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165Hz vs 144Hz: is the small step past 144Hz worth chasing?

By TechCompare · Updated · How we check

165 Hz is slightly better on paper, with each frame 0.88 ms shorter than at 144 Hz. A gap that small is hard to see in play, so your GPU's frame rate and the panel will shape your experience more.

Both lanes move at the same speed. The 165 lane's frames come 0.88 ms sooner each time, a lead that's hard to see at a glance.

144 fps
165 fps

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Each 165 Hz frame is 0.88 ms shorter than a 144 Hz one, a gap that's hard to see in play.

165 Hz gives you 21 more refreshes each second than 144 Hz, and each frame is 0.88 ms shorter. On a spec sheet that's a real gain, but on screen it's a small one. What it means for you depends on your GPU and the panel, so check those before the number.

Try this comparison with our tools

Visualize 144 vs 165 FPS motion
Watch both lanes move at the same speed, then compare the frame times.
Check your bandwidth
Confirm your cable and port can carry your resolution at 165 Hz.
Compare 120 Hz vs 165 Hz
The step below this one, down to 120 Hz.

Recommended monitors

Based on the specs on this page, here are the monitors TechCompare recommends.

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Option A
144Hz
Wins 0 of 9 compared specs
Option B
165Hz
Wins 4 of 9 compared specs

Side-by-side specs

Spec144Hz165Hz
Refresh rate
144 Hz
165 Hz
Frame timeHow long each frame stays on screen. A shorter time means smoother motion.
6.94 ms
6.06 ms (better on this spec)
Frame time savedHow much shorter each frame is at the higher rate.
Baseline
0.88 ms shorter (better on this spec)
Extra frames each second
Baseline
+21 fps (better on this spec)
Blur from frame hold timeOn most screens, blur on moving objects grows with how long each frame stays up.
Baseline
13% less (better on this spec)
GPU work vs 144 HzHow much more work your graphics card does each second to fill the screen.
Baseline
1.15×
Frames your GPU must make
144 fps
165 fps
Panel qualityResponse time, contrast and uniformity vary by model, often more than the refresh rate does.
Varies by model
Varies by model
Variable refresh rate rangeThe frame rates a screen can match with variable refresh rate. Check each model's spec sheet.
Check the spec sheet
Check the spec sheet

How they differ

Frame time in milliseconds is 1000 divided by the frame rate. At 144 Hz a frame stays up for 6.94 ms. At 165 Hz it stays up for 6.06 ms, which is 0.88 ms less and about 13% less time on screen per frame. Blur on moving objects grows with that time on most screens, so the smear shrinks by roughly the same share.

Holding 165 fps takes roughly 1.15× the GPU work of 144 fps. If your GPU can't reach 144 fps in your games, neither screen can show its full rate.

Panel quality often varies more between two monitors than the gap between these two rates does. Response time, contrast and uniformity all change the picture you see, so compare the models you're actually choosing between.

Verdict

Take 165 Hz if its panel is at least as good as the 144 Hz model's and its variable refresh rate range covers the frame rates your GPU reaches. Take 144 Hz if the 144 Hz model has the better panel. The 0.88 ms frame time gap won't make up for a weaker picture.

Visualize 144 vs 165 FPS motion

Which should you pick?

Choose 144Hz

Pick 144 Hz if the 144 Hz monitor has the better panel or the variable refresh range you need. It's also a fine choice if your GPU rarely goes past 144 fps, because a 165 Hz screen can't show frames your GPU never makes.

Compare 144 Hz vs 240 Hz

Choose 165Hz

Pick 165 Hz if its panel is at least as good as the 144 Hz model's and your GPU reaches 144 fps or more in the games you play most. Those frames are what the extra refreshes show.

Compare 165 Hz vs 240 Hz

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Frequently asked questions

Is 165Hz better than 144Hz?
On paper, yes, a little. A frame lasts 6.06 ms at 165 Hz, against 6.94 ms at 144 Hz, which is 0.88 ms less. That's small enough that the panel and your frame rate will do more to shape what you see. Compare the two models on those first.
Can I see the difference between 144Hz and 165Hz?
Usually not in play. The frames differ by 0.88 ms, under a millisecond, and panel blur or frame drops from your GPU can hide a gap that small. Test with the frame rates your own games reach, since drops below the refresh rate often matter more than the rate itself.
Does my GPU need to hit 165 fps to use a 165Hz monitor?
No. A 165 Hz monitor works at any frame rate. Variable refresh rate helps most when your frame rate moves around, since the screen follows the frames your GPU makes. Without it, frames that don't match the refresh can arrive unevenly, which can look worse than a steady lower rate.

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