What is the PS4 Refresh Rate: 120 or 144HZ

Refresh rate is when a screen image changes or refreshes a certain number of times every second, called the display's refresh rate. For instance, a display with a 60Hz refresh rate will update the image 60 times in one second. Therefore, the refresh rate on PS4 is the number of times the screen updates per second.

It affects how smooth and responsive the gameplay is. The PS4 is limited to a 60Hz refresh rate, meaning it can display a maximum of 60 frames per second. The console is designed to output video and audio signals at a maximum resolution of 1080p and a maximum frame rate of 60Hz.

Table Of Contents

PS4 Refresh Rate

Some PS4 games may run at lower frame rates, such as 30Hz, depending on the graphics and performance settings on the hardware. This can cause some motion blur and stuttering in fast-paced, heavy games.

The PS4 has a few different refresh rate options depending on the specific model:

Original PS4 and PS4 Slim: 60Hz refresh rate. These models have an HDMI 1.4 port which supports up to 60Hz at 1080p resolution.
PS4 Pro: 60Hz or 120Hz refresh rate. The PS4 Pro has an HDMI 2.0 port which can support higher refresh rates. It can do 60Hz at 4K resolution or up to 120Hz at 1080p resolution.

PS4 and PS4 Slim max out at 60Hz refresh rate, PS4 Pro can support up to 120Hz refresh rate for 1080p resolution gaming
The games/apps themselves also need to be programmed to support higher refresh rates on PS4 Pro to take advantage of 120Hz capability.
The refresh rate impacts game smoothness and responsiveness. Higher refresh rates like 120Hz lead to a more responsive and smoother gaming experience compared to standard 60Hz.

Ideas on how to Maximize PS4 Refresh Rate

To maximize your PS4 refresh rate, you can try doing the following;

Make sure your TV or monitor supports at least a 60Hz refresh rate. You can check the specifications of your display device online or in the manual. This will be easy given that most TVs nowadays support 60Hz or more.
Always use a high-speed HDMI cable to connect your PS4 to your TV or monitor. Avoid using adapters or converters that may degrade the signal quality.
Moreover, adjust the video output settings on your PS4. Go to Settings > Sound and Screen > Video Output Settings and select Automatic for Resolution and RGB Range. You can also try turning off HDR if your TV or monitor does not support it.
Enable Game Mode on your TV or monitor if it has one. This can reduce input lag and improve responsiveness by turning off some post-processing effects.
Update your PS4 system software and game software to the latest versions. This can fix some bugs and optimize performance.

To enjoy higher refresh rates than 60Hz, you must upgrade to a PS5, which can support up to 120Hz at 1080p for some games. You will also need a compatible TV or monitor that supports HDMI 2.1 and 120Hz refresh rate. However, not all PS5 games will run at 120Hz; some may prioritize higher resolution or graphics quality over frame rate.

As discussed above, the PS4 can only output 60Hz. So any monitor would do with regards to refresh rate. The PS4 maxes at 60Hz while the PS5 is at 120Hz.

Fun Facts to Know About the PS4 Refresh Rates

The standard PS4 and PS4 Slim output at 60Hz refresh rate is the same, meaning the screen refreshes 60 times per second, which is typical for most TVs.
The PS4 Pro supports higher refresh rates of up to 120Hz depending on the game, display device, and settings. It can output 4K resolution at 60Hz or up to 1080p at 120Hz on supported displays.
Most PS4 games are locked at 30 or 60 frames per second (fps). So, even if your display supports higher refresh rates, the game may stay below 60Hz.
To take advantage of higher refresh rates on PS4 Pro, you'll need a display with an HDMI 2.0 port that supports 1080p at 120Hz or 4K at 60Hz. Many modern 4K TVs now support these higher refresh rates.
You also need to enable "Boost Mode" on your PS4 Pro and set the output resolution in your PS4 display settings to match the native refresh rate of your display.
Higher refresh rates decrease input lag and make motion look smoother. This can provide a more responsive, fluid gaming experience, especially for fast-paced games like Racing Sims or competitive multiplayer.

The type of Monitor to Use on PS4

A 75Hz monitor is a good choice for the PS4 because it matches its performance better than a 144Hz monitor. The PS4 can only output 60Hz, so anything above that is unnecessary. Some PS4 games, especially those with high-end graphics, can only run at 30 frames per second.

So, a 75Hz monitor or TV can handle the PS4's power very well. It's more than what the PS4 needs. The only reason to get a higher refresh rate monitor is if you plan to upgrade your console soon.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. Why Can't The PS4 Run Games At 120 FPS?

The PS4 was released in 2013, running a GPU powered by GPU clocking in at 1.84 TFLOP. This allows the console to provide decent performance at stable frame rates. At that time, only a few GPUs from the PC end could utilize 120 Hz, and high refresh rate gaming was starting to become mainstream.

Q. Does the PS4 Pro Run Games At 120 FPS?

No, the PS4 Pro cannot run any game at 120 FPS. This is because when developed, the PS4 Pro aimed to achieve 4K @ 60 FPS instead. Therefore, the developers should have considered having a console that runs games at less than 120 FPS.

Q. Does PS4 Pro provide better quality and gameplay than PS4?

Yes, if you upgrade to a PS4 Pro from a PS4, you'll notice a great increase in quality and overall smoothness whether you own a 4K TV. This happens because the PS4 Pro has the performance overhead necessary to render games at near-native resolution while keeping frame rates stable.

Q. What Is PS4 Max FPS?

The PS4 supports a maximum frame rate of 60 FPS for all resolutions. Even if a title is ported over from the PS3 / PS2, the PS4 will still render it at a solid 60 FPS. Some titles dip below the maximum frame rate if a scene is particularly intense.

Q. Can I Increase FPS on PS4?

You cannot increase your FPS on PS4 other than making sure the vents and exhausts are clean. However, the PS4 Pro does have a feature called Boost Mode that allows you to gain a bit of a performance boost on some titles.

Q. What Resolution Is PS4?

The PS4 supports 1080p and 1080i resolutions. However, the PS4 Pro supports 4K resolutions on upgraded and optimized titles for the newer console. You can plug a PS4 into a 4K TV, but it'll render at native resolution instead.

Final Thoughts

The PS4, be it Pro or Slim, does not run any game at 120 FPS and only supports 60 Hz. You must ensure your display, cables, and PS4 settings allow higher refresh rates to take advantage of far smoother displays at 60Hz. However, once you upgrade to the PS5, you'll be able to enjoy titles at much smoother frame rates. There is no indication of whether Sony will ever implement 120 FPS on their older consoles, given that they wish to incentivize users to purchase their latest and greatest, the PS5.