This 4K monitor with a 1,000Hz refresh rate is impressive but ultimately useless

Is tech going too far?

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We’ve been seeingmonitors with higher refresh ratesas manufacturers continue to push the envelope of what’s possible — and what’s even practical, when you really consider it.

Recently,TCLCSOT revealed a brand new4Kmonitor atDisplay Week 2024with an absolutely blazing fast 1,000Hz refresh rate, easily eclipsing the previous reigning champ theAsus ROG Swift PG248QPwith a refresh rate of 540Hz. Even more impressive is how TCL’s monitor can maintain that same refresh rate while at 4K resolution, a feat that no other monitor has come even close to achieving yet as it’s at least three times faster than the fastestbest 4K monitoron the market.

Sure, having a high refresh rate for gaming is incredibly important and more monitors have been rising to the challenge.Ultra-fast displayswere one of the top trends atCES 2024with brands likeLG,Acer,Samsung,Razer, andMSIshowcasing their new offerings with refresh rates as high as 360Hz and even 480Hz.AMDhas evenoverhauled its FreeSync technology certification processto require gaming monitors to come with a 144Hz refresh rate.

But, ultimately, what’s the point of all this?

Sure, you have the ultimate bragging rights if you can net a 1,000Hz monitor that still maintains 4K resolution (which would be the first of its kind to combine both specs), but what possible use could that have? Let’s say you’re a professional gamer and a high refresh rate is vital. However, official tournaments have a cap of 240Hz, so using a higher than 240Hz monitor for practice will not help you in a professional tournament. It could actively make your performance worse since you’re essentially downgrading to a much lower speed when it matters most.

Well, what if you’re a hardcore gamer who casually competes online with others? There are no restrictions in that space so have at it, right? Except that, other than the bragging rights that come from flexing your cash flow, it would mostly be pointless to invest in such a screen. Considering the advantage it would give you, compared to the price of the monitor itself, and the diminishing returns at 1,000Hz is hardly worth the much higher premium you’ll be paying for it. Especially since you can easily purchase a high-quality monitor with a 240Hz or even 144Hz refresh rate and still have a better monitor than most.

There’s also the fact that this TCL monitor would only be useful for gaming, as other markets like productivity, editing, and art don’t benefit as much from a high refresh rate.

Honestly, it feels like tech manufacturers are participating in this refresh rate arms race solely as a way to show off technological advancements. That’s all well and good except that expending valuable resources to produce these monitors contributes to themassive e-waste issuethat the industry is already facing due to an overabundance of PCs and laptops.

Instead of focusing on creating products like these, TCL should invest its resources instead, on sustainability or efficiency. Not only would it address the e-waste crisis more productively but also improve its bottom line in the process.

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Named by the CTA as a CES 2023 Media Trailblazer, Allisa is a Computing Staff Writer who covers breaking news and rumors in the computing industry, as well as reviews, hands-on previews, featured articles, and the latest deals and trends. In her spare time you can find her chatting it up on her two podcasts, Megaten Marathon and Combo Chain, as well as playing any JRPGs she can get her hands on.

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