How high of a refresh rate does your TV really need? An expert’s buying advice

It seems like no matter what kind of smart TV you look at these days, refresh rates tend to be the most marketed aspect next to panel type. And whether you’re just looking for a decent TV on a budget or want to invest in a high-end screen for the ultimate home theater, the world of refresh rates can be a confusing tangle of technical jargon and marketing-speak. 

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But does a high refresh rate automatically mean you get a better picture? To help you find the right fit for your space and entertainment needs, I broke down what refresh rates are and how they affect picture quality. 

What does refresh rate even mean?

A refresh rate, sometimes also referred to as frame rate, refers to how many times a TV screen shows an image per second. Measured in hertz, there is a very complicated formula that electrical engineers use to calculate refresh rates, but it’s easier to imagine your TV as a very fancy slideshow projector with each frame as a separate still image. 

When a television’s tech specs list the refresh rate as 60Hz, that means the screen can produce up to 60 frames per second. And as LED technology has improved, refresh rates are getting pushed higher and higher, with many modern smart TVs having rates on-par with high-end gaming and professional PC monitors. 

Almost all smart TVs can be lumped into one of three major groups based on refresh rates:

1. Is 60Hz enough for you?

Even the most basic modern television will have a base refresh rate of 60Hz, which is the same as ancient cathode ray tube models. But modern TVs are capable of producing 4K images that are densely packed with visual information, whereas the old CRT models maxed out at 480p with vastly inferior contrast and color accuracy. 

If you’re looking for a solid smart TV that can handle everything from live sports to the occasional weekend video game, a refresh rate of 60Hz is going to give you decent enough picture quality. Models like the Toshiba C350 often have software tweaks to help boost picture quality in other ways, such as support for Dolby Vision HDR for enhanced detailing and contrast and auto low-latency picture modes for console gaming.

2. Stream much?

While 60Hz is perfectly serviceable for a lot of customers, you’ll want to invest in a mid-range LED or high-end OLED model with a 120Hz refresh rate if you are a bit more picky. With a higher refresh rate, you can pack more frames per second into a video, which results in much cleaner, smoother motion. 

If you’ve cut the cord and moved exclusively to streaming or can’t stand the sight of motion blur during live sports, a smart TV with a base refresh rate of 120Hz can give you more crisp images so you never miss a single detail of your favorite shows and movies. 

One of my favorite flagship TVs last year, the LG C5, not only has a 120Hz refresh rate, but it can also produce exceptionally accurate colors and near-perfect blacks with the improved OLED panel for enhanced contrast and picture quality.

3. Gaming and specialized screens

Manufacturers have started to release smart TVs capable of truly impressive refresh rates, with some like the Hisense U8QG topping out at 165Hz. A refresh rate this high means you’ll get an ultra-smooth image, even during very fast-paced scenes in movies and shows as well as action-packed gameplay on consoles and PC. 

Also: How to disable motion interpolation on your TV – and why it’s a must according to experts

While movie and TV buffs can get a lot of mileage out of such high refresh rates, these models really shine when used almost exclusively for high-end gaming or creative professional work. These TVs often support AMD or Nvidia’s variable refresh rate technology, which matches your TV’s refresh rate with the framerate output of your PC or console to help prevent annoying screen tearing and stuttering. 

This makes these kinds of TVs a great choice as a dedicated gaming screen or extra-large monitor for creative professionals working with video and animation.

Bottom line

There are a lot of factors that go into creating a great picture on a TV screen, with refresh rate being just one element to consider. While many customers will be content with a basic smart TV with a 60Hz refresh rate, movie buffs may want to spring for a model capable of 120Hz for smoother motion while serious gamers should consider premium-grade TVs that can produce refresh rates up to 165Hz.