When shopping for a gaming monitor, you’ll often see “response time” listed as one of the key specifications. But what exactly does response time mean, and what is considered a good response time for gaming?

In this guide, we’ll break down what response time is, how it affects gaming, and the best response times for different types of games.

What Is Response Time in a Gaming Monitor?

Response time refers to how quickly a pixel on your screen can change from one color to another, usually measured in milliseconds (ms).

A lower response time means pixels change faster, which results in:
✅ Less motion blur
✅ Sharper images
✅ Better clarity in fast-paced games

What Is a Good Response Time for Gaming?

The ideal response time depends on the type of games you play:

🎮 Competitive FPS & Esports Games (CS:GO, Valorant, Call of Duty, Apex Legends)

✅ 1ms – 3ms (Best for ultra-fast reactions)
✅ Reduces motion blur and ghosting
✅ Perfect for high-refresh-rate monitors (144Hz, 240Hz, 360Hz)

🎮 Casual Gaming & RPGs (Elden Ring, The Witcher 3, Cyberpunk 2077)

✅ 4ms – 6ms (Good balance of speed and visuals)
✅ Works well on 60Hz to 144Hz monitors
✅ Ideal for games where response time isn’t critical

🎮 Story-Based & Console Games (Red Dead Redemption 2, The Last of Us)

✅ 7ms – 10ms (Acceptable for immersive experiences)
✅ Slightly slower response time, but still playable
✅ Works fine on 60Hz monitors

Response Time vs Refresh Rate: What’s More Important?

🖥️ Refresh Rate (Hz) = How many times your screen updates per second (e.g., 144Hz = 144 updates per second).

⏳ Response Time (ms) = How quickly a pixel changes from one color to another.

🔹 For competitive gaming: A high refresh rate (144Hz – 360Hz) + low response time (1ms – 3ms) is ideal.
🔹 For casual gaming: A 60Hz – 144Hz refresh rate + 4ms – 6ms response time is enough.

Bottom Line:
If you play fast-paced shooters, response time is crucial. For casual gaming, it matters less.

TN vs IPS vs VA Panels: Which Has the Best Response Time?

💡 If you want the best response time for gaming, TN and IPS panels are your best bet.

Best Gaming Monitors with Fast Response Time

🔹 ASUS ROG Swift 360Hz PG259QN – 1ms, 360Hz, TN panel (Best for esports)
🔹 LG UltraGear 27GP850-B – 1ms, 165Hz, IPS panel (Best for general gaming)
🔹 Samsung Odyssey G7 – 1ms, 240Hz, VA panel (Great balance of speed & visuals)

Final Verdict: What’s the Best Response Time for You?

✔ For FPS & competitive games: 1ms – 3ms is ideal
✔ For casual gaming: 4ms – 6ms works fine
✔ For RPGs & story-driven games: 7ms – 10ms is acceptable

🏆 Best overall choice? A 1ms – 3ms response time on an IPS or TN panel with at least 144Hz refresh rate.

What response time do you use for gaming? Let us know in the comments! 🎮🔥