When shopping for a display device, you should check the refresh rate. All display devices have a refresh rate. It’s a common specification that denotes how quickly the frames change. Unfortunately, many buyers overlook this specification. They may check the resolution the display device, but they’ll often ignore the refresh rate. To learn more about refresh rate and why it’s important, keep reading.
The Basics of Refresh Rate
Refresh rate refers to the number of times a display device updates its images. It’s expressed in hertz (Hz). A display device with a refresh rate of 60Hz updates its images 60 times per second, whereas a display device with a refresh rate of 120Hz updates its images 120 times per second.
All display devices produce images in the form of individual frames. To change from one image to another image, the pixels within a display device must be reoriented. In other words, the illumination and color of the pixels must change. This allows the pixels to create a new image. Refresh rate is simply a measurement of how quickly a display device can change its images.
With refresh rate, 1Hz is the equivalent of one frame per second. Movies are usually filmed in 24 frames per second or 24Hz. Over the years, however, manufacturers of display device have begun using a higher number of frames per second. You can now find display devices with up to 120Hz, which is the same as 120 frames per second.
The Impact of Refresh Rate
Refresh rate is important because it affects the motion of a display device. Display devices create motion when their respective images change. With a low refresh rate, there’s a visible blur during the transition of one frame to another frame. A high refresh rate prevents this motion blurring, thereby allowing for a smoother frame-to-frame transition.
Whether it’s a computer monitor, a TV or a smartphone, a high refresh rate is important because it allows for a smoother transition from frame to frame. All display devices produce images in the form of frames. The faster a display device can transition its frames, the better the image quality.
In Conclusion
Refresh rate is a specification used in display device that refers to how quickly the frames change. It’s measured in Hz. A refresh rate with a high number of Hz indicates the display device can quickly transition from frame to frame. As a result, it won’t produce the same blurred motion that’s found in display devices with a low refresh rate.
