High Refresh Rate Gaming Monitors: Are They Worth the Upgrade?

Staring at your screen, you swear you clicked first. But the killcam tells a different story. Sound familiar? For many South African gamers, that split-second lag isn't just about 'gitting gud'... it might be your monitor. The buzz around high refresh rate gaming monitors is real, but let's cut through the noise. Are they truly worth your hard-earned Rands, or is it just another expensive spec to chase? Let's dive in.

Adata SC735 1TB High-Performance External SSD with USB-C / 1,050MB/s Read & 1,000MB/s Write Speeds / Cable-Free Mobile Phone Compatibility / Gaming Handheld Compatible / Supports Latest Game Consoles / Multi-OS Support / SC735-1000G-CCBK/GY

R2199.00In Stock

Razer Kishi V3 Gaming Controller / Supports Android and iPhone / Full-Sized Console-Style Controller / Dual mouse-click back buttons / Razer Sensa HD Immersive Haptics / RZ06-03550100-R3M1

R2999.00In Stock

Turtle Beach Atom Mobile Game Controller with Bluetooth for Cloud Gaming on Android Mobile Devices with Compact Shape, Console Style Controls, Low Latency Bluetooth - Red / TBS-0766-05

R2499.00In Stock

MSI Claw 8 AI+ A2VM Handheld Touchscreen Gaming Console / Intel Core Ultra 7 258V / 32GB LPDDR5X RAM / 1TB NVMe SSD / 8" FHD+ (1920 x 1200), 120 Hz, Touchscreen Display / Intel® Arc 140V Graphics / 2 x USB Type-C (Supports Thunderbolt 4 / DisplayPort / Power Delivery 3.0) / 1 x Micro SD Card Reader / 1 x Headphone and Microphone combo jack / 1x Fingerprint Reader / Intel® Killer Wi-Fi 7 BE1750 Wireless LAN / Bluetooth 5.4 / Windows 11 Home (64bit) / 2 × 2W Speakers, Hi-Res Audio ready / 6-Cell, 80Whr Battery / 1 Year Warranty / CLAW-8-AI-A2VM-067ZA

R18999.00In Stock

Lenovo Legion Go S 8APU1 Handheld Touchscreen Gaming Console - Black / AMD Ryzen™ Z1 Extreme / 16GB LPDDR5X RAM / 1TB NVMe SSD / 8.8" WUXGA (1920 x 1200), Touch Screen, 100% sRGB(Typical), 500nits(Typical), IPS-Level Display/ Integrated AMD Radeon™ Graphics / 2x USB Type-C support (DisplayPort™ 1.4 / Power Delivery 3.0) / 1 x Card Reader / 1 x Headphone and Microphone combo jack / AMD Wi-Fi® 6E RZ616 Wireless / Bluetooth 5.3 / SteamOS / 2 Stereo Speakers / 4-Cell, Li-ion, 55.5Whr Battery / 1 Year Warranty / 83N6002ESA

R17499.00In Stock

Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL iPad & Android Tablet Gaming Controller / Full-Sized Console-Style Controller / Fits Phones and Tablets up to 10” / Razer Sensa HD Immersive Haptics / RZ06-05470100-R3M1

R5199.00In Stock

From Lag to Liquid Smooth: What is Refresh Rate?

Before we decide if an upgrade is worth it, let's quickly break down the tech. Think of your monitor's refresh rate, measured in Hertz (Hz), as the number of times it updates the image on screen every second. A standard 60Hz monitor refreshes 60 times per second. A high refresh rate gaming monitor, like a 144Hz model, refreshes 144 times per second.

It’s a simple concept with a massive impact:

• 60Hz: The old standard. Fine for office work and slower games.
• 120Hz/144Hz: The sweet spot for most gamers. The jump from 60Hz is immediately noticeable, delivering buttery-smooth motion.
• 240Hz and above: The pro-tier. Aimed at esports athletes where every single frame counts.

More frames per second mean motion looks less blurry, animations are cleaner, and you receive visual information just a little bit faster than your opponent on a 60Hz screen.

The Real-World Advantage: Where High Refresh Rates Shine ✨

So, does it actually make you a better gamer? In certain scenarios, absolutely.

Competitive Shooters (Valorant, CS:GO, Apex Legends)

This is where a high refresh rate gaming monitor provides a clear competitive edge. When an enemy peeks around a corner, your 144Hz monitor shows you their movement milliseconds before a 60Hz screen would. This tiny window can be the difference between landing the first shot and staring at a respawn timer. It reduces input lag and makes tracking fast-moving targets feel incredibly intuitive.

MSI Claw 8 AI+ A2VM Handheld Touchscreen Gaming Console / Intel Core Ultra 7 258V / 32GB LPDDR5X RAM / 1TB NVMe SSD / 8" FHD+ (1920 x 1200), 120 Hz, Touchscreen Display / Intel® Arc 140V Graphics / 2 x USB Type-C (Supports Thunderbolt 4 / DisplayPort / Power Delivery 3.0) / 1 x Micro SD Card Reader / 1 x Headphone and Microphone combo jack / 1x Fingerprint Reader / Intel® Killer Wi-Fi 7 BE1750 Wireless LAN / Bluetooth 5.4 / Windows 11 Home (64bit) / 2 × 2W Speakers, Hi-Res Audio ready / 6-Cell, 80Whr Battery / 1 Year Warranty / CLAW-8-AI-A2VM-067ZA

R18999.00In Stock

Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL iPad & Android Tablet Gaming Controller / Full-Sized Console-Style Controller / Fits Phones and Tablets up to 10” / Razer Sensa HD Immersive Haptics / RZ06-05470100-R3M1

