Refresh Rate on a VR Title: What 90Hz Means

What refresh rate means on a title

Refresh rate is the number of times per second a display updates the image it shows. It is stated in hertz, abbreviated Hz. A refresh rate of 90Hz means the display updates the image 90 times each second. Refresh rate is one of the display words that may appear on a VR headset title, alongside words like resolution and field of view.

When a title includes a refresh rate figure, that figure counts as one of the stated details you can compare. When a title does not include one, refresh rate is a detail the seller did not state. The maker page is the first place to look for a refresh rate figure that a title omits.

90Hz as stated on the VIVE Focus Vision page

The VIVE Focus Vision maker page lists a 90 Hz refresh rate in its display section. The page describes the headset as a hybrid standalone PC VR headset that works on its own or connected to a PC. The 90Hz figure is one display spec among several on the page.

Refresh rate appears on that page alongside resolution and field of view, and each figure is listed separately. Refresh rate describes how often the display updates; resolution describes the pixel count, and field of view describes the extent of the visible scene. These are separate stated details, not interchangeable words. For the difference between those display words, see resolution versus refresh rate.

The VIVE Focus Vision page also states the headset's type as standalone and PC VR, which means the refresh rate figure applies to both modes of use. A standalone headset that can connect to a PC carries the same display spec on the maker page, and the refresh rate figure is part of that spec.

Comparing refresh rate figures between titles

When two titles state different refresh rate figures, the comparison is between two stated details. A higher figure means the display updates more times per second than a lower figure. The site's method compares stated details and does not claim that a higher figure will appear different to any particular viewer.

Refresh rate figures are also related to how long each frame stays visible, a detail called persistence. A display that refreshes more often updates the image more frequently, but persistence is a separate display word. For the relationship between the two, see refresh rate versus persistence.

A headset title that states a higher refresh rate figure and one that states a lower figure are still both display words within a longer set of details. The site's guides present each headset's stated details side by side, so refresh rate appears in context with the other words on the title.

What refresh rate does not tell you

A refresh rate figure describes update frequency only. It does not describe the pixel count, the viewing angle, the lens type, or the panel type. Those details appear as separate words on a title, each answering a different question about the display.

• Refresh rate is not resolution; resolution is the pixel count stated separately.
• Refresh rate is not field of view; field of view is the extent of the visible scene, stated separately.
• Refresh rate is not lens type; pancake and Fresnel lenses appear as their own title words. See pancake versus Fresnel lenses.
• Refresh rate is not a claim about how content will appear to any individual viewer.

Reading refresh rate on a budget headset title

Budget headset titles may or may not include a refresh rate figure. When they do, the figure is one stated detail you can compare against other titles. When they do not, the detail is simply not stated by the seller, and no assumption should be made about it.

To read a budget title for refresh rate, look for the word "Hz" or "refresh rate" in the headline or the bullet list. Check whether the figure appears with other display words. If it is missing, the maker page is the place to check.

The site's budget headset guides compare stated details across multiple titles. When refresh rate is stated, it appears in the list of details. When it is not stated, the guide notes the missing detail instead of inventing a figure.

Refresh rate figures on budget titles are often stated in the bullet list rather than the headline. A title that leads with the headset type or storage size may still carry refresh rate in the display details below. Reading the whole title, including the bullets, is the way to see every stated detail.

Refresh rate and the rest of a title

A headset title carries more than display words. It also states the headset type, storage capacity, controllers, and other details. Refresh rate is one word in that set, and it does not carry more weight than the others. The site compares stated details as a group, not one word at a time.

For a budget headset, the headset type (standalone, PC VR, or PlayStation) and the included controllers are stated details that appear on the title alongside display words like refresh rate. The standalone headset guide and PC VR headset guide list stated details together, including display words and the headset type.

What to pick for your situation

Questions

What does refresh rate mean on a VR headset title?

Refresh rate is the number of times per second a display updates the image, stated in hertz. The VIVE Focus Vision maker page lists a 90Hz refresh rate, meaning that display updates 90 times per second.

Does a higher refresh rate figure mean a better headset?

Not by itself. The site compares stated details, and refresh rate is one display word among several. A higher figure means more frequent updates per second, but the site does not rank headsets by refresh rate alone.

What if a title does not state a refresh rate?

The detail is not stated by the seller. The maker page is the place to check for a stated figure. The site treats an unstated detail as missing from the available evidence.

Is refresh rate the same as resolution?

No. Resolution is the pixel count; refresh rate is the update frequency. They are separate display words on a title, and each answers a different question.

Where can I compare refresh rate figures between headsets?

The buying guides list stated details for each headset. You can compare titles in the standalone guide or the PC VR guide.