Monitors are maybe the most critical peripherals when it comes to using a computer. They come in various specifications and often serve different purposes. The refresh rate of the monitor is what makes the most significant difference most of the times.

The “Hz” (Hertz) in the specifications of a monitor is the unit of frequency. It tells us how many times an image on your display is being refreshed per second.

A user with basic needs would never need a 144Hz or a 240Hz display as they are gaming specific monitors.

Whereas, a professional gamer can never do with a 60Hz or a 120Hz display as these do not meet up with their requirements of gaming. Monitors with higher refresh rates and lower response times are known to be ideal for gaming and any other work that requires a high frame rate inspection.

In this article, we bring you a four-way comparison between displays with different refresh rates, which one you should pick and when should you upgrade if you need to.

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60Hz Displays

60Hz displays are the most widely used displays on the market. They are the go-to monitors for a majority of the consumers, who do not need a gaming monitor, and hence a 60Hz display serves their purpose.

The image on a 60Hz display is refreshed about 60 times per second.

It is easier for a manufacturer to achieve or manufacture a display with a relatively higher resolution and a refresh rate of 60Hz because as you increase the resolution, it becomes harder to obtain a higher frame rate due to much higher pixel density.

120Hz Displays

120Hz displays are mostly used by entry-level gaming monitor manufacturers and recently now in mobile phones such as the Razer Phone and a few Apple devices.

It is a big upgrade over a 60Hz display, and the difference can be noticed immediately. It provides a much smoother overall experience of browsing through the UI.

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144Hz Displays

Any display with a refresh rate of 144Hz or above can be labelled as a “Gaming Monitor” as it is majorly used by professional gamers.

Monitors or displays with such high refresh rates help a gamer in FPS games. Such games require quick action reflexes and constant updating. Gaming monitors also have a low response time which makes it even more fluent and exciting to use.

240Hz Displays

A 240Hz display is more of a high-end gaming monitor. The user experience of a display with a refresh rate of 240Hz is very captivating.

With providing the best performance, these displays serve a very specific purpose and are not for the average consumer.  Yes, they do run pretty expensive and should only be bought if your hardware supports it.

Which one should you use?

It all comes down to your purpose of usage. If you are a professional gamer or want to step-up your gaming, a 144Hz or a 240Hz would be the ones to go for. If you need a monitor with higher resolutions, for content creation or just basic usage, the 60Hz displays have a quite wide range to choose from.

When should you upgrade?

If you’re already using a monitor or a display that serves your purpose, it is not necessary to upgrade. One can upgrade to a display with a higher refresh rate for enhanced user experience or if you need it for gaming purpose.

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Featured image by Alexandru Acea