Oppo R7s review: Sleek and stylish, but not worth the price

Oppo R7s review: Sleek and stylish, but not worth the price

Oppo's beautiful gold-colored aluminum R7s (it also comes in silver) looks more like a premium phone than its humble midrange innards would suggest, and it unfortunately costs more than other phones with similar specs.

To be sure, I like the R7s' iPhone-like looks, but with disappointing performance its $399 price cannot be justified. (The price converts to about £280.): For just about $100 more, you can snag a Google Nexus 6P, whose 32GB model sells for $499 ($449 for a limited time) in the US and £449 in the UK.

Although you can buy Oppo's phones through its online OppoStyle website, this R7s doesn't appear to support US LTE bands, which makes the phone an even harder sell for US locals -- you'd be paying quite a bit for a 3G-compatible phone with none of the superfast 4G speeds that you should be getting.

That said, if you live in the other parts of the world, such as Asia, Australia or the UK, and prize style over top-of-the-line power, the R7s' fashion-forward looks could lure you.

What's this R7s about? Doesn't Oppo already have the R7 and R7 Plus?

If you're confused, it's because Oppo is making a range of phones based on the original R7 phone. The R7, as you can see from our review here, is a 5-inch phone that sports a similar premium styling to the R7s. The larger R7 Plus, however, has a 6-inch display.

From a size perspective, the 5.5-inch R7s sits right between its two brethren. It costs the same as the original R7 and $100 less than the R7 Plus. So choosing between the three really boils down to which screen size you prefer and whether the features borrowed from the R7 Plus, such as the fingerprint scanner, are important to you.

The iPhone 6S Plus also has a 5.5-inch screen. How does the R7s compare from a size perspective?

Interestingly, because the Oppo R7s doesn't need the extra space at the bottom for the iPhone's home button and TouchID sensor, it's a bit smaller in size and a little thinner, though not by much. Oppo has also moved on from having physical touch sensors on the bottom bezel -- the R7s uses software-based buttons for Back, Home and Menu, freeing up more space to further slim down the phone.

Where is this phone available?

Oppo is selling the R7s globally either through local retail channels or its own e-commerce site, OppoStyle. Oppo is also offering the phone through Amazon in some locations. Do check the manufacturer's website for more details.

Which 4G networks will the R7s work with?

The good news is like most international compatible phones out of China, the R7s will work on 4G networks in the UK, such as Three and EE, while also compatible with the Optus, Telstra and Vodafone networks in Australia. The bad news is, you'll be stuck with only 3G in the US.

Is the camera any good?

Well, yes, the camera's pretty decent. While it's not as good as the Samsung Galaxy S6 or the iPhone 6S, the rear 13-megapixel camera will take good pictures in places with enough lighting. My only issue is with low-light performance; it's tricky even on the best cameras and the Oppo R7s doesn't handle that too well, with pictures lacking the finer details.

One of the Oppo R7's dual-SIM slots can be used for reading a microSD card.

Aloysius Low/CNET

Which mobile software does it use?

The Oppo handsets don't run the most recent Android software, 6.0 Marshmallow. Instead, the R7s works on Android Lollipop 5.1. However, like many Android phones, it uses its own custom version of Android, called Color OS here.

What's different about Color OS?

Like iOS, Color OS (operating system) puts all your apps on the Home screens, without the app drawer, a signature Android trait. It does have some stuff that's unique to its OS, like the ability to draw gestures on the phone to launch apps or features.

Well, Color OS sounds interesting, but is there anything you don't like?

For one, Oppo doesn't utilize the larger screen real estate of the phone, and you'll find that the gap between icons quite large, resulting in wasted space. You could squeeze more apps in a row if Color OS were a bit better designed, but it's really a minor issue. The OS is generally pretty good and easy to use.

Does it have Google Play Services?

Yes. Phones selling in China alone do not include Google services, but since the R7s is destined for the global market, it comes packed with all of Google's services, such as the Play Store and Gmail.

The phone's pretty slim, so I'm guessing it doesn't have much space for the battery, yes?

Actually, it does! The Oppo R7s squeezes a 3,070mAh battery into its slim frame and should last you a full day. In our video tests, the phone easily lasted 12 hours 11 minutes.

I need more than 16GB of onboard storage; what are my options?

Count your lucky stars, as the R7s supports microSD card storage of up to 128GB. However, you'll need to use one of the two SIM slots for this, as there's no separate microSD card slot on the phone.

Gold is such a tacky color. What other choices do I have?

If you found the golden hue of the R7s not exactly to your taste, the phone also comes in silver, which is somewhat like the iPhone's space gray color.

How does the performance compare to other phones?

Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor, the speed at which the R7s loads apps, navigates and plays games is pretty much similar to the Oppo R7 and the Xiaomi Mi 4i. Testing on both the Geekbench 3 and 3DMark Ice Storm benchmarks show similar performance to the other two phones, though none of these are as fast as the top-tier phones from, say, Google, Samsung or Apple. Phones like the Redmi Note 2 offer slightly better benchmark test results because it uses a different chip.

Should I get something else then, such as the Xiaomi Mi 4i or a different Oppo phone?

If you're on a budget, the Xiaomi Mi 4i may be a better choice. The Redmi Note 2 will definitely be cheaper and slightly faster, thanks to its Mediatek Helio X10 chip, though the phone won't look as eye-catching as the R7s. If you're hankering for something bigger, the R7 Plus may be another viable option with its 6-inch display, though you'll pay $100 more to get it.

Is the R7s worth its asking price?

Not really, no. For about the same price or a little more gets you a much better phone (like the Google Nexus 6P), and there are plenty of other similarly-priced budget options to choose from. This does slightly edge out the original R7, thanks to a newer Android operating system, and you do get the R7s' beautiful metal build. That said, you'll wind up paying a premium for that aluminum design without getting any actual performance benefit, which doesn't seem worth it to me. With the R7s, Oppo sticks to its strategy of making premium midrange devices, though the verdict is still out on whether this strategy will pay off in the long run.

The Oppo R7s is a good-looking phone, but performance-wise, it's only as good as midrange devices.

Aloysius Low/CNET

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We Really Need to Stop Using These 8 Health Buzzwords

We Really Need to Stop Using These 8 Health Buzzwords

Superfood. Detox. All-natural. These are some of the health buzzwords you come across on social media or while chatting with friends. They might seem like a harmless quirk of our vernacular, but the truth is they can be misleading and even harmful.

