Where is there no high refresh rate Mac’s?

[KooL BeAnZ]

It’s 2020 and I’ve been used to High Hz for several years now, at first 120/144, then 240 and now 360Hz.

I completely understand 240/360 is overkill for a Mac, however, a ProMotion display of 120/144Hz should have IMO been offered/standard by now, at least in 2020.

Are there any rumours, hints, clues or anything speculative that Apple may bring higher refresh displays to Laptops/Desktops?

Of course iPad has had them, iPhone should be getting them next year, so a smoother experience on Mac would be welcome for sure.

 

[ght56]

My guess would be that this will likely be something we see with future Apple Silicon Macs and that Apple has not thus far been satisfied with the battery life and/or the fluidity of the user experience (when switching between lower and higher refresh rates to preserve battery life). The MacBook Pro's/Air's big selling point has always been battery life that is among the best in its class, and some changes to the display have the potential to impact that. Apple is generally not early adopters of new designs like this, and only release them once they are satisfied they work extremely well in day-to-day operations. (I would also venture the guess that battery life combined with production challenges contributed to the decision for the 12 to not feature Pro Motion this time around.) These are just my guesses, though.

 

[KooL BeAnZ]

I understand the battery drain for sure.

Pro models should however have 120Hz minimum though, it’s been almost 10 years as a standard in the PC space.

We’ve moved onto 360Hz and now still stuck with 60Hz on Mac. It makes a use difference!

But I hope soon we see it happen. Maybe with MiniLED and potential power savings.

 

[gnasher729]

I couldn't care less for the refresh rate, 60 Hz is just fine for me. Everything above that is just a waste of power. And just because it's 2020, that's no reason to change the refresh rate. Maybe you can explain what the "use difference" would be. As I'm typing here, 5 Hz would actually work just fine!

 

[theluggage]

I completely understand 240/360 is overkill for a Mac, however, a ProMotion display of 120/144Hz should have IMO been offered/standard by now, at least in 2020.

My guess would be that the culprit may be those "wonderful" Intel integrated graphics used in everything other than the 5k iMac not supporting faster graphics... For the iMac, 5k at 120Hz is going some and I doubt that there are that many 120Hz-capable 5k panels around. Then it's only in the last year or two that Thunderbolt has supported DisplayPort 1.4. Maybe when the Apple Silicon Macbooks with mini-LED displays appear?

I couldn't care less for the refresh rate, 60 Hz is just fine for me.

I dunno - at 60Hz, text still blurs when you scroll, mouse pointers still "submarine" a bit. I suspect that after a few hours of 120Hz, going back 60Hz will make you want to claw out your eyes.

OK, 120Hz may make your movies look like cheap daytime soaps until your brain adjusts (weird, that), but that only takes a few weeks.

 

[ght56]

I couldn't care less for the refresh rate, 60 Hz is just fine for me. Everything above that is just a waste of power. And just because it's 2020, that's no reason to change the refresh rate. Maybe you can explain what the "use difference" would be. As I'm typing here, 5 Hz would actually work just fine!

Scrolling is smoother, UI animations are smoother, cursor jitters a bit less, etc. Combined with a fast response rate it is possible to easily read small font while scrolling. It's not the end all of differences but it is noticeable, at least in regard to 60 vs 120. Above 120 and I cannot personally tell you a difference. If Apple can get good battery life on 120 with their new displays, it would be a usability upgrade.

 

[Nermal]

The funny thing is that we've actually gone backwards; my 20-year-old iMac can do 117 Hz but the latest model can only do 60.

 

[KooL BeAnZ]

My guess would be that the culprit may be those "wonderful" Intel integrated graphics used in everything

This could be the reason.

Here’s hoping the M1X or M2 and beyond can support 120Hz.

 

[KooL BeAnZ]

Above 120 and I cannot personally tell you a difference. If Apple can get good battery life on 120 with their new displays, it would be a usability upgrade.

240Hz is so noticeable, especially as I game a lot in competitive MP.

360Hz is minor, but difference is there.

However for normal use, 120Hz is completely fine & should be the standard/norm IMO.

 

[Marty_Macfly]

Hi All,


I’m getting 144hz setting available on screen. Is this a true setting, or just “Whats available”?! When I select it, the screen is more white, but the cursor etc. Seems more smooth in motion.

I.e. I finally connected up the M1 MBA to the USB-C Hub , then USB-C Connection to Display port on the Monitor


Be good to hear your thoughts

Martin