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Refresh Rate & Camera Guide

In 2026, every LED display is photographed and filmed by visitors. A display that looks great to the eye but terrible on camera is a failed specification.

SPECIFIER QUICK REFERENCE

Refresh Rate Quick Reference

  • Human eye: flicker visible below ~60Hz
  • Smartphone cameras: banding visible below 1,920Hz
  • Phone camera safe: 3,840Hz (recommended minimum for ALL installations)
  • Professional broadcast camera safe: 7,680Hz
  • Slow-motion video safe: 7,680Hz+
  • COB/MiP panels produce less moire than SMD at any refresh rate
  • Greyscale 16-bit minimum for colour-critical applications
RECOMMENDED FOR: All installations where visitors may photograph or film — retail, hospitality, events, corporate, broadcast

Why Refresh Rate Matters

Refresh rate (Hz) is how many times per second the display redraws its image. Low refresh rates cause visible flicker and horizontal scan lines through cameras. In 2026, with everyone filming on smartphones, this is a critical specification.

60 Hz
Human comfort minimum
3,840 Hz
Phone camera safe
7,680 Hz
Broadcast safe

Refresh Rate by Application

REFRESH RATE SPECIFICATION TABLE
ApplicationMin RefreshRecommendedReasoning
Office / internal use1,920 Hz3,840 HzStaff photograph screens
Retail / public space3,840 Hz3,840 HzCustomers film constantly
Hotel lobby / F&B3,840 Hz3,840 HzSocial media content
Broadcast studio3,840 Hz7,680 HzProfessional cameras
Live event / concert3,840 Hz7,680 HzBroadcast + phones
Museum / gallery3,840 Hz3,840 HzVisitor photography
Outdoor advertising1,920 Hz3,840 HzCamera distance helps
Corporate boardroom3,840 Hz3,840 HzVideo conferencing

Moire Pattern Prevention

Moire patterns appear as wavy interference lines when a camera's sensor grid interferes with the LED pixel grid. Prevention strategies:

  • 01Higher refresh rate is the primary solution — 3,840Hz eliminates most moire
  • 02COB/MiP panels with smooth encapsulated surfaces produce significantly less moire than SMD
  • 03Smaller pixel pitch reduces moire visibility at close camera distances
  • 04Anti-moire diffuser films can be applied (accept 5-10% brightness reduction)
  • 05Novastar and Brompton processing systems include software anti-moire settings
  • 06Camera angle adjustment — shooting perpendicular to the display minimises moire

Greyscale & Bit Depth

GREYSCALE BIT DEPTH COMPARISON
Bit DepthGreyscale LevelsTotal ColoursUse Case
14-bit16,384 per channel4.4 trillionStandard indoor
16-bit65,536 per channel281 trillionPremium / broadcast
18-bit262,144 per channel18+ quadrillionUltra-premium / medical

Frequently Asked Questions

For smartphone cameras (most common scenario), 3,840Hz eliminates visible banding. For professional broadcast/cinema cameras, specify 7,680Hz minimum. For slow-motion replay (sports/events), 7,680Hz+ is essential. COB and MiP panels with smooth surfaces naturally reduce moire at any refresh rate.
Flicker appears when the display's refresh rate is close to your phone's frame rate (30/60fps). Below 1,920Hz, most phone cameras will show horizontal bands or flicker. At 3,840Hz+, the refresh is fast enough that every camera frame captures a complete image with no visible artefacts.
For human viewing only (no photography/video), 1,920Hz is technically sufficient. However, in 2026, virtually every space has people taking photos and videos. We recommend 3,840Hz as the baseline for ALL installations, including offices. The cost premium is minimal.
Bit depth determines how many brightness levels each colour channel can display. 14-bit (16,384 levels) is standard; 16-bit (65,536 levels) is premium. Higher bit depth eliminates colour banding in gradients and shadows. For medical imaging or colour-critical work, 16-bit minimum.
Marginally. The power difference between 1,920Hz and 3,840Hz is typically 5-10%, driven by the driver IC (MBI, Chipone). The visual and camera-friendly benefits far outweigh this small power increase. Always specify the higher refresh rate.
Novastar (A10s Pro, A8s) and Brompton (Tessera S8/SX40) are the industry leaders for high refresh rate processing. These systems also provide advanced colour calibration, HDR tone mapping, and anti-moire features. Specify the processing system in your tender documents.
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