Many of these terms are marketing tactics with no science to back up their claims. Research has proven how easily people believe they're eating healthier because they follow buzzwords on food packaging ("fat-free" and "all-natural," for example). The terminology makes you think you're eating something that's better or safer for you without any actual evidence. 

Those ultra-common health buzzwords are just the tip of the iceberg. There are many others that are frequently used or misused. Keep reading to learn which ones you should drop for good.

Read more: 10 Popular Fitness Myths Debunked

Clean eating

The term "clean eating" is often used in reference to a diet that has minimally processed foods and instead focuses on foods closest to their natural state. It sounds harmless, because aren't we constantly being told to eat more fruits and vegetables?

The problem with this term is that it places foods in "good" and "bad" categories (after all, the opposite of clean is dirty) and indicates that there is a right and wrong way to eat. It also disregards those who don't have access to fresh fruits and vegetables because of where they live and their income level. 

Not to mention the vague term is completely made up since there isn't an actual scientific definition for clean eating. It can also lead to an obsession with healthy eating and put vulnerable populations (such as young adults) at risk for disordered eating. So let's reserve the term clean eating to refer to foods that have been thoroughly washed and cleaned before consumption. 

Getty Images

Superfoods

Growing up in a Latinx household, I was exposed to traditional foods that I didn't think much of until I was older. I later learned that some foods I was eating, such as quinoa and chia seeds, were suddenly being labeled "superfoods." Superfood is another term that has no real scientific basis, but is used to describe foods that are thought to have powerful healing properties, like preventing disease or aging.

You may have seen this term splashed across magazine covers, health segments on TV or in your social media timelines. While these foods may provide some health benefits linked to their nutritional content, there isn't enough research to back the claim that a single food can perform miracles like curing someone's illness. 

Calling something the next "superfood" has become a popular marketing gimmick in a wellness industry that knows how to target people to make a quick buck. A better option is to make sure your diet includes a wide array of nutritional foods instead of focusing on the latest fad ingredient. 

Detox and cleanse

People usually turn to detoxes and cleanses for a quick weight loss fix under the guise of flushing so-called "toxins" out of the body. These can come in the form of detox teas, meal replacement shakes, green juice fasting and other methods that require you to eliminate large food groups and consume very few calories. They may not use the word "diet," but that's exactly what they are, and not a healthy or effective one either.

There is no scientific evidence to prove that cleanses and detoxes work. Instead they're an unsustainable (and even dangerous) method to lose weight or "reset" your body. Isabel Vasquez, a licensed dietitian and nutritionist at Nutritiously Yours and Your Latina Nutritionist, says that most of these cleanses may make you feel good initially, but the feeling is short-lived. "These are not sustainable and when we consume excess amounts of certain vitamins, we just excrete them in our urine," she explains. 

Instead of going on an extreme cleanse or diet, Vasquez suggests hydrating adequately and adding fruits and vegetables into your diet for digestion and your overall health. 

Your body also doesn't need a detox, because your kidneys, liver and other organs help with cleansing on a regular basis. But if you think your organs aren't doing their cleansing duties correctly, it's best to see a doctor who can run tests and give you a proper diagnosis. 

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Processed foods

Processed foods are products that have been changed (e.g. washed, cut, milled, frozen) or infused with additives to preserve freshness and improve taste. These foods can include a range of items you'd find in your local supermarket, such as cereal, canned beans, milk, fresh fruits and vegetables, olive oil and your favorite cookies. 

The issue with the term "processed foods" is that it's generally used as an umbrella term implying everything you eat that's processed is bad for you. Most people, when they think of processed foods, think about fast foods that are higher in calories, fat, sugar and additives. 

While it's true that these foods are processed and should be consumed mindfully, some foods need to be processed to preserve their freshness, boost their nutritional value and make them easily accessible. Some processed foods, like frozen fruit or oatmeal, are perfectly safe and healthy to eat in abundance. Being processed isn't inherently bad or good. Therefore you can ease your fears about processed foods and instead enjoy them all in a well-balanced diet. 

Cheat day or cheat meal

The terms "cheat day" or "cheat meal" basically mean you're planning on breaking your diet by eating a highly caloric meal or meals that you normally wouldn't have. They sound like harmless terms, but they can ultimately affect your relationship with food. Gabriela Barreto, a registered sports dietitian, says, "This can set people up for a binge-restricted cycle where they restrict certain foods to only be eaten at a certain time and in a large amount."

Even more concerning is if an individual already has a history of food addiction since it can exacerbate those issues for them. Barreto adds, "This kind of restriction we know doesn't work and by setting unhealthy relationships with foods we are more likely to weight cycle when we can no longer uphold those restrictions."

Instead she recommends eating a balanced diet that includes foods that you enjoy as well as foods that promote health without restriction, learning to listen to your body's needs intuitively, and working on your relationship with food.

Peter Dazeley/Getty Images

'Good' and 'bad' foods

Putting foods into categories such as "good" or "bad" further contributes to diet culture and causes people to tie the way they eat to their self worth. These terms are also interchangeably used to describe an individual's eating behavior as being bad or good based on what they ate. "Assigning moral value to food only creates more guilt and shame around certain food choices," says Miriam Fried, a NYC-based personal trainer and founder of MF Strong. She elaborates, "Guilt leads to restriction and restriction often leads to unhealthy behaviors around eating and a negative relationship with food."

Although foods are made up of different caloric content, nutritional and flavor profiles, the body uses it all for energy. Some foods do have more nutritional value than others, but it doesn't mean you have to restrict yourself to just those foods. "Can we acknowledge that a piece of broccoli might have more nutrients than a cookie without making the cookie "bad"? Food isn't good or bad, it simply is," Fried points out. The more you understand that all of these foods can fit into your diet, the easier it will be to stop labeling them as good or bad. 

All-natural

When the term "all-natural" is used, it suggests that the food you're eating has been minimally processed and is therefore safer. The truth is this word doesn't determine if a food is safer for us to eat (as we saw above, processing can be a good thing). In fact, the US Food and Drug Administration doesn't even regulate this term. 

To date, the organization hasn't established a formal definition for all-natural or natural, though the basic understanding is that it means that nothing artificial or synthetic has been added to a food that normally would not be expected to be in that food, such as dye. The other issue with this term is that it doesn't account for the complex food production and manufacturing process. Importantly, "natural" doesn't equal "organic," which is a term regulated by the US Department of Agriculture. Foods with the USDA organic label must meet strict requirements surrounding the use of antibiotics, hormones, fertilizers and pesticides during the production process; natural foods do not.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, natural products aren't automatically better or safer for you. In some cases, such as in medicine, it might cause greater risk or side effects to take a natural, unregulated product than a federally regulated medication. Therefore, take this buzzword with a grain of salt or get rid of it altogether.   

