Television refresh rates are often presented as a simple contest: 120Hz must be better than 60Hz because the number is twice as large. The reality is more nuanced.
A higher native refresh rate can produce smoother movement, improve the presentation of sport and support high-frame-rate gaming. However, it cannot repair poor motion processing, create detail that is missing from the source or guarantee that a television has suitable gaming connections.
This guide explains what 60Hz, 100Hz and 120Hz mean, who benefits from a higher refresh rate and what Australians should verify before paying extra.
Quick answer: is 120Hz worth it?
A native 120Hz television is worth considering if you regularly watch fast sport, play compatible console or PC games at high frame rates, or want better flexibility when displaying films and different video formats.
A good 60Hz television can still be entirely suitable for news, free-to-air television, ordinary streaming, documentaries and casual viewing. Picture quality, brightness, contrast, processing and reliability may matter more than refresh rate for these uses.
| Refresh rate | Usually best suited to | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| 60Hz | Everyday streaming, free-to-air television, news and casual gaming | Cannot display more than 60 distinct frames each second |
| 100Hz or 120Hz | Fast sport, compatible high-frame-rate gaming and buyers wanting greater motion flexibility | Benefits depend on the source, processing, panel response and input support |
What does refresh rate mean?
Refresh rate describes how many times a display can update its image each second. It is measured in hertz, abbreviated as Hz.
- A 60Hz display can refresh its image up to 60 times per second.
- A 120Hz display can refresh its image up to 120 times per second.
More frequent updates can make movement appear smoother and can reduce the visible gaps between successive frames. This is especially useful when the source contains rapid movement or is capable of supplying more than 60 frames per second.
Refresh rate is only one part of motion quality. Pixel response, image processing, backlight behaviour, the original recording and the quality of the broadcast or stream also influence what you see.
Why Australian specifications may say 50Hz, 100Hz, 60Hz or 120Hz
Australian television has historically used a 50Hz-based broadcast system. Consequently, some Australian and European specifications describe televisions as 50Hz or 100Hz, while other listings use 60Hz or 120Hz terminology.
These figures can describe related refresh-rate classes, but the labelling is not always consistent between manufacturers and retailers. A television advertised as 100Hz may belong to the same higher-refresh class commonly called 120Hz in other markets.
Do not rely solely on a retailer’s headline. Check the manufacturer’s Australian specifications and look for phrases such as:
- Native refresh rate.
- Panel refresh rate.
- 4K at 120Hz input support.
- Variable Refresh Rate support.
If the specification only provides a branded motion number, ask the manufacturer to confirm the native panel refresh rate.
Refresh rate is not the same as frame rate
Refresh rate describes the television. Frame rate describes the video, broadcast, console or computer supplying the pictures.
A 120Hz television can update its panel 120 times per second, but it will not receive 120 unique frames when the source only supplies 24, 25, 30, 50 or 60 frames per second. The television must repeat frames or use processing between the frames it receives.
This is why buying a 120Hz television does not automatically make every program twice as smooth. The source and display must work together.
What refresh rate means for films
Many films are produced at 24 frames per second. A 120Hz panel can display each of those frames an equal number of times because 120 divides evenly by 24.
A 60Hz panel cannot divide 24 frames evenly across 60 refreshes, so it may use an uneven frame pattern or motion processing. Whether this difference is noticeable depends on the television and the viewer.
Some people prefer the traditional cinematic appearance of 24-frame material. Strong motion interpolation can make films appear unusually smooth, sometimes called the “soap opera effect”. A higher-refresh television should allow you to reduce or disable that processing if you dislike it.
Does 120Hz improve sport?
Fast sport places significant demands on a television. Players, balls, cars and camera movements can cross the screen quickly, exposing blur, judder and weak processing.
A native 100Hz or 120Hz panel gives the television more opportunities to update the picture. This can help motion appear clearer, particularly when combined with effective processing and a suitable source.
However, refresh rate alone does not guarantee excellent sport performance. Also consider:
- How clearly the panel displays moving objects.
- Whether fast camera pans remain controlled.
- Brightness in the room where you watch.
- Viewing angles for people sitting off-centre.
- The quality of the broadcast or stream.
