Refresh rate explained: 60Hz vs 90Hz vs 120Hz vs 144Hz

What the number measures

Refresh rate, measured in hertz (Hz), is how many times per second a screen redraws the image. 60Hz means 60 redraws a second; 120Hz means 120. The higher it is, the smoother motion looks (scrolling, animations, fast games), because the picture updates more often and each frame stays on screen for less time.

Frame rate is a different thing. That's how many frames the device produces, while refresh rate is how many the screen can show. A screen can only display as many frames as its refresh rate allows, so a 60Hz panel caps you at 60 fps no matter how powerful the hardware.

Can you see the difference?

Yes, up to a point. Going from 60Hz to 90Hz or 120Hz is easy to notice: scrolling and animations look markedly smoother, and most people spot it instantly. Past 120Hz the returns shrink fast. 144Hz and higher mainly help competitive gamers, who benefit from the lower latency, rather than everyday users.

For video it barely matters. Films and most streaming run at 24–60 fps, so a refresh rate above 60Hz adds little to a movie. You feel the benefit when scrolling, gaming or watching animations, not during playback.

Which to pick

For a phone or an all-round monitor, 120Hz is the sweet spot. It's smooth, widely available, and cheap in both price and battery. 90Hz is a fine middle ground on lower-cost phones. Save 144Hz and above for a dedicated PC gaming monitor, where a fast GPU can actually push those frames. One rule applies throughout: a high refresh rate only helps if the device can produce enough frames to use it.