Luis Alvarez/Getty Images

Chemical-free

"Chemical-free" is a buzzword that's commonly tied to the saying, "If you can't pronounce it, don't eat it." When the average person uses it regarding food (or other items), they're saying that all chemicals are synonymous with being toxic and unsafe. This is easily debunked because a basic science lesson will teach you that everything that exists around you, including the foods you eat are made up of chemicals. 

That doesn't negate the fact that there are toxic chemicals that should be avoided, or that you might want to steer clear from out of caution, a food sensitivity or just personal preference. If you are concerned about ingesting pesticides, for example, you can stick to certified organic produce., But it's impossible to completely avoid chemicals in any food. Blueberries, for example, are made up of chemicals known as anthocyanins, chlorogenic acid, pterostilbene and flavonids.

Without context, these chemicals look like something the average person should fear. The truth is marketing plays a big role in fear-mongering when it comes to our food and it's helpful to have reputable resources at our fingertips to debunk these myths. 

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

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Garmin venu sq review a solid fitness tracker without watch garmin venu sq review a solid fitness tracker without iphone garmin venu sq review a solid is a state garmin venu sq review anime garmin venu sq review article garmin venu sq review air garmin venu sq review atlas garmin venu sq music garmin venu sq user guide garmin venu sq smartwatch garmin venu 2 garmin venu vs vivoactive 4

Garmin Venu Sq review: A solid fitness tracker without the frills

Garmin Venu Sq review: A solid fitness tracker without the frills

The $200 (£179, AU$300) Garmin Venu Sq has almost every fitness- and health-tracking feature you could want in a smartwatch for less than competitors like the Apple Watch ($349 at eBay) and Fitbit Versa 3 ($170 at Target). It has a bright LCD touchscreen, built-in GPS, SpO2 (blood oxygen) tracking and up to six days of battery life, which makes it a compelling buy, especially if you want a watch that's compatible with both Android and iOS. 

It's not the most premium-looking smartwatch out there and it misses out on features like a voice assistant and altimeter, but it makes up for it in health and fitness features that elevate it from the rest. 

A functional watch without the wow factor

Like the name suggests, the Venu Sq has a square watch face with rounded edges, unlike the original Garmin Venu and almost every other Garmin sports watch with circular designs. Its 1.3-inch color LCD display feels a bit cramped compared to other Garmin watches, but it's clear and easy to read even in bright sunlight and you can keep the screen set to always-on. Having used the larger Garmin Venu for a while, the smaller size of the Venu Sq took a bit of getting used to, especially during workouts when I couldn't see as many stats at a glance and had to scroll to find the right metric like heart rate, which was all the way on the last page.

The overall build quality is sturdy enough thanks to an aluminum bezel, although the plastic case and buttons make it feel like a cheaper watch than it actually is, especially compared to something like the Apple Watch SE ($280 at eBay), Galaxy Watch Active 2 ($200 at Amazon) or Fitbit Versa 3 for example, which all have metal finishes and OLED displays. The Venu Sq has two side buttons: one to start/stop activities and the other to navigate back and forth between menus. Once I figured out which did what, it took me a few days to get completely comfortable using them to navigate the interface. 

My biggest complaint with the Venu Sq's design is the vibration motor, which is not particularly strong. Half the time it was the buzzing noise, not the vibration itself, that clued me in on a notification. 

Blood oxygen monitor and heart health alerts 

Garmin's biggest strength is in health and fitness tracking, with the Venu Sq squarely hitting the mark. It has an SpO2 sensor to identify blood oxygen levels, either as a spot check or automatically throughout the day and night, similar to the $399 Apple Watch Series 6. Although setting it to monitor constantly will reduce battery life a lot faster. It's also hard to find the SpO2 option in the menus and I found that adding it as a widget in the settings is the best way to get it to pop up on your wrist. 

Unfortunately I didn't have a pulse oximeter to compare the readings from the Venu Sq to determine accuracy. Either way, it's important to note that the Venu Sq has not been approved to be used as a medical device and should not be used for diagnostic purposes. Always consult with a physician or other qualified health provider about any health-related issues you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

Though the Venu Sq doesn't have an ECG, or electrocardiogram, like the Apple Watch Series 6 and Galaxy Watch 3 ($399 at Amazon), it does give you the option to receive high and low heart rate notifications that will let you know if your heart rate spikes above or falls below what it considers to be a healthy threshold. 

The Venu Sq also uses heart rate variability to determine your stress levels, but doesn't really offer much guidance on how to decrease your stress. I found Garmin's Body Battery meter, which takes into account heart rate variability readings, activity levels and sleep, a more accurate representation of how my body was working that day and helped me decide what kind of workout to do and how hard to push myself. It works better than the Stress Management Score in the Fitbit Sense ($240 at Target) that is a bit more difficult to interpret for me.

Garmin also offers breathing rate and estimated VO2 max, the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use during exercise, which can be used to gauge and improve athletic performance. The higher the number, the more fit you are. 

Screenshot by Lexy Savvides/CNET

Sleep tracking is also great on the Venu Sq and clearly identifies your sleep stages of REM, deep and light sleep. You'll also be able to see breathing rate and SpO2 levels in the morning. The downside is that the Garmin Connect app doesn't give you any tips on improving your sleep quality. Menstrual cycle tracking is also available on the Venu Sq and like other Garmin watches, it offers pregnancy tracking to log symptoms and monitor baby movement.

The Venu Sq has a range of workouts preloaded onto the watch, including cardio, strength, Pilates and yoga, so you can follow along with a preset routine on your wrist. There aren't any visual cues on the screen though, just text cues, so if you're doing yoga for example, you'll need to know what "standing forward bend pose" or "low lunge pose" means to get the most out of the routine. You can also build your own workout, such as a circuit of weights, a Pilates routine or a run, within the Garmin Connect app and sync them to the watch. There are also over 50 additional Garmin-created workouts you can load.

On top of these preloaded routines, the Venu Sq can track more than 20 different workout types, from the usual running and walking variants to golf and pool swimming. There's also a personal running coach you can use to help you train for a race or to hit a set goal. It doesn't give you personalized feedback on your form or audio cues like the Galaxy Watches ($295 at Amazon), for example, instead it's more a guide for when you should warm up or how long you should run for, displayed on your wrist.

