Refresh rate is how many times per second your screen redraws the picture, measured in hertz (Hz). A 60 Hz screen updates 60 times a second; a 144 Hz screen 144 times. The more updates, the smoother fast movement looks.
What you'll encounter
- 60 Hz — the everyday standard. Perfectly fine for office work, browsing, and watching films.
- 75–120 Hz — a step up; phones and some monitors use these.
- 144 Hz and above — the gaming standard for smooth, responsive visuals.
The catch
A high refresh rate only helps if your graphics card can actually produce that many frames. If your GPU only manages 60 fps, a 144 Hz monitor will show 60 — you'll just be paying for unused headroom. Match the monitor to the hardware you have.
Do you need it?
- Everyday / office / media: 60 Hz is completely adequate.
- Gaming: 120–144 Hz is a genuine, visible improvement — worth it if your GPU can keep up.
- Fast panning / video editing: a higher rate makes scrubbing and panning feel smoother.
Don't pay for 144 Hz if you'll only do office work — 60 Hz is fine, and the saved money is better spent on a bigger, sharper panel.