When do i need 120hz

Most new TVs support Hz though, so you should focus on other important TV specifications as well, such as the panel type, response time speed, input lag, etc. This is referred to as motion smoothing or framerate interpolation , which you can learn more about here.

And since that makes for the majority of content, many find Hz unnecessary for TVs. Alternatively, an exception to this would be watching native 24 FPS content from a media source such as Blu-ray. Think about it: because the source feeds the display 24 frames per second, a 60Hz TV has to alternate between adding 3 and 2 frames in-between those 24 FPS in order to produce the picture. On the other hand, a Hz TV adds 5 frames in-between those 24 frames per second pulldown , which offers a smoother viewing experience, since the number of frames added is always the same.

All in all, if you have or plan on getting a gaming PC or a console that supports Hz, you should definitely get a Hz TV as it makes for a more responsive and immersive gaming experience. Buying a new TV can be pretty confusing, but it shouldn't hurts.

Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission. If you're shopping for a new TV, chances are after you figure out everything you need to know about the different brands, price points, and high-level tech specs, you might encounter something called refresh rate, usually described in hertz Hz. While every TV's panel has a native refresh rate either 60 or Hz , this spec is one of the most misrepresented where TV tech is concerned—even more so than contrast!

For instance, you might see claims of a Hz refresh rate on TVs. Or something called "clear motion index" or "clear motion rate" claiming , , or—mic drop— Hz, but make no mistake, every TV on the market in is either 60 Hz or Hz natively, though they might use " motion smoothing " settings to extrapolate those higher numbers. But still, you are left with a choice between 60 Hz and Hz. What do they mean, and why would you need one over the other?

Here's the scoop. Fortunately, the difference between 60 Hz and Hz is pretty simple. In the case of television refresh rates, "Hz" just means "refresh cycles per second.

So a refresh rate of 60 Hz means the screen re-samples or re-displays source information 60 times per second. And with Hz, it's twice as often. Pretty simple, right? Right now, TVs are only available in standard 60 Hz or Hz refresh rates.

Most other listings are extrapolated. Just keep in mind that regardless of the TV's refresh rate, it can't create more information than the source is displaying. This is a key detail in determining whether or not you need a Hz TV, or can settle for a 60 Hz option.

If you just want the most high tech TV money can buy, a Hz option is never going to do a worse job than a 60 Hz option. Sure, it isn't twice as good just because it's twice as fast, but logically it won't ever miss any source information that a 60 Hz variant wouldn't.

In the early 20th century, cinema experts decided that 24 frames per second—also called 24fps or 24p—was the minimum necessary amount of frames to convince human beings that they were seeing moving pictures. Far from outdated, many of today's Blu-ray discs still default to 24 frames per second to preserve the filmic aesthetic you'll get at the movies.

To combat this, many modern 60 Hz TVs use a telecine technique called " pulldown," where frames are doubled in alternating sequences in order to "meet up" with the locked 60 Hz display speed. Unfortunately, pulldown usually results in a motion artifact called "judder," where in-motion sequences during playback have a stuttering or skipping effect. While many modern 60 Hz TVs do pulldown so successfully that you'll never notice the tiny amount of judder, you can save yourself the trouble by purchasing a Hz TV instead.

Since refreshes per second can allocate a smooth ratio for 24fps content, Hz TVs can handle native 24fps content without judder. Complicated mathematics aside, whether you need a Hz TV or not really comes down to content. You might think, "I definitely want to be able to watch native 24p content!

No way am I getting a 60 Hz TV," but it's less of a discrepancy than it seems at first glance. While you'll want a Hz TV to enjoy "filmic" Blu-ray content with the least amount of fuss, most other kinds of content work with either.

Broadcast television in the U.