Refresh rates on phones used to be something static that no one thought about, but now they vary significantly and can really affect your experience. Many low-end phones have slower displays with a 60Hz refresh rate, while the latest gaming phones have displays that go all the way up to 240Hz. The refresh rate is an essential spec to consider when buying your next phone, but it can also be confusing.
If you’re in the market for a new phone, you might be wondering, should you spend extra for a fast refresh screen? Are there any drawbacks to a higher refresh rate? What about variable refresh rates? We are here to answer all those questions.
What does refresh rate mean?
Simply put, refresh rate is a measure of how many times a screen’s static image changes (or how many frames it shows) per second, measured in Hertz (Hz). Therefore, a display with a refresh rate of 60Hz shows 60 frames per second (fps), while 120Hz and 240Hz displays refresh at 120fps and 240fps, respectively.
In general, a faster refresh rate makes for a smoother experience, but as we’ll discuss later, app and game limitations can keep you from using your screen’s full potential.
What refresh rates are available on phones?
Refresh rates of 60 Hz, 90 Hz and 120 Hz are common on today’s smartphones, although some can go up to 144 Hz, 165 Hz or even 240 Hz. Entry level devices tend to come with 60Hz across the board, while many midrange phones sit comfortably in the 60Hz to 90Hz range. High-end flagships often have 120Hz panels and more.
For example, the Apple iPhone 14 Pro supports screen speeds of up to 120Hz. In the Android universe, phones like the Asus ROG 6 Pro go as fast as 165Hz, while the Sharp Aquos Zero 2 has a best-in-class refresh rate of 240Hz. As smartphone companies like to push the boundaries, we expect higher refresh rates over time.
Samsung Galaxy S22+ and S22 Ultra: 120Hz
Both the Android and iOS platforms can handle the maximum refresh rate of your hardware. In other words, all of the inherent parts of Android should run at 240 Hz on your Android phone with a 240 Hz display. On some phones, you can also manually set the frame rate in the settings if you want to keep it below the maximum to save battery life or prevent a drop in resolution.
To put things in perspective, most TVs still come with 60Hz displays and only a few high-end models offer 120Hz. Meanwhile, dedicated gaming monitors push the boundaries with refresh rates up to 360 Hz.
What is an adaptive refresh rate?
One thing to keep in mind is that phones don’t need to run continuously at their highest refresh rate. In fact, many adjust the refresh rate depending on the activity at hand.
Why are they doing this? Current. Higher refresh rates draw more power from the battery. Running a display at 120Hz all the time would drain a smartphone’s battery quickly. Therefore, some phones constantly switch the actual refresh rate from low to high and back again to save power or provide a smoother experience.
ASUS ROG Phone 6 Pro: 165Hz
Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max are among those devices with an adaptive refresh rate. Their screens can run as slow as 1Hz or as fast as 120Hz depending on the scenario. For example, the screen refreshes at just 1 Hz to minimize battery usage when the always-on screen is active. But when you navigate iOS or play certain games, it goes up to 120Hz.
Many Android flagships, such as the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, also offer adaptive refresh rates. You often won’t find adaptive refresh rates on entry-level or midrange hardware, which probably run at a static rate all the time.
What are fast screens good for?
Most apps don’t support refresh rates beyond 120 Hz, meaning the experience won’t be smoother on a 240 Hz display than on a 120 Hz display. Apps that to do support higher refresh rates seem smoother on fast smartphone screens, especially when scrolling.
Many popular mobile games, such as the graphically demanding Genshin Impact, cap frame rates at 60 fps, while others, such as Call of Duty Mobile and Alto’s Odyssey, support higher refresh rates. For gaming, a higher refresh rate can make it easier to pick moving targets or time your reactions more precisely. For example, in a first-person shooter like Call of Duty Mobile, a higher refresh rate gives you an extra few milliseconds to react to on-screen action. This can make a life or death difference in gameplay.
Studios typically shoot movies at 24 fps and television shows at 30 fps, while independent creators often shoot content at 60 fps. Regardless of the content’s original frame rate, your device’s screen will translate that data so that it plays smoothly. We’ll cover those specific methods in our article on TV refresh rates.
In short, a higher refresh rate does not benefit most entertainment content yet.
The pros and cons of high refresh rates
As mentioned, one distinct advantage of a high refresh rate screen is how incredibly smooth everything looks. If you hold a 60Hz phone next to a 144Hz phone and browse a menu or website, you can easily tell the difference.
On the other hand, a higher refresh rate means that everything has to work harder, from the screen to the processor. All that drains the battery faster, which can cause problems for people who already struggle to get through the day without recharging. Adaptive refresh rates solve this problem to some extent.
Moto G Stylus 5G: 120Hz
Another potential drawback is that some phone manufacturers have chosen to lower the resolution of their displays to balance the power needed for higher refresh rates, a tactic that reduces the load on the hardware. For example, a number of flagship smartphones offered 1440p displays. A few have lowered that resolution to 1080p while increasing the refresh rate at the same time. This is probably also a price issue, as the screen is the most expensive part of any smartphone.
High refresh rates are not beneficial for everyone
Before buying your next smartphone, we recommend that you check the refresh rate. If you often play games that support high frame rates or just want the smoothest software experience, a high refresh rate should be on your list. But if you don’t care about super-smooth scrolling, or more importantly, if you prioritize battery life, then a standard 60Hz display is fine for everyday use.
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