The Venu Sq has built-in GPS, meaning you don't have to rely on your phone for distance tracking when you're outside. Just be warned that it does take at least 30 seconds to lock on to a GPS signal when you are outside (regardless of whether you have your phone with you or not), which seems like an eternity if you're an impatient runner like me who just wants to get on with it. Once it finally locked though, it tracked my route accurately.

The downside is that there is no gyroscope or altimeter on the Venu Sq, so if you need accurate elevation data you'll likely want to look elsewhere. The Garmin Connect app does a good job of clearly showing you all the details after your workout, but it doesn't dive any deeper into metrics than what similarly priced rivals like the Apple Watch SE or Fitbit Versa 3 offer.

Like other Garmin watches, the Venu Sq has Garmin Live Track which lets you share your location with a safety contact when you are doing an outdoor workout. It does however require a cellular connection, so you will need your phone with you to use this feature. 

You can customize the options on this screen to show only your favorite workout types to track.

Lexy Savvides/CNET

Just enough smarts for most people

While the Venu Sq is geared towards fitness and health tracking, that doesn't necessarily mean you'll miss out on smartwatch features. Like almost every other watch, the Venu Sq displays notifications from your phone and pings your phone to locate it if you lose it within Bluetooth range. You'll be able to see call notifications come through regardless of which phone you have the watch paired with, but only Android users will be able to decline calls and respond to text messages from the watch with prewritten responses. There is no speaker or mic onboard so you can't use voice-to-text responses.

The Venu Sq runs Garmin's own operating system (Garmin OS) which is not as seamless as that of Apple or Samsung's smartwatches, but I found it to be stable and more responsive than the Fitbit OS. It's faster to sync updates and doesn't experience any lag in selecting menu options or opening apps.

The biggest pain point for me when using the Venu Sq paired with an iPhone ($500 at Best Buy) has been notifications. The Garmin Connect app on iOS doesn't let you filter out what notifications come through on your wrist and simply mirrors whatever notifications you have set up on your phone. It might not be a deal breaker for many, but I like to push only the most important notifications such as calls and text messages to my wrist, rather than everything that my phone shows. Android users get more control over which notifications come through.

Lexy Savvides/CNET

If you want onboard music storage, you'll need to opt for the music edition of the Venu Sq that costs $50 more, which is the version I tested in this review. The Venu Sq Music lets you store music for offline listening from apps like Spotify (with a Premium subscription) or songs you already own. It's also the watch to get for faster data transfers as it has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, whereas the regular Venu Sq only uses Bluetooth.

Garmin has plenty of watch faces to choose from, including third-party options to help personalize the look, plus a fairly wide selection of apps through the Connect IQ Store (a separate app you need to download on your phone). You can also make contactless payments with Garmin Pay on all versions of the watch. The main Garmin Connect app is where you see all your stats and change settings on the watch, while the Connect IQ Store is for adding apps and watch faces.

The Venu Sq, however, lacks a voice assistant, a feature that by now has become standard for most of its similarly priced competitors. This might not be a deal-breaker for you, but it means you miss out hands-free voice control, which I like.

A week's worth of battery life 

The Venu Sq has great battery life and you can get up to six days worth of use before you'll need to charge it up, though that number may start to whittle down if you're using it for a lot of GPS workouts, listening to music or continuously tracking your blood oxygen levels. Garmin quotes up to eight hours of battery when playing back music, 14 hours if you are using it in GPS mode, or up to six hours with GPS and music playback. 

A great fitness watch without extra bells and whistles

If you're willing to sacrifice a few smart features for better health and fitness tracking, the Garmin Venu Sq is a solid choice that works with Android or iOS. That said, I do wish that Garmin wouldn't charge the extra $50 for the music version, as it does alter the value proposition quite a bit, particularly if you are an iPhone user who might also be considering the Apple Watch SE which, at that point doesn't cost you that much more. 

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We Really Need to Stop Using These 8 Health Buzzwords

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We Really Need to Stop Using These 8 Health Buzzwords

Superfood. Detox. All-natural. These are some of the health buzzwords you come across on social media or while chatting with friends. They might seem like a harmless quirk of our vernacular, but the truth is they can be misleading and even harmful.

Many of these terms are marketing tactics with no science to back up their claims. Research has proven how easily people believe they're eating healthier because they follow buzzwords on food packaging ("fat-free" and "all-natural," for example). The terminology makes you think you're eating something that's better or safer for you without any actual evidence. 

Those ultra-common health buzzwords are just the tip of the iceberg. There are many others that are frequently used or misused. Keep reading to learn which ones you should drop for good.

Read more: 10 Popular Fitness Myths Debunked

Clean eating

The term "clean eating" is often used in reference to a diet that has minimally processed foods and instead focuses on foods closest to their natural state. It sounds harmless, because aren't we constantly being told to eat more fruits and vegetables?

The problem with this term is that it places foods in "good" and "bad" categories (after all, the opposite of clean is dirty) and indicates that there is a right and wrong way to eat. It also disregards those who don't have access to fresh fruits and vegetables because of where they live and their income level. 

Not to mention the vague term is completely made up since there isn't an actual scientific definition for clean eating. It can also lead to an obsession with healthy eating and put vulnerable populations (such as young adults) at risk for disordered eating. So let's reserve the term clean eating to refer to foods that have been thoroughly washed and cleaned before consumption. 

Getty Images

Superfoods

Growing up in a Latinx household, I was exposed to traditional foods that I didn't think much of until I was older. I later learned that some foods I was eating, such as quinoa and chia seeds, were suddenly being labeled "superfoods." Superfood is another term that has no real scientific basis, but is used to describe foods that are thought to have powerful healing properties, like preventing disease or aging.

You may have seen this term splashed across magazine covers, health segments on TV or in your social media timelines. While these foods may provide some health benefits linked to their nutritional content, there isn't enough research to back the claim that a single food can perform miracles like curing someone's illness. 

Calling something the next "superfood" has become a popular marketing gimmick in a wellness industry that knows how to target people to make a quick buck. A better option is to make sure your diet includes a wide array of nutritional foods instead of focusing on the latest fad ingredient. 

Detox and cleanse

People usually turn to detoxes and cleanses for a quick weight loss fix under the guise of flushing so-called "toxins" out of the body. These can come in the form of detox teas, meal replacement shakes, green juice fasting and other methods that require you to eliminate large food groups and consume very few calories. They may not use the word "diet," but that's exactly what they are, and not a healthy or effective one either.

