If you have a modern mobile phone and haven't adjusted the refresh rate, you're probably not getting the most out of its screen. Many models allow you to reach... 90 or 120 Hz so that everything looks much smootherBut they come from the factory limited or with automatic modes that don't always take advantage of that potential.
In recent years, manufacturers such as Xiaomi, Samsung, and POCO have been incorporating options for Increase the refresh rate and, in some cases, force 120 Hz in all appsThis improves the experience when browsing, playing games, or simply scrolling through menus, although it also has its drawbacks, such as increased battery consumption or some resolution limitations.
What is refresh rate and why does it matter so much?
The so-called refresh rate, which you will see indicated in Hz or hertz, refers to the number of times per second that the screen updates the imageA 60Hz panel refreshes 60 times per second, a 120Hz panel does it twice as often, and that translates into smoother animations and less of a "drag" or blurriness feeling when everything is moving fast.
In most mid-range and high-end mobile phones, 60 Hz has remained the basic standard, but it is becoming increasingly common to find screens that reach 90 Hz, 120 Hz or even moreThe higher the number, the less lag we perceive when navigating a website, scrolling on social media, or playing video games with a lot of camera movement.
This increased refresh rate is most noticeable in dynamic content: action movies, videos with many scene changes, or shooting gamesThat's where a 120Hz screen makes all the difference, giving a sense of immediacy that a 60Hz panel simply can't match.
However, it's not all advantages: by increasing the refresh rate, the screen "turns on" and updates more times per second, so the system uses more energy. In practice, Always setting your phone to 120 Hz usually reduces battery life.So some manufacturers opt for adaptive modes that lower the rate when so much fluidity is not needed.
In many high-end models, such as Samsung's Galaxy S20 family, this increase in refresh rate is combined with advanced panel technologies, such as Dynamic AMOLED or equivalentThese enhancements improve contrast, brightness, and color reproduction. The idea is that you'll not only see everything smoother, but also with better overall quality.
Switch to 120Hz on Samsung Galaxy S20 phones
The Samsung Galaxy S20 was one of the first to popularize 120Hz displays in the high-end range, combining them with panels High-quality Dynamic AMOLEDBy default, the phone may come configured to 60 Hz or in a mode where the rate is automatically adjusted, but you can manually increase it to 120 Hz.
To enable high refresh rate, you need to go to your device settings. Within the settings, go to the display section and look for a section called something like... “Motion fluidity” or “Update frequency”depending on the version of One UI you have installed.
Once inside, the system will allow you to choose between standard mode (60 Hz) and an option with “High refresh rate”Selecting this last option will cause the phone to display animations, transitions, and scrolling at 120 Hz. It's one of those things that, once you get used to it, is hard to go back to.
A good way to check the change is to go to a long web page or an app with a lot of vertical scrolling, such as a social network or a news feed, and move your finger quickly. The feeling of smoothness when gliding is much greater at 120 Hz, with less stuttering and less trailing behind the text or icons.
Before leaving that setting fixed, it's worth keeping a couple of details in mind. The first is that, on the Galaxy S20, the WQHD+ maximum resolution does not allow the use of 120 HzIf you select that resolution in the display settings, the system automatically lowers the refresh rate to 60 Hz, so you'll have to sacrifice a little sharpness if you want maximum smoothness.
The second point is the impact on battery life: keeping the high frequency constantly active increases consumption. If battery life is your top priority, you might be interested in... Switch back to 60 Hz on days when you're running low on battery.or use adaptive modes when available to balance visual performance and battery life.
Xiaomi and MIUI's bet: from Android 14 to MIUI 14 and MIUI 15
While Samsung was fine-tuning its Dynamic AMOLED displays, Xiaomi has been polishing MIUI, its custom Android-based interface. With the arrival of Android 14 and the advanced versions of MIUI 14The Chinese brand has been adding new features designed to get the most out of the high refresh rate screens of its Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices.
In this context, some models have received MIUI 14 updates that not only incorporate recent security patches, but also extra options to better manage the 120Hz refresh rate. A clear example is the Xiaomi 12S Pro sold in China, which has moved to version MIUI V14.0.10.0.TLECNXM with a very interesting feature.
Official changelogs for these types of patches usually only mention security improvements or minor fixes, but in this case, the update includes a hidden tool that It allows for forcing a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz in all applicationseven in those that previously remained locked at 60 Hz without the user being able to do anything.
The new feature is integrated into MIUI's display settings, in the same section where you choose whether you want the panel to operate at 60, 90, or 120 Hz, depending on your device's support. Xiaomi has added a specific option that goes beyond simply selecting the overall refresh rate.
