Is 1080p60 better than 1080p?

Hey there! As a streaming and gaming enthusiast, I get asked this question a lot. Let‘s take an in-depth look at 1080p versus 1080p60.

What Do 1080p and 1080p60 Mean?

First, a quick primer on what these terms mean:

• 1080p refers to a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels (full HD)
• The 60 in 1080p60 refers to the frame rate of 60 frames per second (fps)

So 1080p is a resolution standard, while the 60fps describes how many images are displayed each second to create the illusion of smooth, fluid motion.

Higher frame rates mean less "motion blur" – the blurring that occurs when fast movement is captured. So 1080p60 video will look sharper, especially for fast action.

Why High Frame Rates Matter for Gaming

As a competitive FPS gamer, high frame rates are essential for improving my reactions and accuracy. At 60fps, I experience less input lag between my controls and on-screen actions. Gameplay feels super responsive!

Studies show expert FPS players perform up to 26% better with framerates above 60fps compared to 30fps. Those extra frames provide vital visual cues that aid in targeting.

Pro esports tournaments now take place at blistering 120fps or 240fps. But even just bumping up to 1080p60 from 30fps gives a noticeable competitiveness boost.

How Frame Rate Affects Video Quality

Based on research by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), the human eye stops noticing significant improvements in motion smoothness above 60fps.

So while 120fps looks slightly smoother than 60fps, the gains are marginal. On the other hand, the jump from 30fps to 60fps is immediately obvious, especially in gaming where responsiveness is vital.

Credit: SMPTE

File Size and Bandwidth Requirements

Due to the extra data involved, 1080p60 video takes up a ton more storage space and internet bandwidth versus 30fps:

So 1080p60 has over twice the storage demands and requires twice the internet speeds. This is the main downside – not everyone has the bandwidth to stream or download 60fps video.

But as 100Mbps+ internet connections become more common, 1080p60 is becoming viable for more households.

When to Use 1080p60?

Through my tech experiments and research, I generally recommend 1080p60 for:

• Gaming – especially competitive online multiplayer titles
• Live sports and action-packed content
• Hardware reviews that showcase responsiveness
• High-motion scenarios like drones or cars
• Future-proofing video libraries

The smoother motion and hyper-realistic look of 60fps shines in these active use cases.

Meanwhile, cinematic films and shows often intentionally use 24fps or 30fps for an immersive, "movie look". Slower-paced videos also won‘t benefit as much from 60fps.

Playback Device Considerations

Your playback device needs sufficient horsepower to handle 60fps high-bitrate video. Here are some minimum specs I recommend:

Gaming Consoles

• PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X

Desktops/Laptops

• Nvidia GTX 1060 or AMD RX 580 graphics card
• Intel i5 processor
• 8GB RAM

Smart TVs

• Newer 2021/2022 4K TVs with 120Hz refresh rate
• Avoid entry-level 1080p TVs

Older devices may struggle with 60fps playback, causing choppiness or buffering. So consider your tech before recording or viewing at 60fps.

Producing 1080p60 Content

On the creation side, 1080p60 places greater demands on your gear. To smoothly capture and edit 60fps footage, you‘ll benefit from:

• Cameras with 60fps recording modes
• Fast SSD storage and GPU acceleration
• Powerful video editing software like Adobe Premiere

Streaming at 60fps also requires a higher bitrate from your encoder. I recommend 6000 Kbps minimum if your internet can support it.

So there are extra production considerations compared to 30fps. But the results can be worth it!

The Verdict?

While 1080p60 requires more bandwidth and hardware power, for gaming and action videos the visual benefits are hard to overstate. The boost in responsiveness and realism pulls you into the experience unlike anything else.

That said, be sure to tailor your frame rate to the video content. Cinematic movies or talking head vlogs won‘t benefit as much from 60fps.

I hope this deep dive has helped explain 1080p versus 1080p60. Let me know if you have any other tech questions!