Refresh rate explained: what Hz means
60, 144, 240 or 360 Hz: what the number measures, the milliseconds behind it, and which of our screens reach each step.
By Offerove Editorial TeamUpdated 2 min readResearch-based, not hands-on
Some links earn us a commission.
Refresh rate is how many times per second a screen redraws its image, measured in hertz (Hz). A 144 Hz monitor redraws 144 times a second, about once every 6.9 ms. Higher rates look smoother in motion, but only when your PC or console sends enough frames per second to fill them.
Refresh rate is the biggest number on most gaming monitors. It is useful, but only when the rest of your setup can keep up.
Here is what it measures, the milliseconds behind each step, and which of our screens reach them. Specs are from each maker’s official page, as of November 2026.
What is refresh rate?
Short answer: refresh rate is how many times per second a display redraws its image, measured in hertz (Hz). ViewSonic notes that the monitor sets it, not the graphics card. Your frame rate, in frames per second (fps), comes from the game, CPU and GPU.
Divide 1,000 by the refresh rate to get the time between redraws:
| Refresh rate | Time between redraws |
|---|---|
| 60 Hz | 16.7 ms |
| 120 Hz | 8.3 ms |
| 144 Hz | 6.9 ms |
| 180 Hz | 5.6 ms |
| 240 Hz | 4.2 ms |
| 360 Hz | 2.8 ms |
Going from 60 to 144 Hz cuts the gap by 9.8 ms. Going from 240 to 360 Hz cuts it by only 1.4 ms. The big jumps happen early.
Why frame rate decides what you see
Short answer: a screen can only show the frames it gets. Samsung’s guide puts it plainly: a GPU stuck near 60 fps won’t get the full benefit of a 144 Hz monitor. Match the screen to what your hardware can actually deliver.
When frame rate and refresh rate drift apart, you can get screen tearing. Variable refresh rate fixes that by letting the monitor follow the GPU.
VESA’s AdaptiveSync logo tests this. Its gaming tier requires a maximum of at least 144 Hz and a minimum of 60 Hz or lower. Our Alienware AW2725DF and ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS list VESA AdaptiveSync support.
Refresh rate is a ceiling. The smoothness you get is set by whichever is lower: your Hz or your fps.
Our screens by refresh rate
Short answer: our gaming monitors run from 165 to 360 Hz. Our laptops and handhelds sit between 60 and 165 Hz, so check the laptop spec too if you game on the built-in screen.
- 360 Hz: Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 and the Alienware AW2725DF, both 1440p OLED.
- 240 Hz: LG UltraGear 27GS95QE, 1440p OLED.
- 165 to 180 Hz: AOC Q27G4X, the ROG Strix XG27ACS, LG UltraGear 27GR75Q, and the Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 10 laptop at 165 Hz.
- 144 Hz: Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen 10.
- 120 Hz: ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14, MacBook Pro 14 (M5), Nintendo Switch 2 and the 4K Dell S2725QC.
- 90 Hz: Steam Deck OLED.
- 60 Hz: Framework Laptop 13.
New to resolution too? Read what is 1440p and response time explained. For picks, see best monitors for PS5 and PC.
