Refresh rates are measured in frames per second or Hz. It’s an important feature on a TV, especially for gaming. With a slow refresh rate, the commands you enter on a controller or a mouse/keyboard may not match up with the action on the screen. 

It provides gamers with a smooth experience and the same is true for those watching a movie in 4k or 8k. The higher the refresh rate, the better the onscreen visuals will look, in terms of realism. 

However, TVs, handheld gaming devices, smartphones, and gaming monitors aren’t the only devices with refresh rates.

Do Projectors Have a Refresh Rate?

Projectors do have refresh rates and it’s integral to both the gaming and viewing experience, just like it is on any other screen. With gaming projectors, the higher the refresh rate, the better the overall experience, and the same can be said about watching movies.

Not only do projectors have refresh rates, but some of them have 120Hz or higher, with 120Hz quickly becoming the bottom-line, minimum acceptable refresh rate for gamers. However, some gaming projectors come with native 4k with a 60Hz refresh rate. That may not sound great but for a Playstation 5 or Xbox Series S, it will do.

Most older projectors from a good few years ago had a refresh rate of 30Hz, but the standard nowadays for home theatre projectors is 60Hz while the latest gaming ones are usually capable of 120Hz +.

The gaming industry was already jam-packed with gaming monitors and TVs but now projectors are trying to get in on the action. The BenQ TH690ST is a prime example, with 1080p HD and a 120HZ refresh rate, it makes playing on a gigantic screen that much more enjoyable. 

Unfortunately, there is a price to pay for these things. For instance, if you want one of the best refresh rates on a projector, BenQ also offers the TK700 4k HDR that offers 60Hz at 4k resolution and a much better 240Hz at 1080p. You just need to come up with $1.5k.

Even some of the best-respected gaming TVs like the LG C2 and Sony XR X90K only offer a refresh rate of 120Hz.

But after dumping money on an Xbox Series S or a Playstation 5, especially considering the supply chain issues with the latter, a BenQ TK700 may be a tall order.

Related Article: Are Smartphone Projectors Any Good? (Your Best Options)

Are Short-Throw Projector Refresh Rates the Best?

Short-throw projectors don’t necessarily have the best refresh rates—they’re just better for gaming because of placement and the fact that they include more complex processors for altering short-throw images to match what a long-throw can do. This also means they get a lot hotter. 

While refresh rates differences between short-throw and long-throw projectors are negligible, most companies develop gaming projectors with high refresh rates as short-throw projectors. That’s mostly because they work the easiest with gaming consoles. 

You have to connect a gaming console to your projector so the fact that you can sit them side by side on a table is a huge selling point. Unfortunately, due to the added technology in a short-throw projector, they’re the far more expensive option.

Bottom Line

Projectors do have refresh rates and now that the gaming fever has taken hold over projector manufacturers, there is an extreme focus on producing projectors with high refresh rates. 

Now we have gaming projectors and, although they may not be called that, it’s pretty clear who they are marketing these devices for and they work very well.