Is it worth getting a 120Hz TV for PS5?
Hey there! So you just got your hands on the powerful new PS5 console and are wondering – should you also upgrade your television to a new 120Hz display to match the PS5‘s super-fast capabilities? I‘m here to give you a detailed guide on why I strongly recommend a 120Hz TV to take your PS5 gaming experience to the next level!
## What Does 120Hz Mean on a TV?
Most televisions people have are native 60Hz, meaning they refresh the image on the screen 60 times per second. This allows them to display video content and games smoothly up to 60 frames per second (fps) without motion artifacts.
A 120Hz TV doubles the refresh rate to 120 cycles per second. This allows up to 120fps gaming for substantially smoother motion clarity. The higher the refresh rate, the lower the input lag as well since new frames appear faster.
It‘s crucial your TV‘s refresh rate matches the frame rate output of your console to prevent stuttering and screen tearing. The PS5 can pump out up to 120fps in supported games so a 120Hz screen is the perfect fit to take advantage of this.
## Why High Frame Rates Matter for Super Responsive PS5 Gaming
Higher frame rates enabled by high refresh rate displays lead to a markedly improved gaming experience. Here‘s why:
– More fluid, lifelike visuals – High motion scenes don‘t blur together as badly. You can better track fast-moving objects.
– Lower input lag – At 120fps on a 120Hz screen, input lag drops to imperceptible levels for instant response to your controls.
– Reduced motion blur – The faster refresh rate and frame rate minimizes blurring, especially in action scenes.
– Smooth camera pans – Scenes pan and rotate more fluidly rather than in a jerky, staggered fashion.
– More precision and accuracy – That reduced motion blur and lower lag gives you enhanced aiming precision and timing accuracy.
– Less chance of stuttering or freezing – The extra performance headroom at 120fps prevents drops below 60fps that can cause temporary lockups.
– Faster pixel response – Pixels can transition colors faster to keep up with the faster refresh rate. Reduced ghosting/smearing around objects.
High frame rates lead to a very responsive and buttery-smooth experience that gives a real competitive edge. Motion just looks and feels markedly more fluid vs 60Hz gaming.
## Requirements for 4K 120Hz Gaming on PS5
To enjoy cutting-edge 4K high frame rate gaming on your new PS5 console, a few requirements need to be met:
– The game itself needs to offer a 120fps mode or performance setting. An increasing number of new PS5 titles now support up to 120fps.
– You need an Ultra High Speed HDMI 2.1 certified cable. This provides the 48Gbps bandwidth for 4K 120Hz support. Don‘t waste money on overpriced "8K" cables – "Ultra High Speed" is the specification that matters.
– Your TV must have HDMI 2.1 ports and a native 120Hz panel. Many new 2021 and 2022 models meet these specifications.
Matching the frame rate to the display refresh rate is crucial – the PS5 can only push its frame rate up to the display‘s limits. So you need a panel that can do 4K and 120Hz together.
## How 120Hz Dramatically Improves Motion Clarity and Responsiveness
Let‘s dig into why that higher 120Hz refresh rate makes such a big difference compared to standard 60Hz televisions when it comes to motion resolution, responsiveness and input lag:
– **Faster refresh cycle** – 120Hz refreshes twice as often as 60Hz, so new frames appear twice as frequently. Objects move across the screen smoother with less time for each frame.
– **Lower persistence** – Each frame persists for less time before being replaced. This reduces perceived motion blur significantly.
– **Faster pixel response** – To keep up, pixels can transition colors faster. This decreases smearing and ghosting effects caused by pixel lag.
– **New frames rendered faster** – The PS5 outputs new frames up to twice as fast, fully utilizing the display‘s capabilities.
– **Lower input lag** – At 120fps on a good 120Hz TV, controller input lag can be slashed from 20-40ms down to less than 10ms. That‘s a massive boost in responsiveness.
The combination of the above leads to a *huge* difference in motion resolution, clarity and controller response compared to 60Hz. Fast motion stays crisp and clear rather than becoming a blurred mess.
## Larger Screen Sizes Show the 120Hz Benefits Best
Bigger screen sizes will best leverage the visual enhancements from higher frame rates. A 65-inch, 75-inch or larger 120Hz TV coupled with your PS5 will deliver an incredibly immersive big-screen gaming experience:
– Larger screens display the extra smoothness and motion clarity more impactfully. It‘s much more noticeable.
– You can better appreciate the extra responsiveness and lack of input lag on a big screen where precision matters more.
– Sitting closer to a large high refresh rate screen increases the sense of immersion into the game world.
– OLED TVs especially shine as large 120Hz displays thanks to their virtually instantaneous pixel response times and stunning picture quality.
