Recently at CES 2024, LG Display unveiled a new 27-inch 480Hz QHD gaming OLED monitor, which has received great buzz from avid gamers since its announcement. This monitor boasts the OLED’s first refresh rate of 480Hz and the fastest response time of 0.03ms among existing panels, highlighting yet another milestone for OLED technology. In this edition of Display 101, we will explore what refresh rate and response time actually are and why they are crucial components of high-quality gaming.
Refresh rate and response time dictate the performance of gaming OLEDs
Refresh rate is the number of images that a monitor can display in one second that is measured in hertz (Hz), meaning that LG Display’s 480Hz gaming OLED can display 480 images in one second. Displaying more images per second allows for a smoother and sharper depiction of content, especially during fast screen transitions that gaming typically requires. This is why high refresh rates are an essential element in gaming monitors, as they enhance gaming immersion during dynamic gameplay.
Response time refers to the speed at which the displayed image on a display is changed and is measured in milliseconds (ms), which is 1/1000th of a second. In the case of LG Display’s gaming OLED, which features a response time of 0.03ms, its pixels take 3/100000th of a second to change from one color to another. A faster pixel response (meaning a lower numerical value for response time) helps to reduce motion blur and provides clear images of moving visuals. Particularly for game genres such as racing or FPS games, which require quick responses, utilizing a gaming OLED can be advantageous.
| Category | Refresh Rate | Response Time |
| Definition | Number of images that a monitor can display | Speed at which the displayed image on a display is changed |
| Unit | Hertz (Hz) | Milliseconds (ms) |
| Effect | Higher value results in smoother motion | Lower value results in sharper visuals with minimal motion blur |