There is no scientific evidence to prove that cleanses and detoxes work. Instead they're an unsustainable (and even dangerous) method to lose weight or "reset" your body. Isabel Vasquez, a licensed dietitian and nutritionist at Nutritiously Yours and Your Latina Nutritionist, says that most of these cleanses may make you feel good initially, but the feeling is short-lived. "These are not sustainable and when we consume excess amounts of certain vitamins, we just excrete them in our urine," she explains. 

Instead of going on an extreme cleanse or diet, Vasquez suggests hydrating adequately and adding fruits and vegetables into your diet for digestion and your overall health. 

Your body also doesn't need a detox, because your kidneys, liver and other organs help with cleansing on a regular basis. But if you think your organs aren't doing their cleansing duties correctly, it's best to see a doctor who can run tests and give you a proper diagnosis. 

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Processed foods

Processed foods are products that have been changed (e.g. washed, cut, milled, frozen) or infused with additives to preserve freshness and improve taste. These foods can include a range of items you'd find in your local supermarket, such as cereal, canned beans, milk, fresh fruits and vegetables, olive oil and your favorite cookies. 

The issue with the term "processed foods" is that it's generally used as an umbrella term implying everything you eat that's processed is bad for you. Most people, when they think of processed foods, think about fast foods that are higher in calories, fat, sugar and additives. 

While it's true that these foods are processed and should be consumed mindfully, some foods need to be processed to preserve their freshness, boost their nutritional value and make them easily accessible. Some processed foods, like frozen fruit or oatmeal, are perfectly safe and healthy to eat in abundance. Being processed isn't inherently bad or good. Therefore you can ease your fears about processed foods and instead enjoy them all in a well-balanced diet. 

Cheat day or cheat meal

The terms "cheat day" or "cheat meal" basically mean you're planning on breaking your diet by eating a highly caloric meal or meals that you normally wouldn't have. They sound like harmless terms, but they can ultimately affect your relationship with food. Gabriela Barreto, a registered sports dietitian, says, "This can set people up for a binge-restricted cycle where they restrict certain foods to only be eaten at a certain time and in a large amount."

Even more concerning is if an individual already has a history of food addiction since it can exacerbate those issues for them. Barreto adds, "This kind of restriction we know doesn't work and by setting unhealthy relationships with foods we are more likely to weight cycle when we can no longer uphold those restrictions."

Instead she recommends eating a balanced diet that includes foods that you enjoy as well as foods that promote health without restriction, learning to listen to your body's needs intuitively, and working on your relationship with food.

Peter Dazeley/Getty Images

'Good' and 'bad' foods

Putting foods into categories such as "good" or "bad" further contributes to diet culture and causes people to tie the way they eat to their self worth. These terms are also interchangeably used to describe an individual's eating behavior as being bad or good based on what they ate. "Assigning moral value to food only creates more guilt and shame around certain food choices," says Miriam Fried, a NYC-based personal trainer and founder of MF Strong. She elaborates, "Guilt leads to restriction and restriction often leads to unhealthy behaviors around eating and a negative relationship with food."

Although foods are made up of different caloric content, nutritional and flavor profiles, the body uses it all for energy. Some foods do have more nutritional value than others, but it doesn't mean you have to restrict yourself to just those foods. "Can we acknowledge that a piece of broccoli might have more nutrients than a cookie without making the cookie "bad"? Food isn't good or bad, it simply is," Fried points out. The more you understand that all of these foods can fit into your diet, the easier it will be to stop labeling them as good or bad. 

All-natural

When the term "all-natural" is used, it suggests that the food you're eating has been minimally processed and is therefore safer. The truth is this word doesn't determine if a food is safer for us to eat (as we saw above, processing can be a good thing). In fact, the US Food and Drug Administration doesn't even regulate this term. 

To date, the organization hasn't established a formal definition for all-natural or natural, though the basic understanding is that it means that nothing artificial or synthetic has been added to a food that normally would not be expected to be in that food, such as dye. The other issue with this term is that it doesn't account for the complex food production and manufacturing process. Importantly, "natural" doesn't equal "organic," which is a term regulated by the US Department of Agriculture. Foods with the USDA organic label must meet strict requirements surrounding the use of antibiotics, hormones, fertilizers and pesticides during the production process; natural foods do not.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, natural products aren't automatically better or safer for you. In some cases, such as in medicine, it might cause greater risk or side effects to take a natural, unregulated product than a federally regulated medication. Therefore, take this buzzword with a grain of salt or get rid of it altogether.   

Luis Alvarez/Getty Images

Chemical-free

"Chemical-free" is a buzzword that's commonly tied to the saying, "If you can't pronounce it, don't eat it." When the average person uses it regarding food (or other items), they're saying that all chemicals are synonymous with being toxic and unsafe. This is easily debunked because a basic science lesson will teach you that everything that exists around you, including the foods you eat are made up of chemicals. 

That doesn't negate the fact that there are toxic chemicals that should be avoided, or that you might want to steer clear from out of caution, a food sensitivity or just personal preference. If you are concerned about ingesting pesticides, for example, you can stick to certified organic produce., But it's impossible to completely avoid chemicals in any food. Blueberries, for example, are made up of chemicals known as anthocyanins, chlorogenic acid, pterostilbene and flavonids.

Without context, these chemicals look like something the average person should fear. The truth is marketing plays a big role in fear-mongering when it comes to our food and it's helpful to have reputable resources at our fingertips to debunk these myths. 

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

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5 best online therapy services for 2022 toyota 5 best online therapy services for 2022 5 best online therapy for teens top 5 best online school 5 best online dating sites 5 best online banks 5 best fixed income investments

5 Best Online Therapy Services for 2022

5 Best Online Therapy Services for 2022

The destigmatization of mental health has come leaps and bounds over the years, but access to traditional resources hasn't followed suit. As per a study, up to 70% of the people who need mental health care don't have access to it. Enter online therapy. It helps bridge the gap and offers resources to those who otherwise can't get help, whether because of location, finances or scheduling conflicts. 

There are plenty of reasons traditional therapy may not be the best option for you. The convenience and flexibility of online therapy are quickly making it one of the most popular ways to connect with mental health professionals. If you're considering giving online therapy a try or just interested in learning more, here are our top six choices for the best online therapy. 

But not all online therapy platforms are created equal. Below, a primer on five popular HIPAA-compliant therapy services that only employ licensed and trained mental health professionals. 

Read more: Best Mental Health Apps  

BetterHelp

BetterHelp is one of the largest, reputable online therapy platforms that gives you access to over 12,000 experienced mental health professionals. You can feel confident about the therapist you work with through BetterHelp therapists, thanks to experience requirements and a thorough vetting process. Every therapist has a minimum of three years and 1,000 hours of hands-on experience. 

After you sign up and complete the questionnaire, you'll be matched with a therapist, generally within a day. BetterHelp therapists specialize in various areas, including anxiety, depression, substance abuse and eating disorders. You can message your therapist from anywhere, anytime. However, that doesn't mean you will always get an immediate response. Given they are real people, they aren't available 24/7. 

The cost of online therapy with BetterHelp ranges from $60 to $90/week. You are billed monthly. According to the website, pricing is based on your location, preferences and therapist availability. Some users did note frustrations with customer service and technical issues with the BetterHelp app. 

BetterHelp best features:

• You can participate in video calls, instant messages, text and live therapy sessions with your counselor. 
• On the website, you have access to blog articles and educational content.

Things to consider:

• BetterHelp doesn't accept insurance, so what you see is what you'll pay. Financial assistance may be available through BetterHelp for qualified individuals. The initial questionnaire determines the eligibility for financial assistance, as it asks about employment and financial troubles. 
• You get talk therapy with BetterHelp; counselors do not diagnose or prescribe medication. 

Talkspace

Talkspace is one of the most versatile online therapy platforms with several communication methods, therapy options and price points. With Talkspace, you get message-based therapy that's a great option for those who feel comfortable sharing through video or have a changing schedule that cannot commit to weekly sessions. 

Starting Talkspace is simple. Once you sign up, you complete an assessment that includes the payment plan options. Talkspace has three therapy subscription options. Messaging therapy which includes text, video and audio messaging with a therapist, starts at $69/week. Live therapy starts at $99/week and includes four 45-minute live therapy sessions each month. The last subscription option combines the two. Starting at $129/week, it includes four live sessions and text, video and audio messaging. Talkspace notes that pricing is based on where you live and the network of available therapists. 

After you select which plan you want, a consultation therapist selects a list of matched therapists that you can choose from. 

Talkspace best features:

• Those with an employee assistance program through their employer may have coverage. 
• A psychiatrist through Talkspace Psychiatry has the ability to prescribe medication and help you manage it. These services cost $249 for the initial consultation and $120 for your follow-up sessions. 
• TalkSpace has a network of over 3,000 mental health professionals. 

Things to consider:

• While still more affordable than traditional therapy, Talkspace doesn't offer sliding scale payments. However, Talkspace does offer the occasional discount. 
• Your therapist may not reply immediately to messages; it typically takes a day. 
• Recent user reviews note that customer service and insurance claims with TalkSpace can be frustrating. 

Cerebral

Cerebral takes the spot for the best online therapy platform for medication management, thanks to its all-in-one approach to mental health. You have access to talk therapy and medication with a licensed psychiatrist. Those who manage their prescriptions through Cerebral will be shipped directly to your home. 

There are three membership plans. Medication and care counseling includes evaluation, diagnosis and prescription from a psychiatrist, medication delivery and weekly video/phone sessions. This plan is $85/month. Mediation and therapy costs $325/month and includes everything the first plan does, though you can chat with your therapist anytime. The final is therapy, which does not include any medication though weekly meetings with your therapist. It costs $259/month. 

Cerebral subscriptions are about average compared to competitors for out-of-network providers. However, if you have an insurance plan that Cerebral accepts, the price can be as low as $30/month, plus a copay.

Cerebral best features: 

• Membership plans are FSA/HSA eligible. 
• Cerebral is a one-stop shop that offers therapy, psychiatry and medication management. 
• All therapists and psychiatrists are board-certified and licensed. 

Things to consider:

• Cerebral is not available in all states. Treatment for disorders also varies by state. 
• When signing up, you have to add a payment method before an appointment. This may result in your card being charged if you do not match with a therapist within the time period provided. However, since Cerebral recently started issuing refunds for this. 
• User reviews are typically positive at 4.3 on Google Play and 4.6 on the App Store. 

Amwell

Most online therapy platforms don't accept insurance, making counseling unattainable for many. Amwell is the best online therapy platform that takes insurance because of its large network of accepted health plans. 

After signing up with Amwell, you will choose a licensed therapist and schedule your first session. You can choose your therapist based on what they specialize in, allowing you to find the best fit for your needs. Each therapist has a bio on their profile. 

Amwell offers fewer communication options than competitors because it is not a subscription-based therapy. You only have access to virtual video sessions that you schedule. This tends to be the best for people who only have sessions with a therapist and have a schedule that requires flexibility. Most users comment that while the app may not be the most modern, it is typically easy to use. 

The cost of your sessions is based on the therapist or psychiatrist and their experience level. Typically, sessions cost between $109 to $129. Your health insurance plan will determine how much you pay out of pocket.

Amwell's best features:

• You can schedule a session with a psychiatrist for medication.
• Amwell accepts many types of insurance providers. 
• Amwell also offers a variety of services competitors don't have, like breastfeeding support or stress management. 

Things to consider:

• Amwell doesn't do subscription plans; you are charged by session. 
• Since it doesn't have messaging or phone call options, Amwell is not a good choice for crisis situations. 

Pride Counseling

The LGBTQIA+ community struggles with mental health issues at a disproportionately high rate. And traditional counseling options aren't always helpful. A survey of LBGTQ+ people found that 50% had experienced harsh language, scapegoating problems on their sexual orientation or outright denial of care. 

Pride Counseling, a subsidiary of BetterHelp, offers inclusive and accessible virtual counseling specialized for the LGBTQIA+ community to address struggles like gender identity, stigma, eating disorders and stress. Every therapist you encounter when using Pride Counseling has extensive experience working with the LGBTQIA+ community. 

At the start, you are asked several questions, including your pronouns, how you identify and your sexual orientation, to ensure you at matched with the best therapist. Pride Counseling also has taken steps to ensure security and anonymity are valued -- you can pick a "nickname" instead of your full name. 

You have unlimited messaging to contact your therapist at any time. Unlike other options, your counselor cannot diagnose conditions or prescribe medication. Costs range from $60 to $90/week with a billing cycle of every four weeks.  

Pride Counseling's best features:

• All therapists have experience working with the LGBTQIA+ community. Requirements are at least three years and 1,000 hours of experience to become a Pride Counseling therapist.
• Price Counseling has positive reviews from users, with a 4.5 on Google Play and 4.6 on the App Store. 

