Refresh rate is how many times per second your screen draws a new picture. At 60 Hz each picture stays up for about 16.7 ms; at 144 Hz, about 6.9 ms. That shorter gap is why fast games look smoother and react sooner.
But a monitor can only show the frames your PC or console actually makes. Consoles top out at 120 Hz, and VRR often matters as much as the number. Here's what each choice really changes, with a demo you can drag.
A 24-inch Full HD IPS screen at 144 Hz with FreeSync: the jump from 60 Hz described above, at an entry price, and easy for most graphics cards to drive.
photos, specs, all 2 shops →27 inches at 1440p with a fast IPS panel up to 300 Hz, G-Sync Compatible and FreeSync Premium. Its HDMI 2.1 ports also let a PS5, Xbox Series X|S or Switch 2 run at 120 Hz.
photos, specs, all 2 shops →A 1440p QD-OLED at up to 360 Hz. OLED pixels switch almost instantly, so fast motion stays very clear, but you need a powerful PC to feed it that many frames.
photos, specs, live price →
