhancing the refresh rate. We have jotted down about a few brands and the refresh rates for their models:
Let us start with LG. TruMotion is the technology used in LG TVs for improving the picture quality on the screen and motion smoothing.
1. LG – TruMotionÂ
Below are the refresh rates for LG.
LG TV TruMotion 240 model comes with a refresh rate of 120 Hz.
LG TV TruMotion 120 model comes with a refresh rate of 60 Hz.
Let us move on to Samsung.
2. Samsung – Motion Rate
Samsung uses the word Motion Rate for all its 4K TVs. The Motion Rate of Samsung TVs is a measure that is twice the native refresh rate. For example, consider a Samsung smart 4K model TV with a Motion rate of 240. This indicates that the refresh rate of that television is 120 Hz. Similarly, televisions that have a Motion rate of 120 will have a native refresh rate of 60 Hz.
Let us discuss about Sony manufacturing brand.
3. Sony – Slow Motion XRÂ
Like Samsung, even Sony uses the word Slow Motion XR for its TV as a measure for the native refresh rate. In the older models, the term Slow Motion XR 240 indicated a native refresh rate of 60 Hz. However, in the newer models, it is no longer the case. If you consider the model with motion flow-XR 1440, it means that the TV has a native refresh rate of 120 Hz refresh rate.
Let us look at what Toshiba offers.
4. Toshiba – Clear FrameÂ
The clear frame is the anti-blur technology used by the Toshiba brand in all its TVs. For high-end televisions from Toshiba, these models usually come with a refresh rate of 120 Hz. Other variants of Toshiba have a lower refresh rate of 60 Hz.
Let us talk about the other manufacturing brand named Sharp.
5. Sharp – AquoMotion
If you consider the manufacturing brand Sharp, it uses the AquoMotion as a term for refresh rate. It is usually two times the actual refresh rate. For example, consider a Sharp 4K 240 AquoMotion Smart LED. This indicates that the refresh rate of that television is 120 Hz. Similarly, televisions that have an AquoMotion of 120 will have a refresh rate of 60 Hz.
Let us discuss about TCL manufacturing brand.
6. TCL – Clear Motion IndexÂ
Just like other manufacturing brands, even TCL uses a different term called Clear Motion Index (CMI) for the actual refresh rate.
All the television models from TCL except the high-end ones have a refresh rate of 60 Hz.
The TCL 6 series 75 inches smart TV comes with a 120 Hz refresh rate.
All TV manufacturers use different words as marketing terms for refresh rates. This is a gimmick used by them for people who do not understand what these mean.
How To Get The Best Results In Refresh Rates?
If you want to get the best results in the refresh rates, there is something you need to do. You will have to adjust the settings on your TV. It differs from brand to brand. Here we are to help you with how to change the settings for each TV brand. Just follow the below steps to get an image display on your device that is free from judder and shaking.
1. For Samsung TV:
Let us start with the Samsung TV. Usually, for televisions in these brands, the setting comes enabled automatically. However, when watching video content with 24 FPS, it can shake via 60i and 60p. This is what you can do for video content with 1080i or 480i:
- Turn on your TV.
- Go to the Menu Settings.
- On this page, go to the Picture.
- Look for the Picture option. Now, enable the Film Mode.\
2. For Sony TV:
Here is a step-by-step process to adjust the settings for achieving the best results in the refresh rate:
- Turn on your TV.
- Go to the Menu Settings.
- On this page, go to the Picture and Display.
- Look for the Picture Adjustment option.
- Now, change the MotionFlow setting here to True Cinema.
- After you finish that, come to the Cinemotion setting. Set it to high.
3. For LG TV:
Here is are the steps for adjusting the settings in LG TVs:
- Turn on your TV.
- Go to the Menu Settings.
- On this page, go to the Picture.
- Look for the Picture Mode option.
- Now, enable the Real Cinema.
Let us learn about the steps to adjust the settings for televisions from other manufacturing brands.
4. For Other TVs:
Below is a step-by-step process for achieving the best results in the refresh rate:
- Turn on your TV.
- Go to the Menu Settings.
- On this page, go to Auto Motion Plus.
- Here, you will have to change this Auto Motion Plus option to Custom.
- You can adjust it by moving both sliders to zero.
You can follow these steps on your TV to get an image that is free from shaking and judder.
What Is Response Time In a TV?
Response time is another terminology that we mostly use for televisions. It is nothing but the time taken by the pixels in the TV to change the colour. If you are noticing a motion blur on your time, then a slow response time is to blame. When your TV takes a long time to process the images, it creates ghostly trails around the moving objects. This will make the images look blurred on the screen.
When you are purchasing a new TV, it is ideal to get one that has a response time of fewer than 30 milliseconds. Let us say you love playing video games on your TV. In such a case, it is advisable to buy a device that has a response time of not more than 10 ms. With the advancements in technology, you get TVs today whose response time is less than one millisecond.
