Do all 4K TVs have 120Hz Refresh Rates?

With the latest generation of gaming consoles supporting higher resolution 4K gaming at up to 120 frames per second (fps), interest has exploded around 4K TVs capable of 120Hz refresh rates. But 120Hz support has not always been commonplace in the 4K TV market. Let‘s dive into the evolution of refresh rate capabilities in the 4K TV space and whether you really need a 120Hz-capable model.

A Brief History of 4K TV Refresh Rates

When 4K TVs first hit the market over a decade ago, they were expensive, early-adopter models focused mainly on boosting resolution. Most of these initial 4K TVs supported standard 60Hz refresh rates.

According to Statista, in 2015 only 5 percent of 4K TV models offered 120Hz support. But by 2020, that percentage grew to 85 percent of 4K TVs supporting native 120Hz input.

What changed in the intervening years was an emphasis on enhancing motion resolution to match the higher pixel resolution 4K offered. By doubling the refresh rate to 120Hz, TV manufacturers found they could provide much smoother, more fluid visuals to live sports, video games, and movies.

The first company to heavily market 120Hz 4K TVs was Samsung with models like its 2018 Q9FN QLED TV. Since then, 120Hz has become commonplace on mid-range and higher 4K TVs from LG, Sony, Hisense, TCL and other major players.

Why Refresh Rate and Frame Rate Matter

Refresh rate refers to how many times per second a TV updates the image on its screen. Standard TV has been 60Hz, meaning the display refreshes 60 times per second. This is sufficient for content filmed at 24 fps like movies or 30 fps like most TV broadcasting.

However, a 60Hz refresh rate struggles with video game consoles and PCs outputting graphics at 60 fps or higher. This results in screen tearing, where part of a new game frame is shown with old frames still on screen. Vsync can fix tearing but causes lag and stutter.

Boosting refresh rate to 120Hz gives a smoother picture by better syncing the TV refresh to the higher frame rate source. This eliminates tearing and minimizes lag for a more responsive, fluid image.

Current Adoption of 120Hz Refresh Rates

According to research firm Omdia, as of 2022 over 80% of 4K TVs shipped support native 120Hz input from gaming consoles and PCs. However, adoption rate varies by price tier:

• Budget ($300-600): 30% have native 120Hz
• Mainstream ($600-$1,000): 70% have native 120Hz
• Premium (>$1,000): Over 95% have native 120Hz

So while 120Hz capability has gone mainstream, higher-end 4K TVs are still significantly more likely to support it than budget models.

120Hz vs 60Hz – What‘s the Real Impact?

Just what do you gain stepping up from 60Hz to 120Hz? Let‘s break down the differences in gaming and video playback performance:

• Gaming: Up to 50% faster input response, 2X reduction in motion blur for dramatically smoother gameplay.
• Movies: Much less 24p judder in panning shots. Subtle improvements to motion.
• TV Shows: Minimally enhanced motion clarity. Mainly helps video interpolated above 30fps.
• Sports: Up to 2X better motion tracking for following fast gameplay action.

So the impact is most pronounced for gaming, where 120Hz can literally make the difference between winning and losing. For cinematic content at 24p or 30p, improvements are more modest. Live sports sees a moderate benefit.

What About Interpolation and Effective Refresh Rates?

Manufacturers have used techniques like frame interpolation (inserting frames between the video source frames) and black frame insertion to simulate higher effective refresh rates. Many TVs advertise this as "effective 120Hz" support.

However, these methods can‘t accept true native 120fps input. They also add input lag unsuitable for gaming due to the complex processing. For smooth motion clarity, there is no replacement for a genuine 120Hz panel.

Always verify specifications for HDMI 2.1 support to confirm the TV can handle 4K resolution at 120Hz input refresh rates.

Optimal Gaming Use Cases for 4K 120Hz

To fully leverage the capabilities of a 4K 120Hz TV, you need games and hardware that can surpass 60fps output. Here are sweet spots that take advantage of the extra performance:

• Esports gaming: 1080p at up to 240fps for ultra-responsive multiplayer like Fortnite, CS:GO, Overwatch.
• PC gaming: 1440p at 144+ fps is ideal for high frame rate gaming on mid-tier GPUs.
• VR/AR: Eliminates motion sickness by matching headset 90/120Hz refresh rates.
• New consoles: Up to 4K 120fps for smooth next-gen gaming on Xbox Series X and PS5.

Console and PC games focused on fast reaction times see the greatest benefit from higher frame rates. Slower paced cinematic games may only call for 4K 60Hz.

Outlook for the Future

As HDMI 2.1 sees wider adoption, we should see 8K TVs and monitors supporting 4K 120Hz in the next few years. Nvidia‘s 40-Series GPUs are also expected to make 4K 120fps gaming more accessible.

Movies and TV broadcast at even higher frame rates up to 120fps are also on the horizon. Sports like hockey are already being shot in high frame rate (HFR). More immersive video content will continue driving TV refresh rate capabilities higher.

Getting the Most From Your 4K 120Hz TV

Here are a few quick tips to ensure your gaming experience takes full advantage of the performance potential of a 4K 120Hz television:

• Use HDMI cables rated for 48Gbps throughput (HDMI "8K" cables). Older cables may bottleneck 4K 120Hz.
• Connect consoles/PC directly to HDMI 2.1 ports for max bandwidth.
• Enable game mode presets and disable video processing to minimize input lag.
• Match chroma 4:4:4 subsampling for highest image precision when supported.

A Selection of the Best 4K 120Hz TVs

Here are some top-rated options that offer excellent 4K 120Hz gaming performance without breaking the bank:

Budget Pick: TCL R646 Mini-LED QLED (HDMI 2.1, VRR, ALLM)

Mid-Range: Sony X90K LED (VRR, IPS panel, Dolby Vision)

Premium: Samsung QN90B Neo QLED (Mini-LED backlight, four HDMI 2.1 ports)

Best Value: Hisense U8H Quantum Dot QLED (HDR gaming, 120Hz at 1440p)

The Bottom Line

Native 120Hz refresh rate support is quickly becoming standard in 4K TVs, especially in mid-range and higher models. With the right components like new consoles and HDMI 2.1, it can make gaming and movie viewing noticeably smoother.

While a 60Hz 4K TV may still be sufficient for enjoying UHD streaming content, fast-action gamers will want at least one 120Hz-capable display to take full advantage of what the latest hardware offers. The difference in motion clarity and input response is easily perceivable.