If you have ever looked at the technical specifications of Vizio TV models, you may have come across the term “Effective Refresh Rate.” Numbers such as 120 Hz or 240 Hz could give the impression that the TV has a much higher refresh rate than a standard panel with a 60 Hz or 120 Hz refresh rate. Vizio widely used this term in its TV specifications until 2021.
In the technical specifications, you may also come across terms such as “Refresh Rate,” “Dynamic Motion Rate,” and “Clear Action.” Let’s take a closer look at what these terms mean.
Refresh Rate on Vizio TVs
The refresh rate is the number of times a TV’s display can refresh the image per second. It is measured in hertz (Hz). A panel with a 60 Hz refresh rate refreshes the image 60 times per second, while a 120 Hz panel refreshes the image 120 times per second.
The native refresh rate is one of the most important technical specifications when evaluating a TV, especially for gaming and fast-moving content. However, manufacturers do not always emphasize this specification because the native refresh rate of most TV panels is still limited to 60 Hz or 120 Hz. More recently, panels capable of operating at 144 Hz or 165 Hz have appeared, although these refresh rates are generally available when the TV receives a compatible signal through HDMI from a laptop, PC, or game console.
It is important not to confuse the native refresh rate with older Vizio marketing terms such as “Effective Refresh Rate.”
What Is Effective Refresh Rate?
“Effective Refresh Rate” was a marketing term that Vizio used in many of its older TV models.
It was intended to describe the TV’s overall motion performance rather than the actual physical refresh rate of the panel. As a result, an older Vizio TV could have a panel with a native refresh rate of 60 Hz while being advertised with an Effective Refresh Rate of 120 Hz.
For example, the specifications could look like this:
Native Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
Effective Refresh Rate: 120 Hz
This terminology later became the subject of a class-action lawsuit in California. The lawsuit alleged that Vizio had misled consumers by advertising certain TVs with Effective Refresh Rates of 120 Hz and 240 Hz. Vizio denied these allegations.
In 2024, Vizio agreed to a $3 million settlement to resolve the dispute. The settlement also prohibited Vizio from advertising new Vizio-branded TVs using an Effective Refresh Rate expressed in hertz.
As a result, Effective Refresh Rate is now mainly relevant when looking at older Vizio TVs and their technical specifications. For current TVs, the native refresh rate is the more useful specification when determining how fast the display can actually refresh the image.
What Is Dynamic Motion Rate?
Dynamic Motion Rate is another marketing term used by Vizio to describe how well a TV displays moving images.
The term appeared in Vizio TVs when the company began moving away from some of its earlier terminology related to Effective Refresh Rate. Dynamic Motion Rate could take into account the specifications of the TV panel, motion processing, and other technologies used to improve motion performance.
However, Vizio does not provide a detailed explanation of how this rating is calculated. Because the exact measurement method is not publicly defined, Dynamic Motion Rate should be understood as a Vizio-specific specification for describing motion performance.
What Is Clear Action on Vizio TVs?
Clear Action is another Vizio specification related to motion clarity. It describes how clearly the TV displays moving objects and scenes.
One of the methods used to improve motion clarity is backlight scanning. With this technique, the backlight is rapidly turned on and off or adjusted during image reproduction. This reduces the time for which each image remains visible to the eye and can make moving objects appear sharper.
This technique is also known as black frame insertion and is a common way of reducing perceived motion blur. The Clear Action rating is Vizio’s own measure of motion clarity, based on the company’s internal testing and measurement standards.
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