R5199.00In Stock

Razer Kishi V3 Gaming Controller / Supports Android and iPhone / Full-Sized Console-Style Controller / Dual mouse-click back buttons / Razer Sensa HD Immersive Haptics / RZ06-03550100-R3M1

R2999.00In Stock

Lenovo Legion Go S 8APU1 Handheld Touchscreen Gaming Console - Black / AMD Ryzen™ Z1 Extreme / 16GB LPDDR5X RAM / 1TB NVMe SSD / 8.8" WUXGA (1920 x 1200), Touch Screen, 100% sRGB(Typical), 500nits(Typical), IPS-Level Display/ Integrated AMD Radeon™ Graphics / 2x USB Type-C support (DisplayPort™ 1.4 / Power Delivery 3.0) / 1 x Card Reader / 1 x Headphone and Microphone combo jack / AMD Wi-Fi® 6E RZ616 Wireless / Bluetooth 5.3 / SteamOS / 2 Stereo Speakers / 4-Cell, Li-ion, 55.5Whr Battery / 1 Year Warranty / 83N6002ESA

R17499.00In Stock

Turtle Beach Atom Mobile Game Controller with Bluetooth for Cloud Gaming on Android Mobile Devices with Compact Shape, Console Style Controls, Low Latency Bluetooth - Red / TBS-0766-05

R2499.00In Stock

Adata SC735 1TB High-Performance External SSD with USB-C / 1,050MB/s Read & 1,000MB/s Write Speeds / Cable-Free Mobile Phone Compatibility / Gaming Handheld Compatible / Supports Latest Game Consoles / Multi-OS Support / SC735-1000G-CCBK/GY

R2199.00In Stock

Fast-Paced Action & Racing Games

Even in single-player games like DOOM Eternal or racing sims, the difference is profound. The world feels more solid and connected. Whipping your view around doesn't result in a blurry mess; instead, the environment remains crisp and clear, making the entire experience far more immersive. For anyone who craves that ultra-responsive feel, the upgrade is undeniable.

Before You Buy: Is Your Rig Ready for the Upgrade?

Here’s the crucial reality check: a fast monitor needs a powerful PC to feed it. A 240Hz monitor is wasted if your graphics card can only produce 70 frames per second (FPS). Your GPU and CPU must be capable of consistently pushing frame rates that match or exceed your monitor's refresh rate to see the full benefit.

It’s about building a balanced system. You need to decide what’s more important for your budget and play style: higher resolution (like 4K) for stunning detail, or a higher refresh rate for supreme smoothness. For many competitive gamers, 1080p or 1440p at 144Hz+ is the perfect balance.

Smooth Gaming Beyond the Desk 🚀

The quest for smooth, high-refresh-rate gameplay isn't confined to the desktop anymore. We're seeing this premium technology migrate to the exciting world of handheld gaming consoles, which pack serious power into a portable form factor.

Giants like ASUS with their ROG Ally, and new contenders from Lenovo, are packing 120Hz screens into these devices. With established brands like MSI also innovating in the portable space, it's clear that you don't have to be tied to a desk for a premium, fluid gaming experience.

Lenovo Legion Go S 8ARP1 Handheld Touchscreen Gaming Console - Black / AMD Ryzen™ Z2 Go / 16GB LPDDR5X RAM / 512B NVMe SSD / 8.8" WUXGA (1920 x 1200), Touch Screen, 100% sRGB(Typical), 500nits(Typical), IPS-Level Display/ Integrated AMD Radeon™ Graphics / 2x USB Type-C support (DisplayPort™ 1.4 / Power Delivery 3.0) / 1 x Card Reader / 1 x Headphone and Microphone combo jack / AMD Wi-Fi® 6E RZ616 Wireless / Bluetooth 5.3 / SteamOS / 2 Stereo Speakers / 4-Cell, Li-ion, 55.5Whr Battery / 1 Year Warranty / 83L3004VSA

R13499.00In Stock

Razer Kishi V3 Pro XL iPad & Android Tablet Gaming Controller / Full-Sized Console-Style Controller / Fits Phones and Tablets up to 10” / Razer Sensa HD Immersive Haptics / RZ06-05470100-R3M1

R5199.00In Stock

Microsoft Xbox Wireless Controller - Carbon Black / Hybrid D-Pad / 3.5mm Stereo Headset Jack / Textured Triggers And Bumpers / Compatible for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Android And iOS / QAT-00009

R1599.00In Stock

Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot Wireless Smart Game Controller for Windows PC, Wired for Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One – Rotating Modules, Display Dashboard, Hall-Effect Sticks, Remappable Buttons, Bluetooth / TBS-0120-05

R3199.00In Stock

Turtle Beach Atom Mobile Game Controller with Bluetooth for Cloud Gaming on Android Mobile Devices with Compact Shape, Console Style Controls, Low Latency Bluetooth - Red / TBS-0766-05

R2499.00In Stock

Razer Kishi V3 Pro Gaming Controller / Supports Android, iPhone & iPad Mini / Full-Sized Console-Style Controller / Fits Phones and Tablets up to 8” / Razer Sensa HD Immersive Haptics / RZ06-05460100-R3M1

R4199.00In Stock

The Verdict: Are They Worth It?

For competitive gamers in South Africa, the answer is a resounding yes. A high refresh rate gaming monitor is one of the most noticeable and impactful upgrades you can make to your setup. For casual players who enjoy immersive single-player titles, it's a fantastic quality-of-life improvement that makes everything feel more responsive.

If your PC is up to the task, moving from 60Hz to 144Hz or higher isn't just an upgrade; it’s like seeing what you've been missing all along.