Of course, not everyone has space for a massive TV. But know that going 55-inches or bigger provides a more cinematic, engrossing showcase for the PS5‘s 120fps capabilities.
## Great 120Hz TVs for PS5 at Different Price Points
The good news is you can enjoy the fantastic motion clarity and lag benefits of 120Hz gaming even on lower budgets. Here are some of the top-rated models to consider across a range of prices:
**Budget 120Hz TVs Under $700**
– TCL 6-Series – Incredible performance and features for the price. Great contrast, low lag, and mini-LED backlighting.
– Hisense U7H – Punches way above its weight with impressive gaming optimizations out of the box. Excellent value.
– Vizio M7 Series – Reliable mid-range offerings with smooth gaming performance at a reasonable price point.
**Mid-Range 120Hz TVs Under $1500**
– Sony X90K – Sony‘s fantastic full-array local dimming LCD TV with their renowned motion handling.
– Samsung QN90B Neo QLED – Mini-LED backlight and quantum dot color produce gorgeous contrast and HDR, paired with gaming-ready speed.
– LG QNED80 – Bright mini-LED LCD models with 120Hz and VRR. Strong gaming features for the price.
**High-End 120Hz TVs Over $2000**
– LG G2 OLED – LG‘s latest and greatest OLED TV with blazing response times and every gaming bell & whistle.
– Sony A95K QD-OLED – Combines OLED-level contrast with high brightness. Cutting-edge and expensive!
– Samsung S95B OLED – Samsung‘s first OLED TV with 144Hz refresh rate and ultra-fast response.
## Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) Support for Tear-Free Gaming
VRR or Variable Refresh Rate is an important feature that eliminates stuttering and screen tearing for buttery-smooth gameplay.
VRR synchronizes the TV‘s refresh rate to the variable frame rate output of the PS5‘s graphics processor on the fly. This prevents tearing that occurs when frame rates fluctuate or fall below the display‘s max refresh rate.
The PS5 supports VRR, which is also available on a growing number of 120Hz TV models. This gives you a super smooth experience even in demanding games and scenes where the frame rate will dynamically vary.
## How a 120Hz Refresh Rate Improves 60fps Games Too
You may be wondering – if many games max out at 60fps, will a 120Hz television still provide any benefit? The answer is yes, absolutely. Here are some ways you‘ll see improvements even at 60fps:
– Motion clarity is enhanced – fast movement will look more crisp and clear on the faster display.
– Input lag is reduced – 120Hz screens aimed at gaming have very fast response times. Expect lower lag with 60fps games too.
– Screen tearing is diminished – the extra headroom helps when frame rates fluctuate right around 60fps.
– VRR support helps maintain smoother, more stable frame rates.
While you won‘t get the full benefit without 120fps, 120Hz delivers a great experience for 60fps PS5 gaming as well. And gives your TV longevity to handle future games.
## Why Many New TVs Still Have 60Hz Panels
Despite the numerous visual and gaming benefits of 120Hz I‘ve outlined, the majority of televisions you‘ll find are still native 60Hz models even in 2022. There are a few reasons for this:
– **Higher production cost** – 120Hz panels are more expensive for manufacturers to produce than 60Hz displays. This adds to retail pricing.
– **4K 120fps gaming is still emerging** – While gaining traction, only the newest consoles so far can push above 60fps at high resolutions reliably.
– **Most content is still 60fps** – From streaming media to Blu-rays, 60fps remains the standard frame rate in movies, TV, and games currently.
– **Console generational leaps** – It takes time for developers to adapt and implement higher frame rates after new hardware launches.
That said, support for 120Hz gaming is accelerating with the PS5 and Xbox Series X capabilities. There are affordable 120Hz TV options, so why not future-proof?
## In Conclusion – 120Hz Strongly Advised for PS5 Owners
So in summary, if you‘re a proud new PS5 owner, I strongly encourage you to upgrade to a compatible 120Hz television to unlock the system‘s full gaming potential. The incredibly smooth 120fps gameplay and insanely fast response the PS5 is capable of delivers a pretty mind-blowing experience on a good 120Hz TV!
It may require a premium over 60Hz sets, but the fluidity, lack of motion blur, and crisp responsiveness 120Hz enables is a complete game-changer visually and for competitive gameplay. This is *the* way next-gen gaming is meant to be seen and felt.
The difference between 60Hz and 120Hz is not subtle – it‘s transformative once you experience it. Thankfully, there are great 120Hz TV options across various price points and screen sizes to fit different budgets and room sizes. I assure you the investment will be well worth taking your PS5 games to the next level!
