Pixel response time is how long a display pixel takes to change from one brightness or shade to another. It is usually reported as gray-to-gray (GtG) or motion picture response time (MPRT), which measure different things; neither is the same as refresh rate. To interpret a monitor’s “1 ms” claim, check which metric it uses and the conditions behind the number.
What pixel response time measures
A display creates an image by changing the brightness of its pixels. Pixel response time describes how long a pixel takes to move from one state to another. The measured transition matters: a pixel may take different amounts of time to move between different shades, so one figure does not necessarily describe every transition.
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GtG and MPRT are not interchangeable
| Metric | What it describes | How to read it |
|---|---|---|
| GtG (gray-to-gray) | The time for a pixel to transition between selected gray levels. | A transition-based response-time measure. A headline figure does not establish that every transition takes the same time. Samsung says its GtG results are measured under internal test conditions and can vary with content and monitor settings. Samsung’s OLED Monitor Buying Guide |
| MPRT (motion picture response time) | The visible persistence or trail associated with a moving image. | It concerns motion blur, not the time for a single gray-level transition. Samsung Display defines it as “the amount of time taken for a trail of a moving pattern to disappear while one frame of the video changes.” Samsung Display’s MPRT glossary |
Because GtG and MPRT describe different phenomena, do not compare their millisecond figures as if they were measurements on one scale. A monitor advertised as “1 ms” should specify which metric that number represents.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteResponse time is different from refresh rate
Refresh rate is how often a display updates its image; response time is how quickly a pixel changes state. Both can influence how motion looks, but a high refresh rate does not make a slow pixel transition fast, and a short response-time claim does not tell you how often the display refreshes. Dell’s gaming-monitor guide
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Why faster is not always cleaner
Slow pixel transitions can leave blur or trails behind moving objects. Monitors may use overdrive—a setting intended to accelerate transitions—but excessive overdrive can push pixels past their target shade. This overshoot can produce inverse ghosting, where a bright or dark halo appears around a moving object. The trade-off depends on the monitor’s settings and the refresh rate being used. RTINGS’ response-time test methodology considers overshoot alongside transition behavior; TCL’s explanation of 1 ms GtG also notes the inverse-ghosting risk from excessive overdrive.
How to judge a monitor’s response-time claim
- Identify the metric. Check whether the specification says GtG or MPRT; they are not equivalent.
- Look beyond the minimum. Response can vary by shade transition, so a single advertised figure is not a guarantee for every pixel change.
- Check the conditions. Settings and content can affect results. Samsung says its GtG claims are based on internal test conditions and may vary with content and monitor settings. Independent testing may also specify the refresh rate and settings used. RTINGS’ methodology
- Consider overshoot as well as speed. A very aggressive overdrive mode may reduce some transition times while introducing inverse ghosting.
- Compare refresh rate separately. Evaluate both specifications for the exact model rather than treating either as a substitute for the other.
For example, Samsung’s UK buying guide gives 0.03 ms GtG as a claim for a Samsung OLED monitor. The guide does not state a publication date, and it qualifies GtG figures as internal measurements that can vary with content and monitor settings. Treat that as a vendor claim for its products, not a general figure for OLED displays or an independent comparison across brands. Samsung’s OLED Monitor Buying Guide
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There is no single general response-time figure established here for displays across manufacturers. For a gaming monitor, the useful comparison is the stated metric plus the model’s transition behavior, overshoot, refresh rate and test settings—not the lowest millisecond number in isolation. MSI’s monitor response-time explanation
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