Laptops with 120Hz displays have become increasingly popular in recent years. In fact, customers today who're willing to spend a grand on a new laptop do not want to settle for a standard 60Hz display.

So, what makes these laptop screens tempting, and should you consider one for your next laptop, especially if you're on a budget?

Well, it all depends on what you plan to do on your laptop. So, read on as we discuss everything you need to know about 120Hz laptops so that you can decide if it's worth the extra money.

What Does "120Hz Screen" on a Laptop Mean?

ASUS ZenBook laptop

In layman's terms, a laptop with a 120Hz screen means that it's capable of refreshing 120 times per second, with Hertz (Hz) being the unit of measurement for the refresh rate. Standard 60Hz displays we've seen from laptops, phones, and desktop monitors for years can only refresh 60 times per second, meaning a 120Hz screen is twice as fast as a 60Hz panel.

So, if a laptop has a 120Hz screen, it basically means it is a high refresh rate panel. Some high-end gaming laptops even have a faster 144Hz or 240Hz refresh rate, targeting the consumers who want the best of the best.

However, just because you have a 120Hz laptop display doesn't mean that all the content you view will match the refresh rate. For example, movies are rarely shot at more than 24 frames per second, so whether you have a 60Hz or a 120Hz display, you will get an identical viewing experience. But, the 120Hz screen does come with a slew of benefits, which we'll discuss below.

What Are the Benefits of a 120Hz Display?

Gaming monitor at esports event

The first thing you'll notice when you start using a high refresh rate 120Hz display is how buttery smooth the UI animations are, regardless of the operating system the machine is running. Even when you move your mouse cursor on a high refresh rate screen, you will notice twice the number of cursors appear on the screen as opposed to a 60Hz display.

Besides that, most people want a high refresh rate 120Hz screen on a laptop for gaming. Fast-paced motion scenes are best experienced on a 120Hz or higher refresh rate display, especially while playing first-person shooter games. Furthermore, a 120Hz screen immediately puts you at a competitive advantage in online multiplayer games if your opponents are on a standard 60Hz display.

And yes, the difference between 60Hz and 120Hz screens is perceivable to the untrained eye, even if you don't plan to game all day on your laptop. As we mentioned earlier, navigating the system menu, opening/closing windows, and scrolling, in general, feel much more pleasant on a 120Hz laptop display.

As for video content, you will struggle to find any 120FPS videos on the internet, as major platforms like YouTube, Twitch, etc., don't support it yet. Furthermore, 120FPS is not a suitable frame rate for video consumption, which is the main reason why most YouTube content is limited to 60Hz in the first place.

Another huge benefit of a high refresh rate screen that most people seem to overlook is that it causes less strain on your eyes. This is because your eyes perceive motion more fluidly, and flickering at 120Hz becomes almost imperceivable. So, if you're someone who prioritizes your eye health, a smoother-looking 120Hz screen is definitely worth the investment.

Is It Worth Buying a Laptop With a 120Hz Screen?

Alienware laptop connected to a monitor

The short answer is: it's definitely worth buying a laptop with a 120Hz screen if you can afford it. However, if you're on a strict budget, you'll need to ask yourself whether you have experienced a 120Hz display before—for example, on your smartphone, TV, monitor, etc. If the answer is no, you would be satisfied with a 60Hz laptop that ticks all the other boxes in the hardware department.

However, if you already own 120Hz devices, you will struggle to go back to 60Hz. You will notice the sluggish motion in the display almost immediately until your eyes get adjusted gradually over time. Therefore, you may want to stretch your budget to buy that laptop with a 120Hz display to avoid running into such issues.

And if you plan to game on your laptop, a 120Hz screen is a no-brainer. Gaming is one of the best use cases for a high refresh rate screen, and it will greatly benefit you in fast-paced games. These displays also tend to have faster response times and lower input lag, giving you the edge over players in a competitive game. A 120Hz display is a great place to start if you're trying to become a professional gamer.

That said, be wary that a 120Hz screen doesn't make sense at all if the hardware inside isn't capable enough to drive it. Therefore, you must ensure that the laptop can actually run the games you intend to play at 120FPS. For 2022's standards, you'll need a laptop with at least an NVIDIA RTX 3060 or AMD RX 6600M to play most multiplayer games at 120FPS or higher.

On the other hand, if you plan to use your laptop purely for media consumption, you won't benefit from a 120Hz screen, as 99% of the video content is 60FPS or lower. Your favorite TV shows and movies will all look just the same as they did on a good old 60Hz panel. In such cases, you would be wise to spend that money elsewhere, like a superior OLED panel over an LCD that can deliver true blacks and unmatched viewing angles.

Choose the Right Display for Your Laptop

As much as we love high refresh rate 120Hz displays, there are several other important factors to consider when buying a laptop. Often, these high refresh rate displays come with inferior LCD panels that could be a deal-breaker for some users. For example, if you do video editing or professional color grading, an OLED display would be a much better option, even if it's 60Hz, because of its unmatched color accuracy.

However, if you can afford a laptop that offers the best of both worlds—an OLED panel and a 120Hz screen, you will not be disappointed, as long as you make sure the rest of the hardware is powerful enough to drive the high refresh rate display.