What is HFR? High frame rates are increasingly important to the average viewers, especially for those big on sports broadcasts or gaming – but, like many TV-related acronyms out there, HFR can befuddle and confuse anyone not in the know.
Put simply, HFR is short for high frame rate, and you’ve probably heard the term in relation to the best TVs, next-generation game consoles, and even the new Apple TV 4K (2021). In general, frame rates are getting higher, but why is that so important? Let’s give you some context on the crucial display metric and what’s currently changing in the world of HFR TVs.
What is a frame rate?
Any moving image is composed of a series of still pictures or frames, which, when played back in quick succession, are perceived by the brain as an image in motion – hence the term ‘motion pictures’. The more frames per a second (fps), the smoother and more fluid the motion, and the greater the level of detail that can be contained within that moving image.
What frame rate is used at the cinema?
In the early days of cinema, frame rates varied from 16 to 26fps, but the introduction of sound in the late 1920s necessitated a standard to sync the image with the optical soundtrack. It was decided to use 24fps, primarily because most cinemas at the time could handle that particular frame rate, and has remained the standard in film production (incredibly) for the last hundred years.
What is the frame rate for TV?
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