Pay attention to this comparison because you can save money when purchasing your monitor . We show you the differences between 120 Hz vs 144 Hz .
In terms of numbers, we have to say that there is only 24 Hz more in the highest option of the comparison, but is the difference that noticeable? It is a doubt that many of you have, you search and consult in forums before buying a monitor. So, we have decided to address the debate with one of our comparisons in the old-fashioned way. What do you think will happen?
Index of contents
- The starting point is going to be crucial
- Configuration and resolution are also key
- There are more 144Hz monitors than 120Hz monitors
- 120 vs 144 Hz monitor, which is cheaper?
- So why even consider 120Hz monitors?
The starting point is going to be crucial
If you are already enjoying a monitor with 120 Hz , it is not the same as jumping from 60 or 90 Hz. It is always said that the jump from 60 to 144 Hz is brutal , and there are more than double the hertz.
However, things change a lot when we already have 120 Hz and we want to opt for 144 Hz on a monitor that is on sale or because we want a new model. In that scenario, you will not notice a dramatic change and there is a lot of research that points in this direction.
We’re talking about increasing the hertz by 15%, so we’re not missing out on anything, just like going from 144 to 165 Hz.
Configuration and resolution are also key
Having 144 Hz means that we can maintain a stable 144 FPS at the resolution we want to play, something not so complicated at 1080p or 1440p. When going up to 4K things get much more complicated, requiring a very powerful (and expensive) computer, as well as tinkering a bit with the graphical settings.
Obviously, I’m talking about having everything on Ultra because we should always aim for the best, right? With medium or low settings you don’t need a NASA PC, but it is true that the computer must be powerful so that 4K doesn’t become an uphill struggle.
Check your PC components carefully before going for 4K monitors because stable 144 or 120 FPS is no joke at that resolution.
Want something in 1080p or 1440p? You don’t need a beast of a PC, but don’t relax: Ultra and Ray Tracing make things more complicated . You also have to consider the titles you play, since not all of us play Starfield, Cyberpunk or Elden Ring. For this reason, Sony and Microsoft were realistic and prepared their consoles for 120 Hz because playing in 4K at that refresh rate is no joke.
There are more 144Hz monitors than 120Hz monitors
In fact, there are now more 165Hz monitors than 144Hz monitors , but that’s a different story. We should keep in mind that 120Hz has been popularized through next-gen consoles like the PS5 or Xbox Series X , as well as the first 4K gaming monitors that were launched on the market.
Once these technological barriers have been overcome through more CPU and GPU muscle, 144 Hz has remained the standard and balanced option at all resolutions. It is true that 165 Hz has gained strength in 1080p and 1440p, although in 4K it is still an ambitious goal.
For example, at PcComponentes we have 14 120 Hz monitors versus 121 144 Hz monitors in the most common resolutions.
It’s not just a question of the catalogue, it’s also a case of the brands’ commitment. BenQ, ASUS, MSI and other brands don’t bet on 120 Hz monitors. And the high-end models we find have 120 Hz because they offer 4K or 5K resolutions.
Optional uniform brightness adjustment provides uniform luminance levels
892.82 EUR
Last updated on 2024-07-15
120 vs 144 Hz monitor, which is cheaper?
I can tell you in advance that 120 Hz is not profitable , and that is not a reason to give up 24 Hz in exchange for a lower price. I wanted to compare 1080p, 1440p and 2160p models, but it was difficult to find monitors with 120 Hz and 1440p; I could only find 1080p and 2160p or 4K.
The few I have found with 120 Hz and QHD resolution were exorbitantly priced and made no sense. We are not saying that they are not worth it, even the 120 Hz ones were more expensive without bringing much superior technologies; the scenario does not change when we go to the ultrawide monitor .
And in 4K? I have only found a few models with a very large screen (+40 inches), such as the ASUS ROG Strix XG438QR , but we quickly see the 43″ inch Odyssey Neo G7 from Samsung which is cheaper and has more features.
So why even consider 120Hz monitors?
Personally, I think 120 Hz is more interesting in televisions , that’s why there are more models with 120 Hz than with 144 Hz. If you came here to see the differences between 120 Hz vs 144 Hz monitors, I’ll briefly detail them for you:
- The step from 120 to 144 Hz does not elevate the experience, being more or less the same. It will depend on where you start from.
- 120Hz may seem more sensible given the FPS drops at high resolutions.
- The offer of 120 Hz monitors is almost non-existent, with the 144 or 165 Hz options being more interesting.
- The prices of 120 Hz monitors do not encourage their purchase.
- It is only advisable to buy 120 Hz on televisions, a platform where it has more support.
My conclusion is that if you want a gaming monitor with a good panel, refresh rate, and response time, go for the 144Hz monitor . In fact, 165Hz is threatening to become the standard, at least in QHD or 1080p resolutions because the processing power allows for higher, stable FPS in these scenarios.
What if I have a 120Hz monitor ? I don’t recommend buying a 144Hz monitor unless you’re looking for a specific VRR technology, better image quality, higher resolution, or more nits. If you already have one that you like and it works great, your experience isn’t going to improve with 144Hz.
Does this mean that a 120Hz monitor is useless? Not at all, in fact, many professionals will have this refresh rate at high resolutions thanks to HDMI 2.1. On the part of Profesional Review, it has been a while since we reviewed a 120Hz monitor, the last one being in 2021 ( AORUS FO48U ).
We do see laptops and TVs that are worth the money with 120Hz displays; for example, in November we tested the ASUS Vivobook Pro 16X OLED and it was a marvel. Another more recent option is the OMEN Transcend 14 .
We hope this information has been helpful to you. If you have any questions, please comment below and we will respond as soon as possible.