The answer to the question “is 60Hz good for PS5?” is highly subjective and depends upon user preference. But largely speaking, a 60Hz display should be excellent for PS5.
There are many reasons for this. Firstly, if you are migrating from the older PS4 console, the 60FPS achievable will be a significant step up in quality as compared to the 30FPS cap.
Secondly, a vast majority of the games DO NOT have support for 120FPS gaming. Hence, your expenditure on a 120Hz monitor or a TV may go wasted particularly given the fact that 120Hz monitors and TVs are significantly more expensive than their 60Hz counterparts.
Primer on Refresh Rate vs Frame Rate
Before we go into the nitty-gritty details of whether is 60Hz good for PS5 or not, let’s take a moment to understand what refresh rates and frame rates entail.
The refresh rate is the function of the monitor. It is measured in hertz (Hz) and refers to the number of times a display updates the image on the screen per second.
So, a 60Hz refresh rate means your screen can display a new image 60 times every second. The higher the refresh rate, the smoother the motion appears on screen – since the video is nothing but a series of moving images.
Frame rate, measured in frames per second (FPS), is the number of individual images (frames) that are displayed per second in a video or game.
FPS is the function of the gaming hardware and how capable it is for rendering images.
While related, FPS and refresh rate are NOT the same. Just because a TV has a 120Hz refresh rate, DOES NOT mean that all your games will work at 120FPS. PS5 must have the capacity to pump out 120FPS for the game you play.
The heavier and more demanding the game, the harder it will be for PS5 to pump out high frames per second.
Display Modes Supports By PS5
The PS5 supports a variety of display modes.
As far as the refresh rates go, it supports 30Hz, 60Hz or 120Hz.
As far as the resolution goes, it supports FHD, QHD and 4K. So in other words, PS5 supports display modes ranging from FHD @ 30Hz all the way to 4K @ 120 Hz.
With that said, let us look into the question at hand:
Is 60Hz Good for PS5?
As mentioned, the answer is subjective but in the majority of the cases, it is affirmative. 60Hz display including:
- FHD @ 60Hz
- 1440P @ 60Hz
- 4K @ 60Hz
are all excellent for PS5.
Let us go over the pros and cons.
Pros of 60Hz for PS5
Here are the arguments for why 60Hz is still highly favorable for PS5:
60FPS is a Step Up from the 30 FPS on PS4
If you are migrating from the PS4, then 60FPS is a significant step up in performance as compared to the older console.
PS4 was capped at 30FPS, and it was still groundbreaking for its time. 60 FPS is twice as good and hence the improvement will be vastly noticeable.
60Hz is More Accessible and Cheaper
60Hz Monitors and TVs are far more accessible and cheaper as compared to their 120Hz counterparts.
The price tag becomes vastly more expensive when you aim for the like of 4K @ 120Hz monitors. These can be twice as expensive as their 4K @ 60Hz counterparts.
Caveat
Caveat: 4K TV Must be HDMI 2.0 to Support 60Hz
A point to note here is that if you have a 4K TV or a monitor, it MUST have an HDMI 2.0 to support 4K @ 60Hz. If it only has an HDMI 1.4, it will be limited to playing at only 4K @ 30Hz.
Quality is NOT Compromised
PS5 provides you with two generation options for gameplay: quality (resolution) and performance.
Quality mode favors higher resolution where as the performance mode favors a higher frame rate.
For those who prefer smoother and more vivid details in graphics, then rest assured that at 60Hz, the quality will NOT be compromised.
120FPS is Supported Only for a Select Few Games
There are only a handful of games that support 120FPS gaming. Hence, spending a fortune on a 120Hz TV or a monitor may not be worth it after all.
The benefit of Higher Than 60FPS is More Pronounced on Fast Paced Games
For fast-paced, competitive games, such as first-person shooters, higher refresh rates can provide a slight edge in responsiveness and fluidity.
However, for slower-paced games, like RPGs and adventure titles, the benefits of a higher refresh rate may not be as apparent, making a 60Hz display more than adequate for an enjoyable experience.
Cons of Having Only a 60Hz TV or Monitor
120FPS can provide a competitive edge for gamers. This is extremely important, particularly for professional gamers.
120FPS is noticeably smoother as compared to 60FPS gaming. The difference between 60FPS and 120FPS can be noticeable, especially in fast-paced or competitive games where every frame counts.
You will notice that a majority of the competitive titles such as Call of Duty Warzone, Fortnite, Overwatch 2, etc. have support for 120FPS gaming.
For those wishing to have every bit of an advantage to rise on the competitive ladder, then 120Hz TV or monitor is recommended for PS5.