What About the TVs having a Refresh Rate of 240 Hz?
You might have noticed some TV brands advertising about their high-end model TVs having a refresh rate of 240Hz. Do not fall to these claims. These days, most TVs come with a native refresh rate of 120 Hz at the maximum. The 240 Hz TV is nothing but television that has special features to artificialy double the refresh rate. That said, it is not exactly a 240 Hz TV but a 120 Hz TV only.
Let us talk about frame interpolation. It is a feature used by television manufacturers in their models. Frame interpolation helps in reducing motion blur by adding entirely new frames to the video. In this process, the TV analyzes two frames to create a new hybrid image.
There is one downside to frame interpolation. Although it helps in reducing motion blur, it can result in the soap opera effect. It is nothing but the ultra-smooth motion that makes movies look unnatural. The other disadvantage is that the frame interpolation requires a lot of processing power. This can lead to latency when gaming.
Let us now learn about frame insertion. It is a feature used by some television manufacturers in their models to reduce the motion blur. Frame insertion refers to adding entirely a black screen to the video. In this process, the TV adds a black screen between two frames in the video. This process tricks your brain to see the smoother motion while it makes your screen darker. However, there is a downside to frame insertion. Although it helps in reducing motion blur, it will turn on and off the backlight rapidly. Another disadvantage is that it creates a flicker that can cause headaches in some people.
When it comes to frame interpolation or frame insertion features, many reputed TV manufacturing brands use different names. Here is an example to help you understand better. If you consider the Samsung brand, it advertises the Frame TV with Motion Flow XR as the one having a refresh rate of 240 Hz. But in reality, the native refresh rate is 120 Hz only.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Ans: Usually, all TVs come with the capacity to play the shows or videos at either 30 or 60 p that easily fit into a 60 Hz refresh rate. Also, they do not introduce the 3:2 pull down approach that leads to judder effects.
Ans: For a gaming TV with older consoles, a refresh rate of 60 Hz will suffice. However, fewer models like the Xbox One S/X, Xbox Series X, and PS5 come with a capacity to support 120 Hz. Some newest consoles like the PS4 and Xbox One support only up to 60 fps.
Some gaming TVs offer a refresh rate of 120 Hz or 144 Hz. When playing video games, a gaming TV with a higher refresh rate helps capture the best gaming experience. It enables a smooth picture and reduces the blurriness of the image. However, 60 fps will do the needful. A 120 Hz TV will handle motion much better than the one with 60 Hz.
Ans: When it comes to the 4K TVs, you will find them with only two native refresh rates, i.e., either 60 Hz or 120 Hz. If you notice any number other than these two, consider it as a fake refresh rate. It is nothing but a technique by image processing. There is hardly any difference between the TVs with 120 Hz and 60 Hz. You do not have to worry about it and go for the one that you think is feasible.
Ans: If you want to choose between a TV with a refresh rate of 120 Hz and the one with 60 Hz, there are a few things to consider. A 120 Hz TV offers some benefits over the latter. It displays 120 Hz content as intended. Similarly, it also shows a movie with 24 Hz with smoother motion. Furthermore, it even reduces motion blur.
Ans: Finding out or checking the actual refresh rate of your television can be challenging. This is because, these days, most manufacturers show elevated numbers of refresh rates. The native refresh rate that all TV models have is either 60 or 120 Hz.
Let us say you see a manufacturer advertising the effective refresh rate as 240 Hz. You should assume that the number is double the native refresh rate, which means the native refresh rate is 120 Hz only. Here is another way that you can try. Check the reviews for that product, and you will find the actual number.
Ans: The answer to this question is a big no. Television with a 60 Hz refresh rate cannot run on 120 frames per second. It can only display 60 frames per second. It will use the technique of image processing to interpolate 30 fps video up to 60 fps. However, it will still display only 60 frames every second and not more than that.
Ans: Refresh rate in LED Televisions has very little effect on the performance of the device. TVs that have faster refresh rates have better motion-handling capabilities. Handling motion is crucial, especially when you are watching an action movie on TV or playing video games.
When you compare a TV that has a high refresh rate of 120 Hz with the one having 60 Hz, the former will have a better picture quality than the latter. As mentioned earlier, if the TV has a high refresh rate, better will its picture quality be. You will not have the limitation of the frame rate of the content in such devices.
Conclusion:
I hope this article explained everything about the Refresh rate of a television and why it is significant. I am sure you now know why having a good refresh rate matters. If you are planning to purchase a new TV, consider a high refresh rate as one of the most important criteria. You can use this article as a reference to investing in the right TV or gaming TV with a good refresh rate. Do share this information with your friends and let them know about the significance of a refresh rate on a smart TV.
Write to us if you have any questions or need more information on the TV refresh rate. We will try our best to answer all your questions at the earliest. If possible, we will come up with a new article with relevant info that clears all your doubts.
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