Things to consider:

• Unfortunately, Pride Counseling does not accept insurance. 
• Pride Counseling is only for adults. 
• The website, while straightforward, doesn't offer any additional resources like blog articles for those seeking an answer to a specific question. 

ReGain

ReGain, a sister site to BetterHelp, is a virtual therapy platform with experts specializing in relationships, intimacy and family issues. That's why it's our choice for the best online therapy for couples counseling. All therapists through ReGain are licensed and hold titles like licensed marriage and family therapists or clinical social workers.  

The sign-up process is similar to the other options on the list -- you fill out a questionnaire and are matched with a therapist. You can have both couples sessions and individual sessions with your therapist. You have access to 24/7 chat messaging, phone and video sessions. Unique to ReGain, there is a one-week free trial when you sign up.  

Another benefit that ReGain offers that alternatives do not is the wealth of educational information available on the website. ReGain offers dozens of articles and advice on relationships, regardless if you are signed up. This is not a standard feature in the virtual therapy space. 

ReGain online therapy costs between $60 to $90/week; you'll be billed every four weeks.  

ReGain's best features:

• You don't have to pay double for having both partners in the session. 
• All therapists through ReGain specialize in relationships and family issues.
• ReGain has a 4.5 rating on Google Play and 4.8 on the App Store. User reviews are generally positive.  

Things to consider:

• ReGain doesn't support three-way video conferencing; you and your partner have to be in the same room for your video sessions. 
• Typically it is not covered by insurance. 

How we chose the best online therapy platforms

Many criteria were considered when choosing the best online therapy platforms. The most important being the therapist's qualifications and credibility, pricing, ease of use, customer reviews, accessibility and insurance coverage. 

All of the selections on the list have positive user reviews, are easy to use and more affordable than traditional therapy. 

What is online therapy?

Online therapy brings the expertise of mental health professionals to the comfort of your home through phone calls, messages and video conferencing. Each online mental health service will vary in what they offer. For example, some services won't be able to diagnose or prescribe medication as a traditional therapy option could. 

Online therapy isn't for everyone. But it's a good option for people who have inconsistent schedules, tight budgets or aren't comfortable meeting with a therapist face to face. Research has shown that virtual therapy can be as effective as in-office meetings for some. 

Online therapy benefits: 

• Virtual therapy is more affordable and accessible than traditional therapy options. However, not all platforms accept insurance. 
• It's convenient. You can schedule your sessions around work, childcare or other life events that may get in the way.
• Being at your home when you're working in sessions can be more comfortable than going into an office. 

Read more: Tips to Find the Right Therapist For You

Is online therapy secure?

Privacy is one of the most important concerns when seeking online therapy. The American Psychological Association provides specific guidelines that therapists should follow for virtual sessions. One of the most important guidelines states that all online therapy platforms must comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Whether through video or chat or text, all communication is covered under HIPAA. 

Some virtual counseling platforms take extra levels of precaution and allow you to delete messages after reading. It's important to read the privacy policies of each platform before signing up. This information is often found in the frequently asked questions section of the website. 

How to choose the best online therapy

Finding your ideal match can be difficult with so many options available to you. All platforms will vary in strengths and weaknesses, so it's important to know what your most important needs are. When you're looking for the best online therapy, you'll want to keep a few things in mind:

• Your goal: The first thing you want to check is that the platform includes the issue you want help with. Some platforms are specialized, like in the case of ReGain and couples counseling. 
• The therapists' credentials: You should be able to find the credentials and experience requirements for the platform's therapist. This is often located in the FAQ section of the website. You typically also want a service that allows you to change therapists. 
• User reviews: User reviews can serve as a gauge of the satisfaction of the platform. Did people find the website or app easy to use? What were their favorite features? Were there any pain points you need to watch for?
• Your budget and insurance: The unfortunate truth is that money is one of the main reasons people do not get the help they need. The subscription options and cost should be clearly stated on the website. You also should be able to find insurance coverage. 

Read more: How Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Can Reshape the Way You Think

More support for your mental health

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

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4K and 8K TV refresh rates from 60hz to 120Hz: Everything you should know

4K and 8K TV refresh rates from 60hz to 120Hz: Everything you should know

Refresh rate is one of the more confusing aspects of TV technology and TV makers don't do much to explain it. In fact, they often obscure it.

Refresh rate is a number that specifies how many times per second the image on your TV changes. With most TVs it's 60, though it's rare you'll ever see a TV with that number listed. Instead, manufacturers use different technologies, such as the soap opera effect and black frame insertion, to claim a higher number. Sometimes those claims are justified, sometimes they aren't. 

Higher refresh rate claims with numbers like 120, 240 and higher are common, but not always accurate. In fact, no matter what number you see listed with a 4K TV, no 4K TV has a native panel refresh rate higher than 120Hz. As we'll explain, though, a number higher than 120Hz doesn't necessarily mean the claim is false.

Here's the basics:

• Refresh rate is the number time times per second (written in hertz, or Hz) a TV refreshes its image.
• Movies are almost always filmed 24 frames per second, or 24Hz. Live TV shows at 30 or 60.
• Most TVs refresh at 60, some midrange and higher-end models at 120. Some older 1080p LCD TVs refreshed at 240Hz.
• One benefit of a higher refresh rate is to reduce the motion blur inherent in all current TV technologies.
• Motion blur is the softening of the image when an object, or the entire screen, is in motion.
• Another benefit is compatibility with 120 frame-per-second signals from PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and some video cards.
• TV manufacturers use multiple technologies in addition to refresh rate to come up with an "effective refresh rate."
• Effective refresh rate means the TV refreshes its image at a lower rate, but might appear to have similar motion resolution as a TV with an actual higher refresh rate.

What TV makers say

Let me start with the terms you'll see on various TV makers' marketing materials and web sites. Each one calls the TVs motion handling capability something different, and many don't even mention the term "refresh rate" or use "Hz" at all.

LG:  TruMotion

LG's web site lists the panel's native refresh rate up front. On TVs that have a 120Hz refresh rate it simply says "120Hz Native," while with 60Hz models it lists "TruMotion 120 (60Hz Native)." 

Samsung:  Motion Rate

Samsung is better than it used to be about this, albeit not as transparent as LG. The 4K TVs and 8K TVs on its site list a "Motion Rate." This is, generally, twice the native refresh rate. So Motion Rate 240 indicates a native refresh of 120Hz while Motion Rate 120 means a 60Hz refresh. In the least expensive of their TVs, a Motion Rate of 60 means a 60Hz refresh.

