What is screen refresh rate on devices?

Screen refresh rate is one specification that must be considered in achieving the best viewing experience. Lately, this figure has become very current on monitors and screens for mobile phones. Therefore, it is quite normal to wonder what it really is.

We will first clarify what exactly we mean when we use this term and why it is so important to consider this feature before buying a monitor or mobile phone. What is screen refresh?

Screen refresh is a specification that determines how many images per second a screen or projector can play. The unit used is hertz, often abbreviated as Hz. Each hertz corresponds to one image displayed in one second. If the screen can refresh to 60 Hz, it means that it displays 60 images per second.

For the user, more hertz to refresh the screen produces a fluid effect. If the monitor has a low refresh rate, the perception is that the images offer intermittent movements.

The most common speed, both for monitors and for TVs and mobile phones, is 60 Hz. However, it is increasingly common for manufacturers to offer panels with 75, 90, 120 or 144 Hz. There are even 360 Hz devices, and the latter are top-class display devices. When is screen refresh rate important?

In most tasks we perform with the phone or computer, it will be enough to have a refresh rate of 60 Hz or 75 Hz. When composing emails, adding text to a document or surfing the web, we rarely make quick gestures in the interface that require a quick frame refresh.

So when is it really necessary to have a high refresh rate?

Basically, in performing video games. Scenes in some titles are very dynamic, with many camera changes and fast movements. Thanks to monitors with a refresh rate of over 90 Hz, the player will feel greater fluidity in the visualization. On the other hand, if we focus on TVs, fans of sports like Formula 1 or movies with a lot of action will appreciate the faster refresh rate. This type of content is often very energetic, with fast visuals and quick camera changes. The refresh rate on mobile phones

Finally, we are talking about mobile phones. Most users will not need a very high screen refresh rate. However, those who want to play games with their device will appreciate having the same smooth image transition that a high-end monitor can offer. This also applies to menu navigation and switching to the operating system.

Despite the good feelings offered by the screen with a high refresh rate, you should know that this specification directly affects the autonomy. For this reason, some manufacturers have implemented hybrid or adaptive solutions. In this way, the device provides a high refresh rate on the screen only if the user scrolls or starts a video game. It is a feature available on phones like Samsung Note 20 Ultra 5G. Is a higher refresh rate better?

You don’t always have a multi-hertz monitor, which is best for you. In fact, there are some additional factors to keep in mind before deciding. Depending on the type of games you play or the tasks you perform with your computer, you may save money by opting for monitors with a lower refresh rate.

On the other hand, it is vital to ensure that the equipment you have will use the full potential of the monitor. In case your computer doesn’t have the hardware to run the game at over 50 or 60 FPS, it won’t help to have a brand new 144 Hz screen in front of you.

Finally, we advise you to review other aspects of the panel that define the quality of the screen, such as resolution, brightness and others. Some manufacturers, especially in mobile phones, include a higher refresh rate as an advertising claim. However, the panel does not offer good display quality or comes with low resolution.