AMD has made some changes to its FreeSync branding to minimize customer confusion as to what features a monitor might support. There are now three tiers: FreeSync, FreeSync Premium (new), and FreeSync Premium Pro (this was previously called FreeSync 2 HDR).
All three offer a tear-free, low-flicker, and low-latency picture, but the Premium tier also guarantees “low framerate compensation (LFC) and at least 120 Hz refresh rate at minimum FHD.” As AMD explains, LFC “helps ensure that when the framerate of a game is running below the minimum supported refresh rate of a display, the frames are displayed multiple times so that you can remain in the supported refresh rate of the display and maintain smooth gameplay.”
The Premium Pro tier adds HDR support and is reserved for displays that have gone through luminance and wide color gamut testing.
FreeSync
- Tear free
- Low flicker
- Low latency
FreeSync Premium
- At least 120 Hz at min FHD resolution
- Low framerate compensation
- Tear free
- Low flicker
- Low latency
FreeSync Premium Pro
- HDR capabilities and game support
- At least 120 Hz at min FHD resolution
- Low framerate compensation
- Tear free
- Low flicker
- Low latency in SDR and HDR
AMD has included a video that elaborates on that certification process. Per thumbnail, there are over 900 FreeSync monitors on the market today.