120Hz vs 165Hz Laptops: The Ultimate Gaming Display Showdown

Have you considered the refresh rate when selecting your gaming laptop? The higher the refresh rate, the smoother the experience and the faster the response. For reference – higher refresh rates boost the quality of your experience with more than just gaming; using a laptop at a higher refresh rate is a pleasure. Both models offer advantages: 120 Hz, 165 Hz, knowing there is a difference between the displays depending on the model and brand. 120 Hz means a smoother, more fluid life for motion, movies, gaming, etc. 165 Hz laptops will give you ultra-smooth performance, ideal for competitive gaming and content creation. 

120Hz or 165Hz: Which Refresh Rate Suits Gaming Laptops Best?

Choosing the best refresh rate is important since it will affect how smoothly the laptop works, which will directly affect performance. For those deciding whether to use 120Hz or 165Hz, the following comparison sheds light on the differences:

Why does refresh rate matter when using gaming laptops? 

A higher refresh rate is necessary for smooth performance and better response time and shows more frames persecond with less motion blur, spending time on your gaming experience. When you are able to run at a reduced input lag, fewer issues are encountered in action games; many players may rely on the higher refresh rate. 

Benefits of higher refresh rates: 

Better response time: Higher refresh rates decrease input lag and can make action gaming more responsive and immediate. 

Smoother gameplay: Consistently displaying more frames per second with a more seamless gaming experience instead of being broken up with limited frames per section. 

Less eye strain: Higher refresh rates can also decrease eye discomfort and fatigue from constant use over a length of time.

Feature Comparison: 120Hz vs 165Hz Gaming Laptops

Feature

120Hz Gaming Laptop

165 Hz Gaming Laptop

Response Time

120 frames per second

165 frames per second

Smoothness & Responsiveness

Smoother than 60 Hz, offering strong performance

Even smoother than 120 Hz

Input Lag

Low input latency

Lower input latency than 120 Hz

Gaming Experience

Suitable for most games

Ideal for competitive esports and fast-paced gaming

Top Gaming Laptops by Model

S.No

Model

Key Feature

Rating

01. MSI Raider 18 HX, Intel 14th Gen i9-14900HX, 46CM UHD+

Gaming Laptop

5.0

02. Dell Gaming G15-5530, Intel Core i5 13th Gen-13450HX

Powerful Performance

3.4

03. ASUS ROG Strix G16, Intel Core i7-13650HX

16-inch Display

3.6

04. HP Smartchoice Omen, AMD Ryzen 7 7840Hs

High-speed Memory & Storage

3.9

MSI Raider 18 HX (Intel Core i9-14900HX, RTX 4080)

The MSI Raider 18 HX is a performance computer with capabilities to meet the needs of a high-end gamer due to its display and the powerful performance of the 2160p MiniLED display. The pictures are the prettiest, the gameplay is the smoothest, and we experience amazing multitasking thanks to the new Intel Core i9 processor and RTX 4080 graphics, which also feature superior cooling.

Specs:

Display: 46 cm UHD+ MiniLED, 120 Hz, 100% DCI-P3, IPS-Level

Processor: 14th Gen Intel Core i9-14900HX, up to 5.8GHz

Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, 12GB GDDR6

Memory/Storage: 32GB DDR5 RAM, 2TB NVMe PCIe Gen4x4 SSD

Connectivity: Intel Killer BE Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4

Audio: 6-speaker Dynaudio surround sound system

Software: Windows 11 Home

Dell G15-5530 (Intel Core i5-13450HX, RTX 3050)

Dell G15 is positioned as the one that targets non-professional and professional players who want believable performance in a stylish case. It is equipped with an RGB backlit keyboard, efficient cooling, and NVIDIA RTX graphics, which should ensure easy gaming and everyday use at a great price.

Specs:

Display: 15.6" FHD WVA AG, 120 Hz

Processor: 13th Gen Intel Core i5-13450HX

Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050, 6GB GDDR6

Memory/Storage: 16GB DDR5 RAM, 512GB SSD

Features: 4-zone RGB backlit keyboard, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth

Software: Windows 11 Home

ASUS ROG Strix G16 (Intel Core i7-13650HX, RTX 4050)

ASUS ROG Strix G16 provides very high-performance gaming, an FHD Plus display, RTX 40 series graphics and high-speed graphics. Its smooth sides, enhanced cooling, and RGB customisation provide a consistent option for gamers who need a fast, appealing, and functional PC.

Specs:

Display: 16" FHD+ (1920 x 1200), 165 Hz, 16:10

Processor: 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13650HX, up to 4.9 GHz

Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050, 6GB GDDR6 (140W ROG Boost)

Memory/Storage: 16GB DDR5 RAM, 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD

Features: 4-zone RGB backlit chiclet keyboard

Software: Windows 11 Home, Microsoft 365 Basic (1 year), Office Home 2024

HP Smartchoice Omen (AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS, RTX 4060)

HP Omen Smartchoice involves gamers who desire immersive performance which is smooth and their performance is consistent. It is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 processor and an RTX 4060 graphics card, which presupposes that the computer possesses rapid storage with a bright FHD display and a long battery life during serious games and their everyday working process.

Specs:

Display: 16.1" FHD, 7ms response time, anti-glare

Processor: 8-core AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS, 16 threads, 16MB L3 cache

Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, 8GB GDDR6

Memory/Storage: 16GB DDR5 RAM, 1TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD

Battery: 6-cell, 83 Wh, fast-charge (50% in 30 minutes)

Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C, 3× USB-A, HDMI 2.1, RJ-45

Software: Windows 11 Home

Laptops Noted for 120 Hz Refresh Rate

MSI Raider 18 HX

The MSI Raider 18 HX has a 120Hz MiniLED display for amazing clarity and performance that makes gaming and other kinds of multitasking satisfying. The laptop offers a full suite of I/O ports for connectivity.

Dell Gaming G15-5530

This Dell laptop features a 120Hz display coupled with an Intel Core i5 processor – giving it enough power for gaming and everyday multitasking. The 16GB RAM will keep your experience smooth while operating several applications.

Recommended Laptops with 165 Hz Refresh Rate

HP Omen: Smart Choice

This laptop is made for long gaming sessions; the 165 Hz refresh rate makes gaming smooth and responsive. The battery has massive capacity for extended gaming sessions before you need to plug it in.

ASUS ROG Strix G16

The ASUS ROG Strix G16 has a 165Hz refresh rate and can be configured to have a 13th-generation Intel Core i7, which gives smooth performance running multiple applications. The 16-inch screen has a sharp image and with multiple ports, you can assist it with peripherals easily.