What does 120Hz mean? Refresh rate explained

The refresh rate is how many times per second your screen draws a new image. Higher rates make scrolling and motion look smoother and sharper.

Hz in one sentence

A 60Hz screen updates 60 times per second; a 120Hz screen updates 120 times — so each frame lasts about 8.3 ms instead of 16.7 ms.

What you actually notice

Smoother scrolling and animations: the most obvious difference on phones.
Less motion blur: moving objects stay sharper because each image is shown for a shorter time.
Slightly lower input latency: useful in fast games.

Refresh rate vs. FPS vs. touch sampling

The refresh rate is what the screen can show. FPS is how many frames the app or game actually produces — a 120Hz screen showing a 30 FPS video still looks like 30 FPS. Touch sampling rate is how often the screen reads your finger, which affects responsiveness, not smoothness.

Adaptive refresh rate

Many modern phones switch between low and high rates automatically — lowering it on static content to save battery, raising it while you scroll. That's why a measurement can show 60Hz on one screen and 120Hz on another.

How to check your screen

Open the motion test: it measures the frames your browser actually delivers. If it shows less than expected, check that high refresh rate is enabled in display settings, turn off battery saver, plug in the charger, and close other tabs.