Refresh rate measures how many times per second your screen redraws the image, measured in hertz. A 60Hz display refreshes sixty times per second; 120Hz doubles that. Higher numbers feel visibly smoother during scrolling and gaming, but the improvement diminishes at each step.
The jump from 60Hz to 120Hz is dramatic—most people notice it immediately. Scrolling feels fluid, animations appear lifelike, and gaming feels responsive. The leap from 120Hz to 144Hz or beyond is perceptible but subtle. Casual users rarely justify the cost.
Gaming benefits most from high refresh rates, especially competitive titles where responsiveness matters. Creators working with video or animation also appreciate smoother playback. For browsing, email, and document work, 60Hz remains perfectly adequate and battery-efficient.
High refresh rates demand more processing power and drain battery faster. Phones and tablets with 120Hz+ screens sacrifice endurance for feel. Consider your actual use: if you game or edit video daily, the trade-off makes sense. Otherwise, 60Hz saves money and battery life.