Refresh rate, in hertz (Hz), shows how many times per second a display changes the image. A 60 Hz display shows a fresh image sixty times a second, and a 144 Hz display more than twice that. The higher it is, the smoother motion looks.
Where you feel the difference#
- Fast games, especially shooters
- Mouse movement and scrolling
- Touch and scrolling on new phones
An example#
It is like a flip-book cartoon: the more pages per second, the smoother the character moves.
What it takes to reach it#
A fast display alone is not enough. The graphics card must also produce enough frames, and the cable and port must be suitable. If only 60 frames are produced, a higher display does nothing for you. You also have to set the rate manually to the high value in Windows or phone settings; sometimes it stays at the 60 default.
Relation to battery#
On a phone or laptop, a high rate uses more battery. Many devices change the rate automatically.
Common mistake#
Refresh rate is not the same as frame rate. Refresh rate is what the display can do, and frame rate is what the graphics card outputs. Both need to match. For office work and films, 60 Hz is perfectly enough.