Humans don't see in "FPS" like a camera, but perceive a continuous stream, though most people notice smooth motion around 30-60 FPS, while some, especially trained individuals like fighter pilots, can discern details at much higher rates, potentially over 200 FPS, especially with high-contrast, fast-moving visuals, indicating perception varies by individual and conditions.
The bottom line: How many FPS is enough? While research suggests that the human visual system can, under ideal conditions, detect flashes at rates up to 500 FPS, the practical benefits for everyday activities tend to taper off around 120-240 FPS.
The answer is complex because the human eye isn't a camera. It doesn't take snapshots; it processes a continuous stream of information. However, modern research suggests we can perceive visual changes at speeds far exceeding the old "60 FPS" myth—potentially up to 200+ FPS under the right conditions.
The human eye does not see in frame-rates. We see by light. We can perceive up to 1000 fps and perhaps above, but that requires a good, trained eye. The average person couldn't easily perceive a difference once you get up to the 200–300+ ranges.
Many believe that the human eye can't see above certain framerate. But our photoreceptor cells don't capture discrete frames, they convert a continuous flux of photons into electrical signal. Proof: a trained eye can immediately tell the diff between 60, 120, 240, and 480fps.
You'll absolutely notice a difference from 60-120, though most people (not me because I'm a weirdo who emulates NDS games at 24fps) find the biggest issue is how easily you notice going back. So if you're used to 120fps then a 60fps only game can feel slow or jarring.
The question isn't whether the human eye can \"see\" 240Hz versus 144Hz in literal terms—it's whether the visual system can benefit from it. Science and user experience confirm that while the difference is subtle, it is perceptible under the right conditions, particularly in fast-motion contexts.
Since frames as we know it in cameras have only a positive state, we can confidently claim that the frame rate of the brain lies between 8 to 200 fps, depending on the state it is in.
Scientists from the University of Cambridge and Meta Reality Labs have identified the actual resolution limit of human vision, and it is lower than 8K.
The human eye can only perceive 60 fps at most, and the image is already fluid at 30 fps. But above 60 fps, there's no noticeable change for us. Some people can notice the difference above 60 FPS, but there are no records or reliable scientific evidence that we can tell the difference above 60 FPS.
The human eye's theoretical resolution is often compared to 32K (around 32,000 x 18,000 pixels) for a full field of view, but its effective sharp vision is much lower, closer to 5-15 megapixels, as focus is limited to a small central area (fovea), with blurry peripheral vision. While the brain stitches these sharp points together for a detailed scene, we can't perceive a single 32K image all at once; recent research suggests the true limit of resolution is even lower than 8K for screens at typical viewing distances, meaning displays beyond 8K often offer diminishing returns for the naked eye.
Higher FPS numbers mean smoother animation and minor screen tearing. An FPS, or frames per second, is a measure of the quality of a monitor. The higher the FPS, the smoother the image on the screen will be.
Considered the gold standard for casual gaming, 60 FPS offers smooth and responsive gameplay that feels natural to most players. This frame rate works well for most game types and is what many standard monitors support.
Showscan's research indicates that an average of 66.7 frames per second is the upper limit of what the human visual system can perceive, and higher frame rates have no further effect, except in reducing flicker. (See Refresh rate.)
Most experts have a tough time agreeing on an exact number, but the conclusion is that most humans can see at a rate of 30 to 60 frames per second.
A megapixel (typically abbreviated as MP) is a unit equal to roughly one million pixels, used to measure to the resolution of an image, video or camera sensor. For example, a 12-megapixel camera produces images with roughly 12 million total pixels.
But what does that really mean? The phrase 20/20 vision means normal vision, explains J. Kevin McKinney, MD. “A person with 20/20 vision can see what an average individual can see on an eye chart when they are standing 20 feet away,” says Dr.
The human eye's ability to perceive 16K resolution is limited under typical viewing conditions. Do our eyes see in 4K? Yes, human eyes can see 4K and even 8K resolutions. However, it is difficult for human eyes to compare the two.
For the average, non-competitive players, anything beyond 144 is probably overkill. Personally, I find the best balance is around 90 fps. Starting at this range, I very rarely perceive any change in fluidity, even when the fps counter shows otherwise.
The tone at 1000Hz was formerly used to calibrate audio equipment because it is at the center of what humans hear. It also seems to have a modulating effect on the brain center, influencing cerebral neurons. Other researchers believe that 1000Hz in the high gamma range has a healing effect on the body.
The human visual system can process 10 to 12 images per second and perceive them individually, while higher rates are perceived as motion.
Yes, 1000Hz monitors exist, primarily as high-end gaming displays announced at CES 2026, like the Acer Predator XB273U F6, which achieves 1000Hz at a lower 720p resolution using Dynamic Frequency and Resolution (DFR) for extreme esports, while other panels from Asus (ROG Strix Pulsar XG27AQNGV), AOC and Philips offer similar "effective" 1000Hz motion clarity, though often at native 500Hz in QHD or 1000Hz at 720p for ultimate smoothness in competitive games.
Basically everyone notices the difference between 60Hz/120Hz and 240Hz. When talking about 144Hz and 165Hz, the move to 240Hz may not be as immediately visible, but the lower lag and smoother response will still be there regardless of whether or not you can “see” them.
Cats perceive images at a rate of about 100 fps (frames per second,) whereas humans can perceive around 20-30 fps. This is why cats reaction times seem so crazy fast to us.