If sport is one of your priorities, try to view genuine match footage rather than a slow manufacturer demonstration before buying.
Does a gaming television need 120Hz?
A 120Hz television can be valuable for gaming, but only when the complete system supports it.
For a game to be shown at 120 frames per second, the console or computer must produce that frame rate, the game must include a compatible mode and the television must accept the required signal through the selected input.
For PlayStation 5 gaming at 4K and 120Hz, Sony advises that a compatible display, the appropriate television input and settings, and suitable HDMI connectivity are required. Not every game operates at 120 frames per second.
Before buying a gaming television, check:
- Whether the native panel refresh rate is 100Hz or 120Hz.
- Whether the television accepts 4K at 120Hz.
- Which HDMI inputs support that format.
- Whether Variable Refresh Rate is supported.
- Whether Auto Low Latency Mode is supported.
- Input lag in the television’s game mode.
- Whether using 4K at 120Hz restricts another feature you require.
A television may have several HDMI ports while offering its full gaming capability on only some of them. Check the exact Australian model’s manual rather than assuming every port is identical.
What is Variable Refresh Rate?
Variable Refresh Rate, or VRR, allows a compatible television to adjust its refresh timing to better match frames produced by a console or computer.
This can reduce visible tearing and stuttering when a game’s frame rate changes. HDMI.org describes VRR as a feature intended to reduce or eliminate lag, stutter and frame tearing.
VRR is separate from the panel’s maximum refresh rate. A television should clearly list the supported VRR range and compatible formats.
Do streaming services require 120Hz?
Most ordinary television programs and streaming videos do not deliver 120 unique frames per second. A 120Hz panel can still improve how different frame rates are presented, but it does not transform a low-frame-rate source into genuine 120-frame footage.
If you mainly watch dramas, documentaries, news and ordinary streaming, a high-quality 60Hz television may provide better value than a mediocre 120Hz model.
Compare overall picture quality rather than treating refresh rate as the deciding specification.
Be careful with motion-rate marketing
Manufacturers sometimes use branded terms that produce numbers higher than the panel’s native refresh rate. These may describe combinations of backlight control and motion processing rather than the number of times the panel can display a new image.
Examples include general phrases such as “motion rate”, “clear motion” or a proprietary motion index. A large marketing number should not be treated as proof of a native 120Hz panel.
Look for the words native refresh rate. If those words are missing, consult the full specification sheet, manual or manufacturer support service.
Questions to ask before paying more for 120Hz
- Do I regularly watch fast sport?
- Will I connect a console or computer capable of more than 60 frames per second?
- Does the exact television support 4K at 120Hz on the inputs I need?
- Does it also support VRR and low-latency gaming?
- Is its overall picture quality better than the 60Hz alternatives?
- Am I paying for a native refresh rate or merely a marketing label?
Who should consider a 120Hz television?
A native 100Hz or 120Hz television is most useful for:
- Regular viewers of AFL, NRL, football, motorsport and other fast sport.
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series or PC players intending to use compatible high-frame-rate modes.
- Buyers who want more flexibility across films, sport and gaming.
- Households likely to keep the television through another generation of gaming equipment.
Who can comfortably choose 60Hz?
A good 60Hz television may be sufficient for:
- News and ordinary free-to-air viewing.
- Streaming dramas, documentaries and general entertainment.
- Casual gaming at 60 frames per second or below.
- Bedrooms and secondary rooms.
- Buyers prioritising picture quality and value over high-frame-rate gaming.
Final decision
Choose 120Hz because your viewing habits will use it—not because its number is larger.
For fast sport and compatible gaming, a native 100Hz or 120Hz television can be a meaningful improvement. For ordinary streaming and casual viewing, a well-performing 60Hz model may be the more sensible purchase.
Verify the native panel refresh rate, supported input formats, available HDMI ports and VRR capability for the exact Australian model. Then compare those features with the television’s brightness, contrast, processing and overall picture quality.
Official sources
- Samsung Australia: What is refresh rate?
- PlayStation: PS5 4K and 120Hz support
- HDMI.org: HDMI 2.1 features
Information checked August 2026. Television specifications, firmware features and supported input formats can change. Confirm important capabilities for the exact Australian model before purchasing.
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