Our mobile phones and tablets have become veritable mini-computers, capable of handling demanding tasks, games, and video platforms with ease, and a significant part of that experience depends on the screen. In recent years, panels with variable refresh rates have arrived, adapting to the content and offering smoother animations, pleasant scrolling, and a feeling of fluidity that, once you try it, is hard to give up.
Furthermore, recent mid-range phones often include 90Hz, 120Hz , and even 144Hz modes , so it's not exclusive to premium models. If you're wondering whether you can change this frequency on Android, the answer is yes: you can leave it on automatic so the system adjusts it based on your activity, or force a fixed value when you want. Below is a complete guide to understanding what it is, how to change it, how to see the Hz in real time, and what impact it has on battery life.
What is the refresh rate and why does it matter?
The refresh rate is essentially the number of times per second the screen updates . It's measured in hertz (Hz) and determines how many frames per second the panel can display. A traditional panel operates at 60 Hz, meaning the image refreshes 60 times per second; more modern panels go up to 90, 120, or even 144 Hz , and some gaming-oriented Android devices boast even higher figures.
To give you an idea, a 60Hz screen turns its pixels on and off 60 times per second . When the content is static, you don't notice the change as much; however, when scrolling through menus, opening apps with animations, or playing fast-paced games, going up to 90 or 120Hz provides a much smoother and more responsive experience.
Another important consequence is that a higher refresh rate can help reduce perceived flicker when switching between screens or making rapid transitions. That's why many manufacturers recommend using a high refresh rate mode in fast-moving scenarios to improve visual stability.
However, it's not all advantages. Refreshing more times per second means the screen consumes more energy . The perfect balance is usually an adaptive mode that adjusts the refresh rate according to the task: lower when you're reading or looking at images, and higher when you're scrolling or playing games. This way, you gain smoothness where it matters and save battery when you don't need that much speed.
How to change the refresh rate on Android
First, check that your device supports it: not all phones offer frequency switching , although it's very common in current mid-range and high-end phones. For this example, we'll use a Realme GT 2 Pro, so there may be slight variations in names or paths depending on your phone's interface, but the steps are usually very similar.
- Opens Settings on your phone or tablet.
- Enter the menu Screen o Screen and brightness, depending on the layer.
- Locate the option Update frequency, Refresh rate or Fluidity of movements.
- Choose between an option Automatic (adaptive) or a fixed frequency (60, 90, 120, 144 Hz) depending on what your panel supports.
The terminology varies considerably between brands: sometimes you'll see Motion Smoothness, other times Refresh Rate or Screen Refresh Rate. Some phones only allow you to choose between two values ​​(for example, 60 and 120 Hz), while others offer three or more. If you're looking to save energy, choose the lower level; if smoothness is your priority, increase the value when you're going to play games or want maximum visual responsiveness.
View the refresh rate in real time with developer options
Android lets you activate an indicator to see the screen's refresh rate in Hz at all times . This is ideal if your phone has adaptive refresh rate mode and you want to see when it drops to 60 Hz and when it rises; it's also useful if you're unsure of your screen's maximum refresh rate or if you want to check if certain apps reduce the rate.
These are the situations in which viewing the indicator is especially useful: monitoring the adaptive refresh rate in real time , confirming the actual frequency of your panel, and detecting apps that force 60 Hz (for example, it is common for the camera app to drop to 60 Hz even though the system allows 120).
To enable developer options if they aren't already enabled, follow these steps (the section names may vary depending on the brand, but the idea is the same): Go to Device Information in Settings, tap repeatedly on the Build Number until the system confirms you are a developer. On custom Android skins like MIUI, instead of the Build Number, you'll need to tap repeatedly on the MIUI Version section.
- Open Settings and go to About phone or a similar section.
- Tap Build Number repeatedly until the confirmation message appears to activate developer mode.
- In MIUI and similar layers, repeatedly tap on MIUI Version to achieve the same effect.
Once enabled, access Developer options from System or Additional options (or use the Settings search bar if you can't find it) and enable the Show refresh rate toggle. You'll see an indicator in the top left corner showing the current refresh rate (Hz).
- Open Developer Options from System or Additional Options.
- Find the parameter Show refresh rate.
- Activate it and look at the Hz indicator in the top corner of the screen.
If your device has a variable refresh rate, you'll see the value increase or decrease as you scroll through menus or open apps. If your screen isn't adaptive, the number will remain the same. Keep in mind that the higher the refresh rate, the more battery the screen will consume.
Save battery life without sacrificing a good experience
A simple way to reduce energy consumption is to select a lower refresh rate when you don't need as much smoothness. For reading, chatting, or checking email, 60 Hz is usually sufficient. When you're going to play games or want very smooth transitions, you can increase it to 90 or 120 Hz in seconds by repeating the steps above in Settings.
Many Android skins include an Automatic or Adaptive mode that adjusts the refresh rate based on the content. This is a good option if you're looking for balance: the panel drops to 60Hz when the screen displays static elements and increases it when it detects animations, scrolling, or games, providing a pleasant experience while saving battery power when less frequent refresh rates are needed.
You'll also see different names: on some phones it's called Motion Smoothness; on others, Refresh Rate or Refresh Rate. Whatever you call it, the concept is the same: more Hz equals smoother movement , but also higher power consumption.
If you notice flickering during transitions or when switching screens, a high refresh rate mode can help make everything look smoother and sharper . However, if battery life is your top priority, stick to 60Hz for everyday use and only enable the high refresh rate when needed.
Limitations by application and by manufacturer
Even if you choose 120 or 144 Hz, some apps may limit the refresh rate to 60 Hz due to their design or to save power. A typical example is the camera app, which often reduces the refresh rate. Another real-world example shared by users: on a Motorola Edge 40 Neo set to 144 Hz, apps like Google Maps can still run at 60 Hz, and the difference is noticeable when navigating the interface.
On some devices, within the developer options, there's a setting called something like " force high refresh rate" or "maintain maximum refresh rate," which attempts to prevent apps from lowering their refresh rate. However, not all custom interfaces offer this; for example, it might not appear in Motorola's interface, so it's not possible to force all apps to run at 120 or 144 Hz if they don't want to or if the system prevents it.
This doesn't mean there's a problem with your phone. It's common for the system or app to impose a limit for efficiency or compatibility reasons. You can try enabling game or performance modes if your phone has them, review the per-app settings that some interfaces include, or keep your software updated, but keep in mind that in many cases, you won't be able to overcome these limitations.
What to do if you can't find the refresh rate option
If you can't find the refresh rate section in Settings, your screen might not support Hz changes , or the interface might have given it a different name. Try searching in Settings using terms like refresh rate, refresh frequency, smoothness, or motion; if it still doesn't appear, your panel is most likely fixed at 60 Hz and doesn't offer switching.
Always update to the latest system version. Sometimes manufacturers add adaptive modes or new display options in software updates. If you still don't see any adjustments after updating, there's not much else you can do: in those cases, the only alternative to getting a higher refresh rate is to switch devices.
When to choose 60, 90, 120 or 144 Hz
Choosing the best frequency depends on your daily usage. If battery life is important and you typically perform static tasks, 60 Hz is the most efficient mode . If you want a balance between smoothness and energy efficiency, 90 Hz usually offers a significant improvement over 60 Hz without too much of a performance penalty.
For those seeking maximum fluidity, 120Hz is the new standard on many Android devices, offering a very smooth experience with animations and scrolling. And if your phone reaches 144Hz, you'll notice an extra boost in responsiveness in games and with fast-moving elements, although the difference compared to 120Hz isn't always that significant, and energy consumption increases.
In any case, if your phone has an adaptive mode, it's usually the most convenient option: the system decides for you , going up and down as needed, and you just notice that everything is running smoothly and that the battery lasts reasonably well.
Detailed steps to activate the Hz indicator
If you want to monitor the refresh rate in real time, the Developer Mode indicator is your best friend. We'll go over the process in more detail in case you get stuck at any point: first, activate Developer Options from About phone by repeatedly tapping on Build number (or MIUI version, depending on your skin) until the system confirms they are available.
Next, open the Developer Options menu under System or Additional Options, and enable Show refresh rate. Once you do this, you'll see a number in the top left corner that changes in real time: it will increase when you scroll through lists, and decrease when you hover over a photo or text. If the number never changes , your panel is likely not responsive.
This indicator also helps you check if certain apps are forcing 60Hz. It's common to see this in the camera app and some other specific applications. It's not always a bug ; sometimes it's a behavior designed to save energy or due to technical limitations of that app.
