Understanding Smartphone Refresh Rate: 60Hz, 90Hz, Or 120Hz Which Is Better?

There are some things you consider before purchasing a new smartphone. But have you ever thought about the refresh rate of your phone? Or are you new to this term? Refresh rate is a term that is connected to the display of your smartphone or laptop. Even though it is not a much-talked-about feature of the smartphone, having the ideal refresh rate can determine the overall interaction you have with your smartphone.

Refresh rate is crucial to measure the quality of your visual experience and how a user interface is created through all common actions such as scrolling, tapping, texting, and much more. So dive in and learn everything about ‘Understanding smartphone refresh rate: 60Hz, 90Hz or 120 Hz which is better?’. 

What is the refresh rate?

The refresh rate of a device can simply be put as the frequency of the screen updation. Having an ideal refresh rate is crucial to ensure a better user experience and high-quality visual content. Refresh rate can also be said to be the number of times your screen or display updates with a new image or visual.

The usual unit of measuring this is Hertz (Hz) which decides how much smooth appearance your screen has to provide. So imagine if your device whether it be a smartphone or computer has a refreshing rate of 60Hz. What does that mean? It simply means that the screen or monitor refreshes 60 times per second. Having a higher refresh rate is often preferred while watching videos or gaming.

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What is the refresh rate on a phone?

The refresh rate of a smartphone can be understood through a canvas analogy. If you can imagine the phone display to be a canvas where images and videos are constantly presented, the speed through which this canvas gets refreshed can be taken by the refresh rate of that phone. But the process is not as simple as it seems; rather there is a deep and intricate play and pixel choreography that is happening beneath it. The visual experience of your smartphone is enabled by the constant dance of the pixels, which is not visible to your eye directly.

At this level, the process of refreshing unfolds step by step, not all at once. Usually, smartphones have refreshing rates that range from 60Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz, and so on. For a long time, the standard refresh rate for smartphones was 60Hz. But now the common high-refresh rate has been set to be 120Hz. Usually, low-end Android phones have a refresh rate of 60Hz while smartphones such as Google Pixel 6 and 7 versions can go above this level. 

How to set a refresh rate on your smartphone?

Having a higher refresh rate can ensure a smooth visual experience but at the same time can drain out your battery faster. But the latest technology has found a solution to everything, and now you can adjust the refresh rate on your smartphone simply.

1. Apple iPhone

The technology that helps to fix the adjustable refresh rate on Apple iPhones is called ProMotion. It is accessible in versions such as iPhone13 Pro, iPhone13 Pro Max, iPhone14 Pro, and iPhone14 Pro Max. Using this method, you can set higher refresh rates for specific apps on the phone. And if you want to keep your battery life longer, you can turn down the frequency to 60Hz. The process to complete this is as follows:

• Go to iOS Settings and click Accessibility.
• Now tap on Motion.
• You can either enable Limit Frame Rate to keep the device on 60Hz or disable the function to normal working of ProMotion. 

2. Google Pixel

A specific feature of Google Pixel phones called Smooth Display can help you enable a higher refresh rate for operating certain applications. All you have to do is to go to Settings and tap the Display option. From there you can toggle the Smooth Display button which will automatically keep the phone display between 60Hz to 90Hz. If you disable the button, the refresh rate will be fixed at 60Hz. 

3. Samsung Galaxy

Certain high-end Samsung Galaxy phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S23 series have the same feature where you can either enable or disable the high refresh rate for your screen. For this function, you need to go to Settings and open Display. From there, you need to click on Motion Smoothness. By choosing the Adaptive option, you can try out various refresh rates for your phone. The High option helps you keep your phone at a high refresh rate and the Standard option keeps it on a 60Hz level. To confirm whatever your choice is, just click the Apply button. 

Pros and cons of having a high refresh rate

Here we will discuss some of the advantages and disadvantages of having a high refresh rate. As mentioned before, having a high refresh rate means your phone display has a refresh rate of above 60Hz. Here are some of the pros of a high refresh rate.

Pros of high refresh rate:

• Easier and smoother motion- If your phone display has a high refresh rate, the more smoother the working will be. The process of scrolling through content will become almost fluid-like and more flexible. 
• Increased responsiveness- Another positive of having a high refresh rate for the device means you will be able to feel increased responsiveness with iterating the device. Everything from swiping, dragging, and tapping, everything becomes much quicker and easier.
• Ideal for gaming experience- Having high refresh rates is ideal for an enhanced gaming experience. This feature can reduce motion blur and ensure fast-paced gameplay. 
• More adaptive- Smartphones with high refresh rates come with an option to adapt the rate and this means you can choose the refresh rate based on your needs. 
• Lower motion sickness- Certain users report having motion sicknesses while using screens with a lower refresh rate. Displays that have a high refresh rate lowers motion blur and can avoid this. 

Cons of high refresh rate:

• Increased energy consumption- The most pointed out drawback of having a high refresh rate display is that it can drain out the battery faster. 
• Much costly- Often smartphones that are flagship models come with high refresh rate displays and they are usually costlier than the devices with standard refresh rates.
• Reduced content support- Every kind of content is not supported by a high refresh rate. Certain applications and files don’t feel any difference even after switching to a high refresh rate.
• Less noticeable improvements- There is not much difference between the perceived smoothness between standard refresh rate screens and higher refresh rate ones. 

Which refresh rate is better?

So the question here remains. What kind of refresh rate you should choose, 60Hz, 90Hz, or 120Hz? As we have discussed earlier, 60Hz is set to be the standard refresh rate of most smartphones, but recently most high-end smartphones come with a refresh rate of more than that. Now to decide on which kind of refresh rate you need to choose, you should understand your preferences and priorities. Not everyone needs to choose high refresh rate devices. Here are certain factors to consider before choosing the ideal refresh rate for your smartphone.

• Productivity- If you are considering spending time on smartphones for the usual kind of activities like browsing and scrolling, you might not need any refresh rate above 60Hz. Because the difference here won’t be much pronounced. But if you prefer to enjoy the visuals and images with more clarity and appeal, you can consider choosing a high refresh rate.
• Gaming- Now if you are a gamer, you need smoother animations and faster response navigation. For this purpose, high refresh rate displays will be ideal for you. 
• Improved visual experience- If you want to enjoy a more appealing visual experience through your gaming or scrolling experience, high refresh rate phones between 90 Hz to 120 Hz can be the best option.
• Battery functions- criteria to set before purchasing high refresh rate phones is what kind of battery life you will need. In this case, choosing phones with adaptive refresh technology that can help you adjust the refresh rate as per your choice will be ideal for you.
• Cost- Finally, budget considerations are another important aspect to be considered before choosing between high or standard refresh rate devices. As mentioned before, high refresh rate devices are mostly flagship products and can be costlier than standard 60Hz displays. 

Read More: Smartphone Overheating: Common Causes And Solutions

Conclusion

Refresh rate is a crucial term that is associated with the display of your smartphone device. It determines the quality of every single aspect while navigating through the user interface. The standard refresh rate ranges around 60Hz while a high refresh rate means more than 60Hz and can range up to 120Hz.

A high refresh rate helps the user to have a more appealing and smooth visual experience and is beneficial for an enhanced gaming experience. But not everyone needs to have a high refresh rate for their smartphones. While it has positives, high refresh rate devices can cause faster battery drainage and can be costlier. Deciding one’s preferences and choices is ideal before determining whether to go for high refresh rate devices.