What is refresh rate? 60Hz vs 120Hz
Refresh rate is how many times a second the TV redraws the whole picture. 60Hz means 60 times, 120Hz twice that. It makes a real difference to fast motion, sport and gaming, and almost none to films. Here is what it actually changes, and who should pay for more.
What refresh rate means
Hertz, shortened to Hz, is simply redraws per second. A 60Hz panel repaints the screen 60 times a second, a 120Hz panel 120 times. More redraws give the TV more chances to show a moving object in the right place, so fast motion looks smoother and blurs less. For a still picture or a slow scene it changes nothing, which is why refresh rate only matters for things that move quickly.
Where 120Hz actually helps
Two things benefit clearly. Fast sport, where the ball and the players stay sharper instead of smearing as they cross the screen. And gaming: A current console or PC running a game at 120 frames a second on a 120Hz TV feels noticeably smoother and more responsive under your hands. If either is a big part of your viewing, 120Hz earns its place. Our gaming settings and PS5 settings guides cover getting it running.
Where it makes no difference
Films and most TV shows are made at 24 or 30 frames a second. A 60Hz panel shows those perfectly, and a 120Hz panel has nothing extra to display, because the content simply was not made with more frames. The only way 120Hz changes a film is by inventing in-between frames, which is motion smoothing, the soap opera effect that makes films look like cheap video. Most people turn that off. So for a film-and-shows viewer, 120Hz is not the upgrade the box makes it sound.
Watch out for fake refresh numbers
This is where the shop gets slippery. Terms like Motion Rate 240, TruMotion, Clear Motion Index or Motionflow XR are marketing figures, not the panel's real refresh rate. They mix the true Hz with processing tricks to reach a bigger number. The only figures that mean real redraws are 60Hz and 120Hz, and 144Hz on some gaming sets. If a spec sheet only shouts a "Motion Rate", the actual panel may well be 60Hz.
So do you need 120Hz?
If you game on a recent console or PC, or watch a lot of fast sport, yes: It is a real, visible improvement. If you mostly watch films, dramas and everyday TV, a good 60Hz set is plenty, and the money is better spent on the things you will always see, such as a better panel type and proper HDR. To judge how your current TV handles movement, run the TV motion test.
Questions people ask
Is 120Hz worth it over 60Hz?
For gaming on a PS5, Xbox or PC, and for fast sport, yes: The motion is clearly smoother and games feel more responsive. For films and everyday TV it makes little difference, because that content is not made at 120 frames a second.
How do I know if my TV is really 120Hz?
Ignore marketing terms like Motion Rate or TruMotion; they are not the panel's refresh rate. Look for a native 120Hz or 144Hz panel in the specifications, or check whether the TV will accept a 120Hz signal from a PC or a games console.
Does 120Hz make movies look better?
Not on its own. Films are made at 24 frames a second, so a 60Hz TV already shows them correctly. The only way 120Hz changes a film is through motion smoothing, which adds the soap opera effect that many people dislike and turn off.
Count what your browser actually delivers with the refresh rate test, which is also honest that no web page can read the panel's own rate. See how your set handles movement with the TV motion test, set a console up right with the gaming settings guide, and switch off motion smoothing for films.