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Variable Refresh Rate Displays Have a New Open Standard
Two, actually, with one focused on media and the other on gaming
By Rob Rich Rob Rich News Reporter College for Creative Studies Rob is a freelance tech reporter with experience writing for a variety of outlets, including IGN, Unwinnable, 148Apps, Gamezebo, Pocket Gamer, Fanbolt, Zam, and more. lifewire's editorial guidelines Published on May 2, 2022 12:21PM EDT Fact checked by Jerri Ledford Fact checked by Jerri Ledford Western Kentucky University Gulf Coast Community College Jerri L. Ledford has been writing, editing, and fact-checking tech stories since 1994. Her work has appeared in Computerworld, PC Magazine, Information Today, and many others. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Computers Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) has revealed a pair of new public standards for the performance of Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) displays. A lot of displays support VRR, which is primarily used to deter unwanted visual issues like flickering or creating what looks like tears on the screen. It's a fairly common feature these days, but up until now, it hasn't had an industry-standard number to aim for—unlike, say, screen resolutions. What VESA is doing is providing that standard by way of a series of tests it's calling "Adaptive-Sync Display Compliance Test Specification" (Adaptive-Sync Display CTS). Marcus Lindstrom / Getty Images More precisely, VESA has two different standards for display manufacturers to use going forward: one that focuses on media and one for video games. And it's created special logos for each, with the idea that consumers can look at a box to figure out the VRR rating and how it fits the new standards more easily. The emphasis is being placed on higher refresh rates and lower latency for video games, while the media playback tests look for an absence of screen flickering and jittering. Video Electronics Standards Association Ratings for video games will use the "VESA Certified AdaptiveSync Display" logo and a numerical value for the maximum Adaptive-Sync frame rate (144, 360, etc.). Conversely, the "VESA Certified MediaSync Display" logo doesn't include numbers since its sole focus is to indicate a lack of visual anomalies. In either case, the goal is for you to be able to look at a box and know the VRR display inside won't distort your picture and/or what its maximum frame rate will be with Adaptive-Sync. VESA's new VRR standards are available now for all electronics companies that manufacture applicable hardware to utilize. That being said, it might be a little while before you see the new logos on everything, as companies have to submit their products for testing in order to use them. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire The 8 Best 60-inch TVs of 2022 The 8 Best TVs for Gaming in 2022 ProMotion Display iMac: News and Expected Price, Release Date, Specs; and More Rumors The 9 Best TVs of 2022 How to Change Refresh Rate (Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, etc.) The 9 Best Computer Monitors, Tested by Lifewire Video Frame Rate vs Screen Refresh Rate How to Fix It When a Second Monitor Is Not Working iPhone 13: Release Date, Specs, Price, and News What Is a Refresh Rate? (Monitor Scan Rate) HDMI 2.0 vs 2.1: What to Know Before You Buy The 8 Best 4K Monitors of 2022 How to Choose a Computer Monitor The 6 Best Ultra-Wide Monitors of 2022 The 6 Best 80- to 85-inch TVs of 2022 LG 34UM69G-B Monitor Review: Budget-Friendly and Great for Gaming Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies