By Mariella Moon
Publication Date: 2026-01-06 14:00:00
NVIDIA has unveiled the G-Sync Pulsar, which it calls the “latest evolution of [its] pioneering VRR (variable refresh rate) technology,” at CES 2026. The new tech promises a gaming experience that’s free of stutter with buttery smooth motion, which is made possible by pulsing the display’s backlight. G-Sync Pulsar displays have multiple horizontal backlight sections that are pulsed independently from top to bottom, unlike traditional displays whose backlight is always on. When the backlight is always active, the image fades from one frame to the next. The displays with the new tech give pixels in a frame enough time to stabilize before they’re backlit so that they’re shown in their right locations, effectively reducing monitor-based motion blur.
The company says G-Sync Pulsar can effectively quadruple your refresh rate. If you’re playing at 250 fps, that means it can deliver a perceived effective motion clarity of over 1,000 Hz. That enables easier tracking and shooting in-game, making displays with the technology especially suited for esports. You can see the difference in motion in Counter-Strike 2 between a 360Hz monitor without G-Sync Pulsar and one with the technology switched on in the video below.
The first four displays designed specifically to support G-Sync Pulsar and Ambient Adaptive Technology, which allows users to automatically adjust color temperature and brightness based on ambient lighting, will be available starting on January 7. Acer, AOC,…
