The short answer to the question “does PS5 support 240Hz refresh rate?” is a no. While PS5 does have an HDMI 2.1 interface, it is not designed to support anything higher than 120Hz.
However, the longer answer is that the question can be looked at in two ways. If you are asking whether a 240Hz monitor or TV will be supported, then the answer is YES, PS5 WILL support a 240Hz monitor or TV so long as it supports 60Hz and 120Hz modes.
If you are asking whether PS5 supports 240Hz refresh rate for 240 Frames Per Second gameplay, then the answer is a resounding no. PS5 is capped at 120FPS max, that too only for select games.
In the following text, I will talk in detail about PS5’s support for refresh rate as well as about 240Hz monitors and TVs. For starters, let us talk about the PS5’s video interface and the modes it supports.
PS5 HDMI 2.1 Interface and the Video Modes Supported
As mentioned, PS5 offers the HDMI 2.1 interface. This interface, on paper, has the capacity to support up to 10K resolution @ 120Hz (With DCS enabled).
However, since the hardware inside is nowhere near as capable of supporting these specs, the video output interface is capped at 4K and 120hz refresh rate max.
There are only select games that support 120 FPS. There are even fewer games that support 4K @ 120Hz.
The majority of the games can be played either in Performance or Resolution Mode. Resolution Mode allows playing at 4K and performance mode allows for playing at higher frame rates i.e 120FPS.
Brief on FPS
Refresh Rate is the function of the video output device (monitor / TV). Frames per second are the function of the gaming hardware (the PS5 console).
To support certain FPS, you need to have the right hardware (GPU) first and then the right display device such that 60FPS requires a 60Hz, 120FPS requires a 120Hz monitor or TV, and so on and so forth.
The following are the video modes that PS5 can support – again, the option available to you depends upon the game.
- 1080 @ 30Hz – 30 FPS
- 1080 @ 60Hz – 60 FPS
- 1080 @ 120Hz – 120FPS
- 1440 @ 30Hz
- 1440 @ 60Hz
- 1440 @ 120Hz
- 4k @ 30Hz
- 4k @ 60Hz
- 4k @ 120Hz
Anything in between and beyond is not supported.
So, if you have a monitor or TV that ONLY has support for 240Hz or 60Hz display mode, then PS5 will only work at 60Hz mode. In other words, 120Hz mode will NOT be supported.
This brings us to the two main questions:
Does PS5 Support 240Hz for 240FPS Gameplay
The answer to this question is a simple no. PS5 cannot do 240FPS at all.
PS5 strictly abides by the display modes it supports and unlike a PC where the refresh rate is dynamic whereby sometimes you can get as high as 144FPS, with PS5, things are a bit more stringent.
PS5 supports a max of 120FPS that too only for select games, hence it only really needs a maximum of 120Hz TV or monitor.
PS5 Does Support 240Hz Monitor or TV at Lower Refresh Rates
If you mean whether PS5 will work at all on a 240Hz TV or a monitor, then the answer is a yes, PS5 can work a on 240Hz monitor or a TV.
However, again as mentioned above it will NOT work at the rated 240Hz refresh rate. In other words, since 240 frames per second is not supported by PS5, the 240Hz monitor or TV will not work at its full potential.
Make Sure the 240Hz Monitor Has 120Hz Mode Support for 120FPS Gameplay
This is a very important point to note. A 240Hz monitor or a TV does not mean that it has the capacity to work in 120Hz mode out of the box.
Monitors cannot dynamically scale down the refresh rate IF they are not designed to support lower refresh rate modes in the first place.
Take the display modes of the 144Hz Dell S2719DGF monitor as an example below. Note that this monitor, despite being a 144Hz monitor, DOES NOT have 120Hz display mode. Meaning, PS5 will NOT be able to support 120FPS gameplay on this monitor.
Instead, PS5 will dial down the refresh rate to 60Hz and only work at 60 FPS gameplay modes.
Hence, when buying a monitor that has a higher refresh rate than 120Hz i.e. 144Hz, 165Hz, and 240Hz, make sure it even has the support for 120Hz mode to support PS5s.
The following 240Hz Dell S2522HG monitor, however, would be able to support the 120FPS performance mode on PS5 since it has the 120Hz display mode.
