What is Refresh Rate (Hz)? 60Hz vs 120Hz vs 144Hz Explained
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Refresh rate is how many times per second your screen redraws the image, measured in Hertz (Hz). A higher refresh rate means smoother motion — especially noticeable when gaming, scrolling, or watching fast-moving video.
Refresh rate comparison
| Refresh Rate | Best for | Common in |
|---|---|---|
| 60Hz | Office work, browsing, streaming | Budget laptops, older monitors |
| 90Hz | Smooth everyday phone use | Mid-range smartphones |
| 120Hz | Gaming, smooth scrolling, general use | Flagship phones, gaming laptops, monitors |
| 144Hz+ | Competitive gaming | Gaming monitors, high-end gaming laptops |
Does higher Hz drain battery faster?
Yes — a 120Hz display uses more power than a 60Hz display because the screen is refreshing twice as often. Most flagship phones in Singapore now use adaptive refresh rates (e.g. 1Hz–120Hz) that automatically lower the Hz when the screen is showing static content, balancing smoothness with battery life.