Refresh rate
Refresh rate is how often a headset’s display updates each second. Learn why higher Hz feels smoother, how it differs from frame rate, and current Varjo headset rates.
What is refresh rate?
Refresh rate refers to the maximum number of fresh images a device can display in one second, measured in Hz. The higher the rate is, the smoother and more natural the image feels. If the refresh rate is too low, the scene can look stuttery, which may contribute to discomfort and cybersickness.
Refresh rate vs. frame rate
Refresh rate is a property of the display (how often it can update). Frate rate (or FPS) is how many times your GPU renders and sends to the display. They are related but not the same, both need to be stable and high for best experience.
Why is a high refresh rate important in VR/XR headsets?
In VR or XR headsets, a high refresh rate is key in creating a realistic immersive experience. If the refresh rate is low, the user can experience nausea, cyber sickness, and discomfort, as the virtual reality environment can look laggy and less realistic. A high enough rate, on the other hand, allows VR and XR users to be immersed in the virtual or mixed reality environment without discomfort or choppiness, especially when combined with other crucial features such as a high resolution, wide field of view, and high frame rate (of the VR or XR software application). When these features are on an optimal level, the user can fully focus on the immersive experience itself and forget about the technology.
In all Varjo VR and XR headsets, the refresh rate is 90 Hz, meaning that the image can be refreshed 90 times per second for the user.
Read more: