HKC's next gaming monitor pushes refresh rates to a wild 1,300Hz

Gaming monitor makers have been racing to faster refresh rates for the last few years. Having unveiled an 800Hz monitor last year, HKC already looks set to move the goalposts again. A new report says the company is working on a triple-mode gaming monitor with a staggering 1,300Hz refresh rate that could make today’s fastest esports displays look ordinary.

The prototype is expected to use a Fast TN panel. As with other extreme-refresh displays, it probably gives up some resolution for speed, with multiple operating modes. Interestingly, the upcoming gaming monitor is a noticeable step up from HKC’s previously announced 1,080Hz monitor, which tops out at 1,080Hz in 720p and 540Hz in 1440p.

While competitive esports hardware has long passed 360Hz and 500Hz, hitting four-digit refresh rates used to sound like an engineering pipe dream. You need insane bandwidth to push 1,300 frames a second. That said, HKC’s three-mode setup will help to address those scaling trade-offs, although what exactly those resolution steps will be like remains under wraps.

The display is still a prototype, so there’s no word on pricing or launch window. Whether anyone can actually drive modern games at well over 1,000 frames per second is another story. The display maker will unveil the monitor at ChinaJoy 2026 on July 31.