{"id":2443,"date":"2025-05-29T07:24:15","date_gmt":"2025-05-29T06:24:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/?p=2443"},"modified":"2025-05-27T16:36:07","modified_gmt":"2025-05-27T15:36:07","slug":"why-refresh-rates-matter-for-your-small-business-screens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/2025\/05\/why-refresh-rates-matter-for-your-small-business-screens\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Refresh Rates Matter for Your Small Business Screens"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 4<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes : <\/span><\/span><h1>Why Refresh Rates Matter for Your Small Business Screens<\/h1>\n<p>If you\u2019ve ever looked at a screen and thought, \u201cSomething just doesn\u2019t feel right,\u201d it might not be your eyes \u2014 it could be your screen\u2019s refresh rate. Sounds techy, right? But don\u2019t worry. We\u2019re going to break it down in simple terms and explain why it actually matters for your small business.<!--more--><\/p>\n<h2>What Even Is a Refresh Rate?<\/h2>\n<p>Let\u2019s start at the beginning. The refresh rate is how many times per second your screen updates what it\u2019s showing. It\u2019s measured in hertz (Hz). So if your monitor has a 60Hz refresh rate, it updates the image 60 times a second.<\/p>\n<p>The higher the number, the smoother things look \u2014 especially if you\u2019re moving stuff around on screen or watching videos. Ever seen a screen that looked like it was stuttering or flickering? That could be down to a low refresh rate (this article was written after looking at my wife&#8217;s screen where Windows 11 had, for some reason, set the refresh rate to 30Hz and she was complaining about graphics problems).<\/p>\n<h2>Why Should Small Businesses Care?<\/h2>\n<p>You might be thinking, \u201cI\u2019m not a gamer or a video editor \u2014 why should I care?\u201d Fair point. But refresh rate affects more than just fancy graphics and fast games.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Better Productivity:<\/strong> Higher refresh rates mean smoother scrolling and less eye strain. If you or your staff stare at screens all day, this matters.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Customer Experience:<\/strong> Got a digital menu, presentation screen or shop display? A jittery screen gives off a cheap, unprofessional vibe.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Video Calls and Presentations:<\/strong> A good screen makes your video look crisp and clear. No one wants to look like a pixelated ghost in a business pitch.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Future-Proofing:<\/strong> Tech moves fast. Buying a monitor or TV with a higher refresh rate now means it\u2019ll still feel fast and smooth in a few years\u2019 time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>What\u2019s a Good Refresh Rate?<\/h2>\n<p>This depends on what you\u2019re doing. Here\u2019s a quick guide:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>60Hz:<\/strong> The basic standard. Fine for general office work like emails and documents.<\/li>\n<li><strong>75Hz:<\/strong> A small upgrade. Smoother scrolling and easier on the eyes.<\/li>\n<li><strong>120Hz or 144Hz:<\/strong> Lovely and smooth. Great for video calls, design work, and multi-tasking. A solid pick if you want things to feel modern.<\/li>\n<li><strong>240Hz and above:<\/strong> Honestly? This is overkill for most business stuff unless you\u2019re a design studio or testing high-speed apps.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>So if you\u2019re buying screens for a small office or a home workspace, aim for at least 75Hz. If you\u2019ve got the budget, go for 120Hz or higher. Your eyes will thank you.<\/p>\n<h2>Monitors vs TVs \u2013 Which Is Better for Business Use?<\/h2>\n<p>It\u2019s tempting to pick up a cheap <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/2024\/07\/using-smart-tvs-as-monitors-in-a-small-business-a-comprehensive-guide\/\">smart telly for your office<\/a>, especially if it\u2019s going to be used in a waiting room or reception. But here\u2019s the thing \u2014 TVs and monitors aren\u2019t quite the same.<\/p>\n<h3>Monitors<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Made for close-up viewing<\/li>\n<li>Lower input lag (less delay between what you do and what shows on screen)<\/li>\n<li>Sharper text and more accurate colours<\/li>\n<li>Usually higher refresh rates and faster response times<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>TVs<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Better for big, bold visuals like slideshows or menus<\/li>\n<li>Tend to be cheaper for big sizes<\/li>\n<li>Often limited to 60Hz, even if they say \u201c120Hz\u201d on the box (watch out for fake refresh rates!)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If your team is going to be working on spreadsheets, designing things, or doing anything detailed, go for proper monitors. If it\u2019s just for a display screen in a shop or caf\u00e9, a telly might be enough \u2014 just don\u2019t expect it to look as sharp up close.<\/p>\n<h2>What About Laptops?