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360Hz vs 480Hz: why a 480Hz panel needs pixels that settle fast

By TechCompare · Updated · How we check

At 480 Hz a frame lasts 2.08 ms, 0.69 ms less than at 360 Hz. Only pick the higher rate if the panel's pixels finish changing color inside that window, or the extra refreshes will read as blur.

Both lanes move at the same speed. The 480 lane draws a new frame every 2.08 ms, against 2.78 ms for the 360 lane. Whether the panel keeps up is the real question.

360 fps
480 fps

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At 480 Hz a frame lasts 2.08 ms, so slow pixels can turn the extra refresh into blur.

A 480 Hz screen draws a new frame every 2.08 ms, against 2.78 ms at 360 Hz. That's a short window. Each pixel has to finish changing color inside it, or the extra refresh shows up as blur instead of clarity. Check whether a given panel can manage that first.

Try this comparison with our tools

Visualize 360 vs 480 FPS motion
Watch both lanes move at the same speed, then compare the frame times.
See the 360 Hz to 500 Hz comparison
The step from 360 to 500, and how much the extra rate adds.
Check 1440p 480 Hz bandwidth
See which port and cable can carry 1440p at 480 Hz.

Recommended monitors

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

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Option A
360Hz
Wins 0 of 7 compared specs
Option B
480Hz
Wins 3 of 7 compared specs

Side-by-side specs

Spec360Hz480Hz
Refresh rate
360 Hz
480 Hz
Frame timeHow long each frame stays on screen. A shorter time means smoother motion.
2.78 ms
2.08 ms (better on this spec)
Frame time savedHow much shorter each frame is at the higher rate.
Baseline
0.69 ms shorter (better on this spec)
Frame time vs 360 Hz
Baseline
25% less (better on this spec)
Frames your system must make
360 fps
480 fps
System work vs 360 Hz
Baseline
1.33×
Response time budgetThe time a pixel can take to change color. The panel's response time has to fit inside one frame, or the extra refresh shows as blur.
Under 2.78 ms
Under 2.08 ms

How they differ

A pixel doesn't change color instantly. The time it takes to move from one color to the next is its response time. If that takes longer than the frame on screen, the pixel is still moving when the next frame arrives, and the eye reads that as smear.

At 360 Hz each frame lasts 2.78 ms, so a pixel has that long to settle. At 480 Hz it has 2.08 ms, which is 25% less time. The refresh rate doesn't change how fast the pixel moves, only how often it gets a new target.

So the extra refresh only helps when the panel keeps up. A slow panel at 480 Hz can smear more than a faster panel at 360 Hz. Check the panel's color speed in tests of the exact model.

The 360 Hz to 500 Hz comparison covers the top-end step. This page asks whether the panel can use 480 Hz.

Verdict

Choose 480 Hz only if the panel's pixels settle well inside 2.08 ms and your system makes 480 fps in your games. If you can't confirm the first, 360 Hz is the safer pick, since its 2.78 ms frames give each pixel room to settle.

Visualize 360 vs 480 FPS motion

Which should you pick?

Choose 360Hz

Pick 360 Hz if you can't confirm the panel's pixels settle fast, or your system can't reliably make 480 fps. A 2.78 ms frame gives each pixel room to settle, so the picture can stay clean.

Compare 240 Hz vs 360 Hz

Choose 480Hz

Pick 480 Hz if you've confirmed the panel changes color fast enough for a 2.08 ms frame, and your system makes 480 fps in the games you play most. Those are the two conditions that make the extra refresh useful.

Compare 240 Hz vs 480 Hz

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Frequently asked questions

Why does pixel response matter more at 480 Hz?
Because the frame gets shorter. At 480 Hz each frame lasts 2.08 ms, against 2.78 ms at 360 Hz. A pixel that takes longer than the frame to change color is still moving when the next frame arrives, so the extra refresh shows up as blur instead of clarity.
Will a slow panel look worse at 480 Hz than at 360 Hz?
It can. A panel whose pixels can't settle inside 2.08 ms may smear more at 480 Hz than the same panel at 360 Hz. At 480 Hz each pixel gets 25% less time to settle. That's why a panel can look clean at 360 Hz and still smear at 480 Hz.
Is 480 Hz better than 360 Hz on a fast panel?
On paper, yes. Each frame is 0.69 ms shorter at 480 Hz, a small step. A panel that settles inside 2.08 ms turns that into clearer motion. Your system still has to make 480 fps to use it. On a slower panel, 360 Hz can look cleaner.

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