Sony: MotionFlow XR

For most of its 2021 TVs Sony doesn't list a number on its website, instead it just says "Motionflow XR." On some, however, it lists a number along with the native refresh: "Motionflow XR 240 (native 60 Hz)" and "Motionflow XR 960 (native 120 Hz)."

Vizio: Refresh Rate

Vizio used to list an "Effective Refresh Rate" on its web site, which was just double the native refresh rate. For 2021, however, none of its TVs use that term as far as we could find, and most don't list any refresh rate spec. The bottom line? All of Vizio's 2021 TVs are 60Hz native, except for the P-Series and the H1 OLED, which are 120Hz native.

TCL:  Clear Motion Index or Natural Motion

TCL's sets are all over the place. Some don't list any motion term -- those are 60Hz native. Some say "120Hz CMI," which stands for Clear Motion Index, but they're actually 60Hz native too. And some say Natural Motion 240, but they're 60Hz as well. The only TCL TVs that are true 120Hz say Natural Motion 480. 

For the most effective increase in motion resolution, and compatibility with next-gen gaming consoles' best video output modes, you need a native 120Hz refresh television. That said, it is possible to have some improvement in motion resolution even with a 60Hz TV if it uses some other feature, like backlight scanning or black frame insertion, that improves motion resolution. 

That's a lot of technical jargon, so let's tackle it from the beginning.

Back up a second: What's refresh rate?

Refresh rate is how often a TV changes the image (also known as a "frame") onscreen. With traditional televisions, this was 60 times each second, or "60Hz."

Some modern TVs can refresh at double this rate, or 120Hz (120 frames per second). We've covered this before, with 1080p HDTVs, and it's the same idea with 4K TVs. Certain parts of the world have TVs that refresh at 50Hz normally, with some TVs that refresh at 100Hz. That just depends on the electricity in your country. 

For the purposes of this article, 50 and 60 work the same, as do 100 and 120. For my own sanity, and ease of reading, I'm going to stick with 60 and 120, but feel free to read that as 50 and 100 if you're in the UK, Australia or any place that has 50Hz electricity. 

So are these higher refresh numbers just another "more is better!" marketing ploy? Not entirely. Higher refresh rates can reduce motion blur in LCDs and OLED TVs. 

What's motion blur? Glad you asked...

Your brain on blur

All LCD and current OLED models suffer from "motion blur." This is where anything in motion, either an object on screen or the entire image (like when the camera pans), blurs and looks softer than if it was stationary.

Motion blur makes images in motion look softer than stationary ones.

Geoffrey Morrison/CNET

Interestingly, this blur is largely created by your brain. Basically, your brain notices the motion, and makes assumptions as to where that object (or overall image) is going to be in the next fraction of a second. The problem with LCD and current OLED TVs is that they hold that image there for the full 60th of a second, so your brain actually smears the motion, thinking it should be moving, when in fact it's just a series of still images.

It's actually quite fascinating, but the details are beyond the scope of this article. I recommend checking out BlurBuster's great article for more info.

The motion blur we're talking about here, despite coming from your brain, is caused by how the television works. This is separate from whatever blur the camera itself creates. 

Some people aren't bothered by motion blur. Some don't even notice it. Others, like me, do notice it and are bothered by it. Fortunately, it can be minimized. 

One sure sign of a native 120Hz TV? The ability to accept a 4K/120Hz input.

David Katzmaier/CNET

Antiblurring technologies beyond refresh rate

Refresh rate itself is really only part of the solution. Just doubling the same frames doesn't actually do much for reducing motion blur. Something else is needed.

There are two main methods. The first is frame interpolation, where the TV itself creates brand-new frames that are sort of hybrids of the frame that came before, and the one that comes after. This can fool your brain enough that it doesn't blur the image. Depending how aggressive the interpolation is, however, it can lead to the soap opera effect, which makes movies look like ultra-smooth reality TV shows. Some viewers like the effect, but it's generally hated by film buffs and others who pay close attention to image quality. 

There are different levels of this processing, where a little might reduce motion blur some, and not cause undue harm to the quality of the image. Or on the other end of the "dial," it's cranked up so that there's even less motion blur, but the movement is hyper-realistic and for many, distractingly unreal. Some TVs let you choose how much of this processing gets applied to the image, others have just a single setting. More on these settings further down.

The other alternative is black frame insertion (BFI) or a scanning backlight. This is where all or part of the backlight of the TV turns off (goes black). This effectively means the image doesn't "hold" in place, so your brain doesn't blur it. Do it poorly, however, and many people will see the image flicker. The light output of the TV also drops, as it's not outputting any light for a period of time. 

Both of these techniques are what manufacturers use to come up with their "effective refresh rate" numbers. For example, a TV with a 60Hz refresh and a scanning backlight might claim to have an effective refresh rate of 120. A TV with a more elaborate BFI mode, and frame interpolation, might have a claimed effective refresh rate of "540." There's no transparency in how companies determine their "effective rate" numbers, but there is at least more consistency than there used to be.

It's also possible these features, when enabled, are bothersome over time. Some people are especially sensitive to a flickering backlight, so you might need to turn these features off. If you're concerned about that, or notice motion blur, it's best to find a TV that actually has a 120Hz refresh rate.

Bottom line (should you care?)

There are two things at play here. The first is simple, and one we've said many times before: don't trust marketing. At least, don't trust it at face value. Marketing is designed to sell you a product, not give you information about a product. That's secondary.

The second is being able to reduce motion blur. When 120Hz 1080p TVs first hit the market, they offered a noticeable improvement in motion resolution. The technology has only gotten better. 

But if you're sensitive to motion blur, or you want to get the most from your Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5, it is worth checking for a true 120Hz TV. It would be a shame to let all that extra 4K resolution go to waste due to blur. It's also worth checking reviews for measurements and subjective takes on how the TV handles motion -- that's more useful than any manufacturer-supplied spec.

Note: This article was originally published in 2015 but has been updated regularly since.  

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Got a question for Geoff? First, check out all the other articles he's written on topics such as why you shouldn't buy expensive HDMI cables, TV resolutions explained, how HDR works and more.

Still have a question? Tweet at him @TechWriterGeoff, then check out his travel adventures as a digital nomad on Instagram and YouTube. He also thinks you should check out his best-selling sci-fi novel about city-sized submarines and its sequel.

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