As an avid TV enthusiast, I found myself asking the same question recently – is my TV really 120Hz? After some extensive research and experimentation, I’m here to share my findings and help others answer the same question. In this article, I’ll discuss the various ways you can tell if your TV is actually 120Hz, so that you can make the most out of your TV viewing experience.
You can tell if your TV has a 120Hz refresh rate by connecting your TV to a computer and looking up the refresh rate in your System’s Advanced display settings. Alternatively, you can browse for the model of your TV in any online store that gives information regarding TV native refresh rates.
| Methods & Factors | Description | Tips & Recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| What is TV Refresh Rate? | The frequency at which your TV redraws the image it displays per second. | Higher refresh rate results in more realistic and less blurry movements. |
| Looking Up Refresh Rate Online | Research the native refresh rate of a TV model on online stores like Amazon. | Look for the actual refresh rate, not the “effective” refresh rate advertised by manufacturers. |
| Using a Computer | Connect your TV to a computer to check the refresh rate in System’s Advanced display settings. | For Windows, use “Advanced display settings”; for macOS, go to “System Preferences” > “Displays”. |
| Factors Influencing Refresh Rate | Anti-blurring technologies (frame interpolation, black frame insertion), variable refresh rates. | Understand how these factors impact your TV’s performance. |
| Improving Refresh Rate | Activate content-specific picture modes, use HDMI 2.1 cables, update device drivers. | Prioritize performance over image quality and ensure proper communication between devices. |
Table of Contents
Different Ways To Look Up The Refresh Rate Of Your TV
You will need to verify its refresh rate to see how many Hertz your TV is. Should you consider buying a new TV, you can look this up online, or you can find the relevant specifications of a TV you already own when you hook it up to a computer.
What Does TV Refresh Rate Mean, And Why Does It Matter?
The frequency at which your TV redraws the image it displays per second is known as the refresh rate. This attempts to represent the movement of objects as understood by the human brain. The graphics on the screen are multiple single frames inserted in succession with minor differences in each.
The higher the screen refresh rate, the greater the number of single frames the TV can insert into the sequence, and the more realistic and less blurry the movements appear.
Looking Up The Refresh Rate Of A TV Online
Because it’s better to research before buying a TV, it’s always a good idea to inspect its specifications first. The value you are looking for is the native refresh rate of the TV.
Manufacturers seemingly want to hide the actual refresh rate of their TVs and will report effective refresh rates instead to lure customers into buying their products.
Even if you look up a specific model on the manufacturers’ website, you likely won’t find the native refresh rate.
Fortunately, some vendors have caught on to this tactic and will specify the actual refresh rate for the TV on their website. One popular online store that provides relevant information is Amazon.com, where you will find the specifications listed under your search results for that model.
Looking Up The Refresh Rate Of A TV Using A Computer
If you already have the TV in your possession, you can hook it up to a laptop or desktop computer to look up the value of its refresh rate. If all the parts are correctly plugged in and receiving power, you can follow the following steps according to your operating platform:
Looking Up Your TV’s Refresh Rate With Microsoft Windows
- On your PC’s desktop, right-click anywhere in the background and choose “Display settings” from the dropdown list.
- Open “Advanced display” on the window that opens.
- On the next page, you can choose the refresh rate for the currently selected display from the dropdown labeled “Choose a refresh rate.”
You can also use your taskbar’s search function to search for “Advanced display settings,” which will take you directly to the refresh rate window. The long way to get there is through the System > Display > Advanced display settings route.
Looking Up Your TV’s Refresh Rate Using macOS
- Select “System Preferences” from the Apple menu.
- Navigate to “Displays.”
- Click on the “Scaled” button under the “Display” tab while holding down the “OPTION” key.
Which Factors Influence The Refresh Rate Of A TV?
The various TV manufacturers use specific techniques to approximate additional frames to enhance the refresh rates of their products.
While these methods may offer some improvement over lower refresh rates, they are not genuine refresh rate improvements. Some potential issues may also lower the refresh rates of monitors and TVs.
Anti-Blurring Technologies That Increase TV Frame Counts
The two main methods of anti-blurring used to enhance TV frame counts are frame interpolation and black frame insertion.
With frame interpolation, the TV’s onboard computer analyzes a sequence of frames and recreates images as an approximation of movements between the two points.
The additional images intend to serve as middle points between successive frames and smooth out movements. Some people may find the recreations to have an unreal feel, which hinders their immersive experience.
Black frame insertion involves the insertion of black frames between successive images in a motion sequence to remove screen clutter and fade out the shapes on the screen.
By switching off the TV’s backlighting, they contrive black frames, which reduce the duration of any image on-screen. The artificial black additions do, however, cause a flickering effect which may disturb some viewers.
Variable Refresh Rates Synchronize The TV And Image Source
There are times when the TV’s refresh rate does not match the frame rate of the image source. In these instances, the TV will either increase or reduce its refresh rate to prevent screen tearing. The communication lapses mostly happen if the TV broadcast or cinematic game sequences have frame rate dips.
Can The Refresh Rate Of A TV Be Improved?
To increase the refresh rate of your TV, you can activate content-specific picture modes on your TV that prioritize performance over image quality.
For instance, gaming mode hands over the game’s graphics requirement to your console or GPU, freeing it of motion processing duties, allowing your TV to focus on displaying the highest number of frames possible, and giving you full access to information.
Buying and using new HDMI 2.1 cables is another method you could use to improve the frame rate of your TV. By effectively enhancing the communication between your TV and any source device, the number of frames displayed can increase alongside superior image quality. HDMI 2.1 allows for high-resolution imaging at high frame rates.
One of the most frequent causes of slower frame rates and screen refresh rates is drivers that are not up to date.
While this isn’t strictly an issue with your TV, it can significantly influence the performance you can get out of it. Ensure that the drivers for all the devices connected to your TV are up to date and that they have regular access to the internet so that they can stay current.
Conclusion
You can verify the refresh rate of your TV by hooking it up to a PC or finding the specifications of its exact model using an online store. The refresh rate will be listed under the Advanced display settings or model-specific product information.
It is also worthwhile knowing which factors influence the performance of your TV’s refresh rate and how you can fix any issues you may be having in this regard. If you remember to activate all the proper settings and update your software regularly, the communication between your devices and the quality of your imaging will be fast and smooth.
Read more: How to watch Amazon prime on a non smart TV
References
https://www.tomsguide.com/opinion/tv-refresh-rates-how-to-see-through-the-tv-industrys-biggest-lie
https://help.kogan.com/hc/en-us/articles/360040453953-What-is-my-TV-or-Monitor-s-Refresh-Rate-
https://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/hdmi-explained-everything-you-need-to-know-news-specs/