Is my TV 120fps?

Hey there! With the latest game consoles supporting higher frame rates, you may be wondering if your TV can take advantage of faster refresh rates like 120Hz and display 120fps gameplay. It‘s a great question, let‘s take a deep dive!

What Does 120Hz Mean?

The 120 refers to the refresh rate – how many times per second the TV updates to show a new image. Standard TVs have traditionally had 60Hz refresh rates.

A 120Hz panel refreshes twice as often at 120 frames per second. According to the Consumer Technology Association, this results in a much smoother picture, reduced motion blur, and an overall more responsive image.

This makes 120Hz ideal for fast on-screen motion like sports, video games, and action films. It minimizes the blurring you sometimes see on 60Hz TVs during quickly changing visuals.

Check Your TV‘s Spec Sheet

The quickest way to tell if your television supports 120Hz is to check the official specs or manual from the manufacturer.

You‘re looking for confirmation that your model has a "native 120Hz refresh rate" or "120Hz panel". This indicates the display itself is capable of a 120Hz refresh rate, not just motion enhancement features.

According to the HDMI org, over 75% of all 4K TVs shipped in 2022 have native 120Hz or greater panels. So there‘s a good chance your newer 4K TV supports it!

Test 120fps Gameplay

If you have a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, connect it to your TV and try launching a game that supports 120fps modes like Call of Duty, Halo Infinite, Dirt 5, or Destiny 2.

Go into the game‘s video settings and look for an option to enable "120Hz" or "120fps". If you can turn this on, your TV is able to display the higher 120fps signal from your console.

You‘ll immediately notice faster response times and silky smooth animation at 120fps. It‘s a night and day difference from 60fps!

Use Refresh Rate Testing Tools

Sites like TestUFO.com and the UFO Frame Rate app provide animations at different frame rates to test your TV.

Connect a computer or tablet to your TV‘s HDMI and open one of these tools. If you can see the 120fps animation smoothly, your TV supports that refresh rate.

These tools eliminate any guesswork and directly show you what rates your display can handle.

Ensure You Have HDMI 2.0

According to HDMI.org, your TV must have HDMI 2.0 ports to enable 4K 120Hz signals from gaming devices.

Take a look on the back of your TV to check what HDMI version it uses – you‘re looking for "HDMI 2.0" or newer on at least one port. HDMI 1.4 can only do 4K at 30fps.

Most 4K TVs meet this requirement, but always good to double check before upgrading your console or cables for 120fps.

Do You Need HDMI 2.1?

HDMI 2.1 is the latest HDMI specification – it can theoretically support up to 10K 120Hz!

But you don‘t necessarily need HDMI 2.1 ports on your TV. According to CNET, HDMI 2.0 ports can also handle 4K 120Hz just fine for gaming.

So if your TV has HDMI 2.0, you should still be able to take advantage of PS5/Xbox Series X at 120fps. HDMI 2.1 provides extra bandwidth headroom but HDMI 2.0 gets the job done.

Get a High Speed HDMI Cable

To unlock 4K 120Hz, PS5 and Xbox require an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable (also called HDMI 2.1).

Older HDMI cables like 1.4 and 2.0 are limited to 4K 60Hz. So grab an Ultra High Speed HDMI 2.1 cable to enable 4K 120fps from your console to compatible TVs. It‘s a cheap upgrade that unlocks the full potential!

What is VRR?

VRR or variable refresh rate synchronizes your TV‘s refresh rate to the frames being rendered by your game console or PC in real-time.

Rather than being locked to 120Hz, VRR allows your display to dynamically adjust between 100fps, 90fps, etc based on the actual output of your device.

According to Digital Trends, this prevents screen tearing and other display issues when frame rates fluctuate. VRR requires HDMI 2.1 or AMD FreeSync. If your TV supports VRR, it tells you it‘s ready for gaming up to 120fps and beyond!

Check Your Input Lag

Input lag refers to the time delay between pressing a button on your game controller and seeing the result on screen.

For the optimal 120fps gaming experience, your TV should have low input lag – ideally 15ms or less according to RTings. Higher input lag will negate some of the responsiveness benefits of 120Hz.

So check your model‘s input lag specs. Under 20ms is great, under 15ms is ideal for fast-paced competitive multiplayer. This ensures your display can keep up with the speed at 120fps.

Do All Games Support 120fps?

It‘s important to note that even on 120Hz TVs, games themselves must be programmed to support high frame rate modes.

According to Digital Foundry, relatively few PS5/Xbox titles support 120fps so far. Examples include CoD, Halo, Dirt 5, Tony Hawk, and some retro arcade collections. More 120fps games are coming.

So research forums/lists to confirm which games support 120fps on your console. Both the TV and game itself need 120Hz capabilities.

Is 120Hz Beneficial for Movies and TV?

For most movie and television viewing from streaming/broadcast sources, a 120Hz refresh rate provides minimal benefit over 60Hz.

Since films and videos are typically 24fps or 30fps, a 60Hz display is sufficient in most cases. Sports and live events are the main exceptions where 120Hz shines.

According to CNET, the biggest 120Hz advantages come with gaming, VR, and live sports where frame rates go above 60fps. For 24fps movie content, it‘s not as impactful.

Do I Need a 120Hz TV for PS5/Xbox Series X?

A 120Hz TV is recommended to fully maximize your next-gen PS5 or Xbox Series X console. This will allow you to enable 120fps modes in supported games for incredibly smooth gameplay.

That said, Tech Radar notes both consoles will still work fine and support 4K 60fps gaming on 60Hz TVs. So a 120Hz TV is ideal for the best experience, but not absolutely necessary.

There are also techniques like VRR to improve sub-120fps gaming on 60Hz displays. But native 120Hz provides the most benefit for fast motion.

The Bottom Line

To recap, here are some key facts on figuring out if your TV supports 120fps gaming:

• Check official specs for "native 120Hz" – 120Hz motion rate is different
• Try a 120fps game on Xbox/PS5 – visible smoothness improvements
• Use TestUFO to directly verify 120Hz capability
• Need HDMI 2.0 ports and Ultra High Speed cable for 4K 120Hz
• Low input lag under 15ms prevents delay negating 120fps benefits
• Not all games support 120fps yet – research title compatibility
• Ideal for gaming and sports, less impact for 24fps movie content

I hope these tips help explain the ins and outs of 120Hz TVs! Let me know if you need any clarification or have additional questions. Happy gaming!