Refresh rates in smartphone displays is the new big buzz in the smartphone world at the moment. You can find it on almost every advert nowadays. Companies are trying very hard to outdo each other in this new refresh rate arms race. With all this fuss and buzz, the question you may be asking is…

What are Refresh Rates?

Refresh rate is the frequency (number of times) at which a display is updated or refreshed. It is in other words, the number of times that your display redraws the image on your screen.

As you are using your phone and switching between applications, looking at photos, watching a movie or scrolling through the internet, the information on your screen changes. In order for this to happen, the pixels on your screen have to be updated constantly to show (or redraw) the latest information that you are supposed to viewing.

The number of times that a display updates itself to display the new (or current) information is its refresh rate. Refresh rates are measured in Hertz (Hz).

Refresh Rates
The standard refresh rates in smartphones (and other displays) is 60Hz. This means that the display is updated sixty (60) times in one second or once every 16.67 milliseconds (ms).

The next step up is 90Hz. A screen with a 90Hz refresh rate updates or refreshes itself 90 times per second or once every 11.11ms.

A 120Hz refresh rate is found on the displays of flagship smartphones as well as other high end electronics. A 120Hz display refreshes its pixels 120 times in a second or once in every 8.33ms.

The 144Hz is also another really fast refresh rate that can be found on phones. A 144Hz display refreshes 144 times in a second or once in 6.94ms.

The formula for converting refresh rate in Hertz (Hz) to milliseconds (ms) is

Milliseconds (ms) = 1000/Refresh Rate (Hz).

A brief history
Up until recently, most smartphone makers were content to leave the refresh rates of their products at the standard 60Hz refresh rate. Then the One Plus 7 Pro was released in 2019 with adverts focusing on its refresh rate, which many other smartphones did not have. This move by One Plus brought refresh rates to the awareness of the general public.
Now while One Plus could be credited with starting the refresh rate craze, they were not the first company to use a refresh rate over 60Hz in a smartphone display. That title belongs to Sharp who used a 120Hz refresh rate display on the Sharp Aquos Zeta SH-01H which was launched back in 2015.

The first 144Hz display can be found on the Nubia Red Magic 5G which was released in March of 2020. It was the phone with the fastest display in the world until Sharp returned and threw the kitchen sink at them, releasing the Sharp Aquos Zero 2 with a 240Hz refresh display in May of 2020.
Honourable mentions include the Razer phone which popularized 120Hz refresh rates.

Benefits of high Refresh Rates
On screens with high refresh rates, animations and motion graphics are smoother and noticeably faster. This leads to a better experience whilst watching movies, browsing the web or simply scrolling through your phone.
High refresh rates is also very good for gaming as graphics would display smoother and faster. This is very crucial in First or third person shooter games that require split second decision making. That half second advantage afforded by using a faster display could mean the world in a game like PUBG or Call of Duty Mobile.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1cmhZs1P54

Disadvantages of high refresh rates
Higher refresh rates over 60Hz and sometimes 90Hz put an increased strain on the SoC and increases battery consumption. Displays with extreme refresh rates often suffer from washed-out colors and flickering. There is also huge risk that depending on the display could suffer burn ins especially if it is an AMOLED. In some cases, the entire display could even die early because is refreshing so fast. Basically, a 240hz monitor can be a waste of money. They are also much more expensive.

Trends
Refresh rates in Smartphone displays is new big thing now. Most 2020 flagships have really high refresh rates and that is expected to continue in 2021. 120Hz seems to be the standard for most flagships but 90Hz is starting to trickle down to the midrangers.

Many OEMs have also tries to mitigate the battery consumption by allowing users to switch between different refresh rates on their devices. Another option is also Adaptive/Dynamic sync that adjusts the displays refresh rate according to activity that the display is carrying out. If you are watching a movie, it could go down to 60Hz and then jump up to 90Hz or even 120Hz if a game is being played.
Some companies also allow the refresh rates on their devices to be overclocked beyond the maximum refresh rate. A good example is the Asus ROG 3 which can be overclocked from 144Hz to 160Hz.

https://inquisitiveuniverse.com/2021/01/16/refresh-rates-in-smartphones/

You can find me on Facebook, Instagram and Telegram (I'm more active here). Simply search for Inquisitiveuniverse. You can also click my username for more interesting topics.

As usual, comments, contributions and criticism are highly welcome. You should take a look at my site too. There's plenty of topics to keep you engaged.

Highest I would prefer 90hz anything higher than that can cause battery drainage and I value battery life

Kessnorman:
Highest I would prefer 90hz anything higher than that can cause battery drainage and I value battery life

I feel the same way too. It is probably overkill.

Thank you op.

Adasun:
Thank you op.

You're welcome

Yes this is better. High refresh rates do affect battery life.

@atheistandproud You are really on fire these days. I love the way this expose follow the Resolution topic.
You are doing well.

Kessnorman:
Highest I would prefer 90hz anything higher than that can cause battery drainage and I value battery life

You're doing well

Randerl:
Yes this is better. High refresh rates do affect battery life.

@atheistandproud You are really on fire these days. I love the way this expose follow the Resolution topic.
You are doing well.

Back to back hits abi?

ChiefZaddy:
You're doing well

Yes zaddy

I'm going to the USA

Nice trend,MAY THE ODDS FAVOUR YOU...

:You're doing wellYes zaddy

masterfactor:
Nice trend,MAY THE ODDS FAVOUR YOU...

Thank you

Great writeup, bruv. I know about all this, but was still compelled to read till the end. Very nice.

CallmeKola:
Great writeup, bruv. I know about all this, but was still compelled to read till the end. Very nice.

Thank you sir.

Still trying to improve in my writing style as well as delivery so as to engage readers more.

I'm very grateful for the feedback.

It's funny how all the phones in the new iPhone 12 series have 60Hz refresh rates... not even the iPhone 12 Pro Max has up to 90Hz. Those people are just maxing out their iOS exclusivity and aspirational brand status.

Lordswazz:
It's funny how all the phones in the new iPhone 12 series have 60Hz refresh rates... not even the iPhone 12 Pro Max has up to 90Hz. Those people are just maxing out their iOS exclusivity and aspirational brand status.

Bionic, iOS and brand. The rest are vibes and insha Allah.

VictorUSA:
I'm going to the USA

Stop this nonsense How old are you?

theMagnet:

Stop this nonsense
How old are you?

The devil has proven his intelligence by possessing u.Anyway,let me answer ur question:I'm as old as ur useless father and mother.

VictorUSA:
The devil has proven his intelligence by possessing u.Anyway,let me answer ur question:I'm as old as ur useless father and mother.

Posting I'm going to the USA everywhere
You need rehabilitation
Well we'll see how far you'll go

theMagnet:

Posting I'm going to the USA everywhere
You need rehabilitation
Well we'll see how far you'll go

so u follow every thread i follow.let me see how u'll follow me to this place:355 Lexington Ave.Floor 12,New York N Y, U S A

Nice exposition

Jeffy1206:
Nice exposition

Thank you

EDUCATIVE

Nice write-up, but this your website name no resemble phone site name

VillageBus:
Nice write-up, but this your website name no resemble phone site name

Lol.

I grab your point sha.

But I don't think within that box of "this tech", "that tech", "this review", "that fones" etc. Why box myself into a corner?

See names like Jerryrigeverything for example. There's also MKBHD, MrWhosetheboss, Cold Fusion and other big names.

The name will speak for itself in the near future. You'll see.