<\/h2>\n<p>Lots of business owners use laptops these days, especially if you\u2019re always on the go. The problem is, many budget laptops come with 60Hz screens \u2014 and that\u2019s fine for basic work. But if you do long hours or visual tasks, consider plugging in an external monitor with a higher refresh rate.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s like giving your laptop a caffeine boost \u2014 suddenly everything looks smoother and faster.<\/p>\n<h2>How to Check Your Screen\u2019s Refresh Rate<\/h2>\n<p>Not sure what your screen\u2019s refresh rate is? Here\u2019s how to check on Windows:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Right-click on the desktop and choose \u201cDisplay settings\u201d.<\/li>\n<li>Scroll down and click \u201cAdvanced display settings\u201d.<\/li>\n<li>Look for the bit that says \u201cRefresh rate\u201d.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>On a Mac?<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Click the Apple menu and go to \u201cSystem Settings\u201d.<\/li>\n<li>Click \u201cDisplays\u201d.<\/li>\n<li>Hold down the Option key and click \u201cScaled\u201d to see refresh rate options.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>Does Refresh Rate Affect Internet Speed or Software?<\/h2>\n<p>Short answer: No. Refresh rate only affects how smooth things *look* on your screen. It doesn\u2019t change how fast your computer downloads things or loads software. But it can <em>feel<\/em> faster because you\u2019re seeing things update more smoothly.<\/p>\n<h2>How Much Should You Spend?<\/h2>\n<p>You don\u2019t need to spend a fortune. Here\u2019s a rough price guide as of 2025:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>60Hz monitors:<\/strong> \u00a380\u2013\u00a3120<\/li>\n<li><strong>75Hz\u2013100Hz:<\/strong> \u00a3100\u2013\u00a3160<\/li>\n<li><strong>120Hz\u2013144Hz:<\/strong> \u00a3150\u2013\u00a3250<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>TVs vary more depending on size, but be careful \u2014 some budget TVs fake their refresh rates with \u201cmotion smoothing\u201d that actually makes videos look weird. If you\u2019re getting a screen for work, always check the *real* refresh rate in the specs, not just the marketing fluff.<\/p>\n<h2>Tips for Choosing the Right Screen<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Think about distance:<\/strong> Are you sitting close to it? Then you want a monitor with a sharp display and high refresh rate.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Consider your work:<\/strong> If it\u2019s mostly emails and docs, 60Hz is fine. If you do design, video, or live meetings \u2014 go higher.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Check the ports:<\/strong> Make sure your PC or laptop can actually support the refresh rate (especially if you are running two or more monitors). You might need a DisplayPort or HDMI 2.0 cable.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Buy from a trusted seller:<\/strong> Some budget screens look great in the listing but awful in real life.\u00a0 Either talk to a local retailer (if you can find one) or use someone like <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3HaQkks\">Amazon<\/a> <em>(link is an affiliate link that will not cost you anything &#8211; see our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/2016\/01\/affiliate-disclosure\/\">affiliate disclosure page<\/a> for details)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n<p>Getting the refresh rate right might seem like a tiny detail \u2014 but it can make a big difference in how your business looks and runs. Whether it\u2019s making your team more comfortable during long workdays, giving customers a better impression, or just helping things feel a bit smoother, it\u2019s worth paying attention to.<\/p>\n<p>So next time you\u2019re upgrading your setup or picking out screens for your shop, caf\u00e9, or home office, remember: refresh rate isn\u2019t just for gamers \u2014 it\u2019s for anyone who wants a screen that works as hard as they do.<\/p>\n<p>Happy screen shopping!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 4<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes : <\/span><\/span>Why Refresh Rates Matter for Your Small Business Screens If you\u2019ve ever looked at a screen and thought, \u201cSomething just doesn\u2019t feel right,\u201d it might not be your eyes \u2014 it could be your screen\u2019s refresh rate. Sounds techy, right? But don\u2019t worry. We\u2019re going to break it down in simple terms and explain why [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,5,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2443","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-business-advice","category-computers","category-general"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2443","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2443"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2443\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2443"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2443"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2443"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}