Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) enables your display to update image data in synchronization with your consoles output. The speed your new console can output data will vary dependent on how much processing it is trying to complete. Screen frame rates and refresh speeds are usually locked to a speed. For example, a games video settings could be set to use 60hz which is 60 frames per second. While playing the game you may seem some screen tearing or judder during gameplay. This is usually down to the console or pc not matching the refresh rate at certain times during high intensity data output.
The example shows the result of what can happen when VRR is not used. The refresh speed of the screen has not matched the speed of the device outputting the data. This has caused the image to refresh on screen at different points, creating the tearing effect. If your display is capable of VRR your display will automatically adjust it’s refresh speed to match the out of your pc or gaming console.
Which products incorporate VRR?
VRR has actually been around for a while, with pc gamers using the technology for quite a few years now. The 2 leading pc graphics card manufacturers have their own versions of VRR. Nvidia uses G-Sync whilst AMD uses Freesync. The screen pc owners would use would usually depend on the graphics card you own. If you owned a Nvidia, G-Sync graphics card you would need a G-Sync monitor to take advantage of VRR. AMD graphics card owners should have a Freesync monitor if they want to utilize VRR technology.
The next generation XBox Series consoles have both been confirmed to have Freesync capabilities which will work in tandem with your VRR, next generation ready TV. It’s unclear at the time of writing if Freesync VRR is incorporated in the new PS5 consoles. We expect some compatibility as both PS5 and XBox Series consoles as their graphics hardware are built on AMD architecture. It could be that the PS5 uses HDMI 2.1 VRR which will perform the same as Freesync.
Conclusion
It’s worth noting that not all HDMI 2.1 ready TV’s are capable of VRR. We’ve not included these TV’s in any of our reviews. We’re only including next generation, HDMI 2.1 TV sets that are able to handle every technology the new consoles are capable of. HDMI 2.1 is still relatively new to TV sets and we expect more TV’s to be fully featured, next generation ready during the PS5 and Xbox Series generation.