Does PS4 Support 144Hz?

If you go shopping for a gaming monitor these days, you will note that the scene has completely changed since the time the PS4 generation was released.

During the time when PS4 was released 60Hz gaming monitors were still considered the holy grail.

However, with the advancement in PC gaming hardware and with the PS5 generation already out there, 60Hz refresh rate and in turn 60 FPS gameplay is simply not enough. Gamers these days look for 120 FPS+ gaming, hence the fact that 144Hz gaming monitors have become the staple gaming monitors.

So if you have a PS4, you may ask “Does PS4 support 144Hz monitors?”

Well, the answer to that question can be divided into two parts. Firstly as far as the basic support for the monitor goes, then yes, PS4 WILL display your game on a 144Hz monitor. 

The second part, however, is a bummer. PS4 will NOT support gaming at 144FPS on a 144Hz monitor. As such, a 144Hz monitor for PS4 alone can be a serious waste of resources.

Let me break this question down further to help you understand.

Refresh Rate vs Frame Rate

Before I continue on to the question at hand, it is important to first understand the difference between refresh rate and frame rate.

Refresh rate is the characteristic of a monitor. It tells you how many times the monitor shows a new image (refresh) on the screen in a second.

A 60Hz and 144Hz monitor refreshes the image 60 and 144 times respectively.

The higher the refresh rate, the smoother the monitor has the POTENTIAL to show motion.

I say potential because this is where the frame rate comes into play.

Frame rate is the function of the gaming hardware. It tells you how many frames are actually being delivered from the gaming console to the monitor.

This highly depends upon how powerful the gaming hardware. The more powerful it is, the faster it will be able to render the game frames and send them to the display.

The point to note here is that just because the monitor has the capacity to show 60 or 144 frames in a second, does not mean that it actually will. That depends on the gaming hardware it is connected to.

Gameplay Modes Supported by PS4

Another very important characteristic of PS4 and all of its variants that you need to understand is that they all follow a very strict set of gameplay modes.

Display modes are basically the resolution and the max frame rate the console supports.

These are as follows:

For Original PS4 and PS4 Slim

• 1080 @ 30 FPS – Primary
• 1080 @ 60 FPS – Almost nonexistent

It should be noted that the VAST majority of the games on the Original PS4 and PS4 Slim conform to 1080P @ 30 FPS. There are some, like Overwatch and Fortnite, that can be used to 1080P @ 60FPS.

For PS4 Pro

• 1080 @ 30 FPS
• 1080 @ 60 FPS – Primary
• 4K @ 30 FPS – Primary
• 4K @ 60 FPS

PS4 Pro is beefier in terms of hardware and performance and therefore it supports 4K resolution mode as well. But the vast majority of the 4K games are only limited to 30 FPS only.

It is absolutely worth noting here that unlike with gaming PCs where you have the flexibility in choosing the resolution, aspect ratio, and other graphics settings. 

With PS4 and its variants, like all gaming consoles, that is not possible. It only strictly follows the gameplay modes listed above and nothing else.

Also Read: Does PS4 Support Ultrawide Monitor?

This brings me to the question at hand.

So Does PS4 Support 144Hz Monitor?

As far as basic support goes, yes PS4 CAN work with a 144Hz monitor but as alluded to earlier, there are two parts to this question.

• Will PS4 Work if Connected to a 144Hz Monitor at All?
• Does PS4 Support 144Hz monitor at 144FPS?

Let me discuss each of these points separately.

Will PS4 Work if Connected to a 144Hz Monitor at All?

If you were to hook up your PS4 to a 144Hz, 165Hz, or even a 240Hz monitor via an HDMI cable, then IT WILL work.

Meaning, you should be able to game on an ultra-high refresh rate monitor without any issues.

However, you will not be able to utilize the full extent of the 144Hz monitor’s capabilities:

Does PS4 Support 144Hz monitor at 144FPS?

If you are expecting to play PS4 or PS4 Pro on a 144Hz monitor at rated 144FPS, then you will be thoroughly disappointed.

As mentioned earlier, PS4 /Slim and PS4 Pro follow a strict set of Gameplay modes and 144FPS is NOT part of the gameplay modes supported by a LONG SHOT.

This is because the PS4 hardware is simply not capable enough to render 144 FPS for any of its games.

As a matter of fact, even PS5 isn’t capable of supporting 144FPS. 

So Is a 144Hz Monitor Worth it for PS5?

Well, if you are heading over to the market to buy a GAMING monitor for your PS4 in this day and age, then it will be a hassle finding a mere 60Hz gaming monitor.

The vast majority of the 60Hz monitors are now relegated to office and work demographics.

60Hz gaming monitors are almost non-existent.

This is, of course, due to the fact that 120FPS, 144FPS, and 165FPS gaming has taken over in the PC and the next-gen gaming market.

AND the best part about all this is that 144Hz monitors cost almost as much, if not less than what 60Hz gaming monitors cost at the time of the PS4 release.

Hence, for future-proofing yourself and buying yourself a gadget that you can be proud of, then sure 144Hz gaming monitors are quite worth it.

Final Words

So the answer to the question “Does PS4 Support 144Hz Display?” is a yes. PS4 WILL work with any kind of refresh rate.

Does PS4 Support 144FPS? The short answer is no and the long answer is NOOOOOO. 

144FPS is beyond the capabilities of PS5, let alone PS4 or PS4 Pro.