What 144Hz means
A 144Hz monitor redraws its image 144 times per second. A standard office display redraws 60 times per second, so a 144Hz display updates more than twice as often, and fast motion — a camera turn in a game, a scrolling document, a moving cursor — looks smoother and less smeared. The number is a refresh rate, not a resolution and not a panel type, and it should be judged alongside size, resolution and panel, not on its own.
The benefit depends on what the computer can deliver. A 144Hz display only shows 144 distinct frames per second when the graphics card produces that many frames in the content being shown. A card that produces 60 frames per second will look the same on a 144Hz display as on a 60Hz display, because the display cannot invent frames the card never drew. Before paying for 144Hz, check the frame rates the computer reaches in the games or applications that matter most.
Who benefits most
Competitive and fast-paced gamers benefit most, because their games move quickly and the smoother motion helps tracking and reaction. Players of slower strategy games, turn-based games and single-player story games benefit less, because the screen changes slowly and the extra refreshes add little. Office users benefit modestly: scrolling and window movement look smoother, but documents do not need 144Hz, and the money may be better spent on size or resolution.
The evidenced gaming line on this site, models ZE215, ZG24E and ZG27F, offers 144Hz alongside 165Hz in sizes from 21.5 to 32 inches, with 1920 by 1080 and 2560 by 1440 resolutions. That line is the reference point for this guide: the refresh rate figures here are the figures recorded for that line, and a buyer who needs a different size or resolution should confirm it for that size in an enquiry.
144Hz against 60Hz and 165Hz
Against 60Hz the step to 144Hz is large and easy to see, especially in fast games. Against 165Hz the step from 144Hz is small, and most buyers will notice the size, resolution or panel choice more than the extra 21 refreshes. That is why this guide treats 144Hz as the sensible high refresh rate baseline and 165Hz as a secondary preference, not as a separate class of display.
There is also a cost in graphics performance. Higher refresh rates demand more frames per second from the card, and at a higher resolution the demand grows further. A buyer with a mid-range card may get a smoother experience at 1080p and 144Hz than at 2K and 144Hz, because the card can sustain the frame rate at the lower resolution. Balance the three choices — refresh rate, resolution and card — rather than maximising one.
Choosing a 144Hz display
Start with size and desk depth. A 21.5 or 24 inch display suits a normal desk at arm's length, a 27 inch display suits a deeper desk, and a 32 inch display needs real depth to avoid constant head movement. Then choose resolution: 1080p for the smoothest motion on a mid-range card, 2K for sharper detail on a larger display with a stronger card. Then confirm the panel and the interface set, and check that the cable and port support the refresh rate at the chosen resolution.
Finally, confirm the model specification before ordering. Refresh rate figures on a category page describe a line, not a single size, and the detailed sheet for a particular size may differ. Ask for the size's sheet in an enquiry, state the games and the graphics card, and treat the reply as the binding specification for that order. Order quantity and lead time are confirmed per model in enquiry, and prices are not published on this site.
Terms used in this guide
- Refresh rate — the number of times per second a display redraws its image, measured in hertz. A 144Hz display redraws 144 times per second, against 60 times for a standard office display.
- Frame rate — the number of frames per second a computer or graphics card produces. A display can only show frames the computer produces, so frame rate caps the visible benefit of refresh rate.
- IPS panel — a liquid crystal panel type known for wide viewing angles and steady colours when viewed off-centre, used in the 23.8 inch example specification recorded for the evidenced gaming line.
- Response time — how quickly a pixel changes from one colour to another, measured in milliseconds. The 23.8 inch example specification records 1 millisecond for that variant only.
- VESA mount — a standard pattern of mounting holes on the back of a display, recorded as 75 by 75 millimetres in the 23.8 inch example specification for that variant only.
- Screen tearing — a visible split in a fast-moving image that appears when the graphics card and the display update out of step. A higher refresh rate reduces, but does not always remove, tearing.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need 144Hz for office work? For documents, email and spreadsheets, 144Hz adds smoothness to scrolling and window movement but does not change the work itself. An office buyer will usually gain more from a larger display or a higher resolution than from a higher refresh rate, and should only choose 144Hz for office use if the display will also serve gaming.
Does 144Hz need a special cable? It needs a cable and a port that support the refresh rate at the chosen resolution. Older ports and low-quality cables can cap the refresh rate below the display's maximum, so the cable and port should be checked together with the display, especially at 2K resolution.
Is 165Hz worth the step from 144Hz? The step is small and most buyers will notice size, resolution or panel more than the extra refreshes. Choose 165Hz if the price difference is small and the graphics card can sustain the higher frame rate, but do not sacrifice size or resolution for it.
Does refresh rate affect colour? No. Refresh rate controls how often the image updates, while colour depends on the panel, the colour coverage and the calibration. A buyer who needs accurate colour should check the panel and colour figures separately from the refresh rate.
Common mistakes
The most common mistake is buying a 144Hz display for a computer whose graphics card cannot reach 144 frames per second in the games played. The display then behaves like a 60Hz display, and the money spent on refresh rate is wasted. Check the card's frame rates first, in the actual games, before choosing the refresh rate.
The second mistake is ignoring the cable and port. A display, a cable and a port must all support the refresh rate at the chosen resolution, and any one of them can cap the result. State the graphics card, the cable type and the port in an enquiry if the combination is uncertain.