What is Response time?
Response time tells how fast a pixel can change from one color to another, which is essentially from one specific shade of gray to another . Response time is usually given in milliseconds as a single frame on a 60Hz screen stays for around 17ms. A lower response time is always better
Users tend to mix response time and input lag together, which are both separate terms referring to separate quantities.
Previously only TN panels were able to achieve the 1 GtG response time however IPS and VA panels have caught up and now they too boast such a low response time, yet OLED monitors have won the battle of achieving the lowest response time (lower than 0.1ms).
Ghosting is a common issue found on monitors that have a longer response time. However it is more commonly observed while playing fast paced games or movies. Alternatively if you overdrive your monitor too much then inverse ghosting or pixel overshoot can also be experienced.
In order to lower the amount of ghosting experienced, you should look for a monitor that has a response time of 1ms GtG or lower. The following table can help you choose the appropriate response time according to your refresh rate.
| Refresh Rate (Hz) | Image Update (milliseconds) | Recommended Pixel Response Time |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | 16.67 | less than 15 ms |
| 100 | 10 | less than 10 ms |
| 144 | 6.94 | less than 6 ms |
| 200 | 5 | less than 5 ms |
| 240 | 4.16 | less than 4ms |
If you are looking for monitors that offer amazing response times, the following articles can prove to be a great help: