If you’re a regular Apex Legends player on PS5, you’ve probably wondered how to get the smoothest possible experience for fast-paced firefights and movement. I’ve put hundreds of hours into the game across both PS4 and PS5, and one of the most common questions I see in community lobbies and Reddit threads is does apex legends have 120 fps on ps5. The good news is there’s a clear answer, but there are a few important caveats you need to know before you go digging through your settings menu.
Does Apex Legends Have 120 FPS on PS5? The Short Answer
Yes, Apex Legends has supported 120 FPS gameplay on PS5 since a 2022 update from Respawn Entertainment, rolled out alongside other next-gen console improvements like 4K resolution and faster load times. 120 FPS mode is only available for PS5 users with a compatible display, so you won’t see the option pop up in your settings if you’re using an older TV or monitor that maxes out at 60 Hz. The mode is entirely optional, so you can switch between 120 FPS and 60 FPS whenever you want depending on what you’re playing that day. You don’t need to pay for any extra content or have a PlayStation Plus subscription to access the feature, it’s available for all players for free.
How to Enable 120 FPS Mode for Apex Legends on PS5
Turning on 120 FPS for Apex Legends on PS5 only takes a few minutes, but you have to adjust both your system settings and in-game settings to make it work. Now that you know does apex legends have 120 fps on ps5, you might be eager to flip the toggle as soon as possible, but a lot of players skip the system settings step and get frustrated when they can’t find the 120 FPS toggle in the game, so follow these steps in order:
- First, go to your PS5 system settings, navigate to "Screen and Video", and set "120 Hz Output" to "Automatic" to let your console send 120 Hz signals to your display
- Launch Apex Legends, open the in-game settings menu, and head to the "Video" tab to find performance options
- Scroll down to the "Performance Mode" toggle, switch it on, and restart the game when prompted to apply the changes
- Confirm the setting works by turning on the frame counter in the game’s "Accessibility" settings if you want visual proof of your frame rate
If you don’t see the Performance Mode toggle after adjusting your system settings, double check your HDMI cable first. You must use an HDMI 2.1 cable to carry 120 Hz signal from your PS5 to your display, and the old HDMI 2.0 cable that came with your PS4 won’t work for 120 FPS output. Most new PS5 models come with an HDMI 2.1 cable in the box, but if you bought a third party cable or are reusing an older one, that’s likely the issue. You also need to make sure your TV or monitor has its 120 Hz mode enabled in its own settings, as some displays disable this feature by default to save power.
Key Performance Tradeoffs of Running Apex Legends at 120 FPS on PS5
120 FPS mode feels incredible for fast-paced gameplay, but it doesn’t come without downsides, so it’s important to know what you’re giving up before you switch over permanently. The biggest change you’ll notice immediately is that the game runs at a lower resolution when 120 FPS mode is enabled, dropping from a dynamic 4K at 60 FPS to a dynamic 1080p at 120 FPS. That means distant enemies and small details like loot on the ground will look a little fuzzier than they do in 60 FPS mode, which can make it harder to spot people hiding on the edges of the map.
You’ll also notice occasional frame drops in high-traffic areas, like when 10+ teams land at Fragment East or during end-game circles with lots of abilities going off at once. The frame rate usually stays between 90 and 120 FPS even in these chaotic scenarios, which is still way smoother than 60 FPS, but it’s not a perfect locked 120 at all times. The upside, though, is hard to ignore for competitive players. Higher frame rates cut down on input lag by up to 50% compared to 60 FPS mode, which means your button presses and aim adjustments register faster, giving you a leg up in close-quarters gunfights where every millisecond counts. I’ve personally noticed way fewer missed shots when sliding or jumping while using 120 FPS mode, since the on-screen action lines up way better with what I’m doing on my controller.
Is 120 FPS Mode Worth Using for Your Apex Legends Playstyle?
Whether you should keep 120 FPS mode enabled depends almost entirely on how you play Apex Legends, and there’s no one right answer for every player. If you’re a competitive player who regularly grinds ranked matches and wants to climb to higher tiers, 120 FPS mode is almost always worth using. If you regularly play ranked above Platinum tier, 120 FPS mode will give you a noticeable competitive edge, since most other players you’re going up against will be using higher frame rates too, and you don’t want to be at a disadvantage before you even drop into the map.
If you’re a casual player who only plays a few matches a week with friends, or you mostly play Apex to enjoy new seasonal content and story updates, you probably won’t get enough benefit from 120 FPS mode to justify the lower resolution. 60 FPS on PS5 is still perfectly smooth for casual play, and the 4K resolution makes the game’s maps and character skins look way better. If you’re a content creator who records gameplay to post on TikTok or YouTube, you might also prefer 60 FPS 4K mode, since higher resolution footage performs better on most social media platforms and looks more polished for your audience. The best thing you can do is test both modes for a few matches each to see which one feels better for you, since everyone has different preferences when it comes to frame rate vs visual quality.
Now that you know the answer to does apex legends have 120 fps on ps5, you can adjust your settings to match your playstyle and equipment without wasting time digging through forums for conflicting advice. You don’t have to stick with one setting forever either, you can switch between 60 FPS and 120 FPS whenever you want depending on if you’re playing ranked or casual matches that day. Always test both 60 FPS and 120 FPS modes for a few matches before settling on your final setting, since what works for your favorite streamer might not work best for you. At the end of the day, the best setting is the one that helps you have more fun and win more matches, no matter what the meta says you should use.