[ GLOSSARY DEFINITION ]
Display
Response Time
How fast a pixel changes color (ms); lower is better for smooth motion and less ghosting.
Also known as:
Pixel Response Time
Full Definition & Technical Explanation
Response time measures how quickly a pixel transitions between colors, in milliseconds. Phone OLEDs reach ~1 ms; budget IPS laptops may show 20–25 ms, which causes motion blur and ghosting in fast scenes.
See Response time: 1 ms in display tests. It matters most for gaming and scrolling.
Where Response Time Matters
Smartphones
Tablets
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Response Time?
How fast a pixel changes color (ms); lower is better for smooth motion and less ghosting.
What terms are related to Response Time?
Related Display terms include Refresh Rate, FPS, OLED, IPS LCD.
Related Technical Terms
Refresh Rate
How often the screen redraws per second (Hz); higher feels smoother but uses more power.
Display
FPS
How many frames a device renders per second; higher FPS means smoother games and video.
Gaming
OLED
Each pixel emits its own light, enabling true blacks, infinite contrast, and ultra-thin panels.
Display
IPS LCD
Liquid-crystal display with in-plane switching for good color and viewing angles, lit by a backligh…
Display