The picks, side by side
| Product | Refresh rate | Resolution | Panel | Spec score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 (G60SD) 27 in | 360 Hz | 2560 x 1440 | OLED | 7.4 |
| Alienware 27 360Hz QD-OLED Gaming Monitor (AW2725DF) | 360 Hz | 2560 x 1440 | QD-OLED | 8.0 |
| LG UltraGear 27GS95QE | 240 Hz | 2560 x 1440 | OLED | 6.8 |
| AOC Q27G4X | 180 Hz | 2560 x 1440 | Fast IPS | 6.8 |
| ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS | 180 Hz | 2560 x 1440 | Fast IPS | 6.5 |
| LG UltraGear 27GR75Q | 165 Hz | 2560 x 1440 | IPS | 6.2 |
| Dell 27 Plus 4K USB-C Monitor (S2725QC) | 120 Hz | 3840 x 2160 | IPS | 6.5 |
| Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 10 15-inch (83F00009US, Core Ultra 7 255HX, RTX 5060) | 165 Hz | 2560x1600 | OLED, 100% DCI-P3, DisplayHDR True Black 600 | 7.7 |
| Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen 10 (83JE000NUS, Core i7-14700HX, RTX 5060) | 144 Hz | 1920x1080 | IPS, anti-glare, 100% sRGB, G-Sync | 6.7 |
| ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025) (GA403UP-CS96, Ryzen 9 270, RTX 5070, 32 GB, 1 TB) | 120 Hz | 2880x1800 | OLED, 16:10, 100% DCI-P3, Pantone Validated | 8.4 |
| Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5, 16 GB, 512 GB) | 120 Hz | 3024x1964 | Liquid Retina XDR, ProMotion | 7.3 |
| Framework Laptop 13 (Ryzen AI 300, Base: Ryzen AI 5 340, 16 GB, 256 GB) | 60 Hz | 2256x1504 | 3:2, 100% sRGB, matte anti-glare | 6.3 |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | 120 Hz | Not listed | Not listed | n/a |
| Steam Deck OLED (512 GB) | 90 Hz | Not listed | Not listed | n/a |
Specs from each maker's official page, checked Nov 8, 2026. Spec score formula: methodology.
How we chose
We explain refresh rate using ViewSonic's and Samsung's official monitor guides and VESA's AdaptiveSync standard, then list the screens in our catalog whose maker states a refresh rate. Frame times are our own arithmetic. Research-based, not tested in person. Our methodology.
FAQ
Is refresh rate the same as frame rate?
No, refresh rate comes from the screen, while frame rate comes from your CPU, GPU and the game, as ViewSonic explains.
Is 144 Hz enough for gaming?
Samsung recommends 144 Hz or higher for gaming, and every gaming monitor in our list reaches at least 165 Hz.
What does a number on a VESA AdaptiveSync logo mean?
VESA says it shows the highest frame rate the display reached for Adaptive-Sync in factory settings at native resolution.
Do I need a 360 Hz monitor?
Only if your PC can push frame rates near 360 in the games you play, since extra refreshes without new frames show nothing new.
Sources
- ViewSonic: Frame rate vs refresh rate, what's the difference? (opens in a new tab)
- VESA: Open standard and logo program for variable refresh rate performance (AdaptiveSync and MediaSync) (opens in a new tab)
- Samsung: What is resolution and why it matters for your monitor (opens in a new tab)
- Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 (G60SD) 27 in: Samsung official specs (opens in a new tab)
- Alienware 27 360Hz QD-OLED Gaming Monitor (AW2725DF): Alienware official specs (opens in a new tab)
- LG UltraGear 27GS95QE: LG official specs (opens in a new tab)
- AOC Q27G4X: AOC official specs (opens in a new tab)
- ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS: ASUS official specs (opens in a new tab)
- LG UltraGear 27GR75Q: LG official specs (opens in a new tab)
- Dell 27 Plus 4K USB-C Monitor (S2725QC): Dell official specs (opens in a new tab)
- Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 10 15-inch (83F00009US, Core Ultra 7 255HX, RTX 5060): Lenovo official specs (opens in a new tab)
- Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen 10 (83JE000NUS, Core i7-14700HX, RTX 5060): Lenovo official specs (opens in a new tab)
- ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025) (GA403UP-CS96, Ryzen 9 270, RTX 5070, 32 GB, 1 TB): ASUS official specs (opens in a new tab)
- Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5, 16 GB, 512 GB): Apple official specs (opens in a new tab)
- Framework Laptop 13 (Ryzen AI 300, Base: Ryzen AI 5 340, 16 GB, 256 GB): Framework official specs (opens in a new tab)
- Nintendo Switch 2: Nintendo official specs (opens in a new tab)
- Steam Deck OLED (512 GB): Valve official specs (opens in a new tab)
Related
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