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High Refresh Rate & Low Response Time Monitors: What Are the Benefits?

Answers to the things customers ask most. Search for a keyword, or browse the list below to jump to your answer.

PRISM+ Support teamUpdated 2 May 2026

A monitor with a high refresh rate and low response time can provide smoother motion, improved responsiveness, and a better overall viewing experience.

These features are especially beneficial for gaming, sports, fast-paced content, and everyday tasks such as scrolling and multitasking.

Understanding Refresh Rate

Refresh rate refers to how many times a monitor updates the image on screen each second and is measured in Hertz (Hz).

Refresh Rate

Screen Updates Per Second

60Hz

60 times

120Hz

120 times

144Hz

144 times

240Hz

240 times

A higher refresh rate allows motion to appear smoother because the monitor can display more frames every second.

Example

A 144Hz monitor can display more than twice as many frames per second as a 60Hz monitor, provided your device and graphics card can generate those frames.

 

Benefits of a High Refresh Rate

Smoother Motion

Fast-moving scenes appear more fluid and natural.

This is particularly noticeable when:

  • Gaming
  • Watching sports
  • Viewing action movies
  • Scrolling through webpages

Understanding Response Time

Response time measures how quickly a pixel can change from one colour to another.

It is measured in milliseconds (ms).

A lower response time means pixels transition faster, helping maintain image clarity during motion.

Response Time

Performance

1ms

Excellent

2–5ms

Very Good

6ms and above

Suitable for general use

 

Refresh Rate vs Response Time

Many customers assume they are the same thing, but they serve different purposes.

Feature

What It Does

Refresh Rate

Determines how often the image updates

Response Time

Determines how quickly pixels change colour

The Best Experience Requires Both

  • A high refresh rate creates smoother motion.
  • A low response time keeps each frame sharp and clear.

Together, they provide a fast, fluid, and responsive viewing experience.

Who Benefits Most?

User Type

Benefit

Competitive Gamers

Faster reactions and smoother gameplay

Casual Gamers

More immersive and enjoyable gaming experience

Sports Fans

Smoother motion during fast-moving scenes

Content Creators

Improved playback smoothness when editing videos

Everyday Users

Smoother scrolling and desktop navigation

 

What Refresh Rate Should I Choose?

Usage

Recommended Refresh Rate

General Office Use

60Hz – 75Hz

Casual Gaming

120Hz – 144Hz

Competitive Gaming

144Hz – 240Hz+

Professional Esports

240Hz+

 

Pro Tip!

For gaming enthusiasts, a monitor with a refresh rate of 144Hz or higher combined with a 1ms response time provides an excellent balance of smooth motion, responsiveness, and visual clarity.

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