The first 720Hz OLED monitors are on the way

SDC has just taken monitor refresh rates to the next level with its “Flash 540-Meta” OLED gaming panel. While the name seems to imply a 540Hz refresh rate, this screen is actually capable of refresh rates as high as 720Hz. 

The “Flash 540-Meta” display uses a fourth-generation LG OLED panel with a 2560×1440 resolution, 0.03ms response time, and 540Hz refresh rate as standard. However, by enabling OC mode, the refresh rate can be pushed up to 720Hz. The 720Hz “special mode” is targeted at competitive users, though it will likely necessitate a reduction in resolution to achieve such speeds, you'll also need a very high-end PC, even for less demanding titles. With a peak brightness of 1500 nits, 99.5% DCI-P3 colour coverage, and HDR TB 500 certification, the display offers a static contrast ratio of 1.5 million to 1. In addition, it features an anti-glare coating with a mere 2% reflectivity.

Connectivity options are below what one would expect from a high-end monitor with these specs. The SDC monitor inputs rely on DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.1, rather than the newer DisplayPort 2.1 or HDMI 2.2 standards, meaning that 1440p at 720Hz on these ports would likely require Display Stream Compression (DSC).

The “Flash 540-Meta” OLED panel is built to last, with a lifetime rating of 30,000 hours. Its design includes a four-sided ultra-narrow bezel and a CNC-anodised aluminium back panel for efficient heat conductivity. With an estimated price tag of around 150,000 yen (approximately £770), SDC's ultra-high refresh OLED monitor is likely an exclusive for Asian countries. Still, similar panels from other brands might make their way to the West in the years ahead.

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KitGuru says: The feasibility of consistently maintaining such extreme refresh rates remains questionable. Current flagship hardware can certainly do it in select games at low resolutions, but those are the exception.

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