AMD has announced an update to the FreeSync certification requirements to adapt to the rapidly evolving gaming monitor ecosystem. Introduced in 2015 as an alternative to NVIDIA G-Sync and VESA VRR, FreeSync synchronizes the monitor’s refresh rate with the GPU to address issues like screen tearing and stuttering, resulting in an enhanced gaming experience.

As monitor technology advances, FreeSync has also been evolving. For instance, in 2017, AMD introduced AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, incorporating HDR features to ensure brightness and color accuracy on certified monitors. The increase in refresh rates has been a significant trend in the industry in recent years. While in 2015, most monitors were content with 60Hz, nowadays, the majority of gaming displays boast at least 144Hz. Consequently, AMD has decided to update the FreeSync technology tier requirements to align with the latest standards and technologies in the gaming industry.

The primary change in AMD’s recent update focuses on monitors and TV products, raising the minimum supported refresh rate for FreeSync on monitors with a horizontal resolution lower than 3440 to 144Hz, thereby elevating the certification threshold. AMD has indicated an increase in the refresh rate required for AMD FreeSync technology certification on monitors and TVs to reflect current top-tier standards. The HDR requirements have been aligned with ecosystem specifications, although the criteria for laptops remain unchanged.