Does TV Refresh Rate Matter for Streaming?
Refresh rate gets a lot of marketing attention, but its impact on streaming specifically is more limited than you'd think.
Refresh rate describes how many times per second a TV redraws the image, measured in Hz. Higher numbers are heavily marketed, but their benefit depends a lot on what you're actually watching.
Where higher refresh rates matter most
Fast motion — sports and video games in particular — benefits the most from a higher refresh rate, since motion appears smoother and blur is reduced.
Where it matters less
Most streamed video is filmed and delivered at standard frame rates, so a TV's higher refresh rate mainly helps through motion-smoothing processing rather than the source content itself containing more frames.
A note on motion smoothing
Many viewers find heavy motion smoothing makes film and TV content look artificial — it's worth testing your TV's setting and adjusting to preference rather than assuming higher is always better.
Ready to start streaming with Apollo Group TV?
Compare subscription options and device support to find the plan that fits your household.