In theory, this high refresh rate forcing feature should eventually come to more devices with MIUI 15 and future versions based on Android 14However, it is not yet clear whether this will be extended to all models with high refresh rate displays or only to some selected due to hardware or performance limitations.
Force 120Hz in all apps with MIUI 14
The big new feature in this MIUI 14 update for the Xiaomi 12S Pro is an option called something like “Applications that use a high refresh rate”It's located within the screen refresh rate menu, and its purpose is to let you decide, app by app, what you want to run at the highest possible rate.
When you enter that section, the system shows you a list of all the applications installed on the device, including both those you've downloaded and system apps. From there, you can Enable or disable the use of high refresh rate for each application individually, by marking only the ones that interest you.
This tool solves a very common problem with MIUI and other custom interfaces: some apps, even system apps, would get stuck at 60Hz even if your screen was set to 90 or 120Hz. With the new setting, you can... to force those applications to respect the maximum refresh rate supported by the panel, thus achieving a consistent experience.
Another positive effect is the reduction of flicker or abrupt changes in perceived smoothness when switching between apps. By minimizing variations between 60 Hz and 120 Hz, It avoids the "flicker" or visual jump you noticed when switching between applications.especially if you alternated between games and system apps or social networks.
For now, this option has only been seen in specific versions of MIUI 14 for models released in China, and specialized media outlets indicate that it should be extended to other devices. However, There is no official confirmation that all mobile phones and tablets with high refresh rate displays will receive it.Therefore, it's a good idea to pay attention to the release notes for each MIUI update.
For users who do have it available, it's worth taking a few minutes to review the list of applications and choose which ones really need those 120 Hz. Competitive games, browsers, video apps, and social media are clear candidates, while Static tools or apps that barely show animations can safely remain at 60 Hz to save some battery.
System apps and actual use of high frequency
One of the curious details of MIUI and other customization layers is that Not all of the brand's own apps take advantage of the 120Hz refresh rate, even if the screen is configured for it.Some internal tools, such as certain system managers or utilities, continued to operate at 60 Hz even on high-end mobile phones.
This created a somewhat inconsistent experience: you open a demanding game or app and notice spectacular fluidity, but you go back to a native management or settings app and do you perceive jerking or less smoothness?With the new feature that allows forcing high frequency per application, this behavior can be corrected on a case-by-case basis.
In MIUI 14, with the "Apps that use high refresh rate" option, when you view the full list you will see that they also appear system apps that you couldn't control beforeBy activating the high frequency for them, you stop noticing that change in sensation when you jump between environments.
Furthermore, the fact that you can manually choose which apps enjoy 120 Hz opens the door to another approach: using that list as battery management toolYou can keep apps that barely change visually at 60 Hz and reserve maximum fluidity for content where it's really appreciated, achieving a certain balance.
In any case, it's important to remember that even if you force the frequency, the device still has physical limitations. If the panel supports a maximum of 120 Hz, you won't be able to go beyond that, and Some apps may have internal restrictions to save resources or because they are not prepared to function properly at such high rates.
Other ways to force 120 Hz: Shizuku and 小黑屋
When the system doesn't offer sufficiently fine controls for managing the refresh rate, some advanced users resort to external tools. One method that has been discussed quite a bit involves using Shizuku and an app called 小黑屋 (sometimes known as BlackBox or similar) to force the behavior of certain system applications.
The first step is to install Shizuku from Google Play. This utility allows other applications to access certain system functions. without needing root access and using wireless debuggingIt's a kind of bridge between the system and the apps that want to take advantage of advanced permissions.
Next, you need to download and install the app from a trusted repository or website. This tool is designed to manage system applications and modify their behavior. Once it's installed, the next step is Activate Shizuku using wireless debuggingThis requires first enabling developer options.
To enable developer options, you need to go to your phone's settings, enter the "About device" section, and tap repeatedly on the build number until a message appears indicating that... You are already a developer or those options have been activatedFrom there you can access the developer menu and configure wireless debugging.
Once Shizuku is running, open the Shizuku app itself, go to the authorized applications section, and make sure that The app 小黑屋 appears marked as allowedIn this way, Shizuku will be able to take advantage of the capabilities that Shizuku provides, including access to system settings that are not normally available to the user.
The next step is to open the app store and tap the "+" icon to add new apps to your list. Within the list, look for a section called "Installation Management," which refers to... system or default applicationsThat's where you can find internal components that you don't usually see in the app drawer.
Among those components, you should find one called “iaware” or something similar. Once you locate it, tap on the ice crystal icon or equivalent to launch the app. be marked in grayThis indicates that the desired change has been applied to it. This alters the behavior of that system component, which in turn affects how the refresh rate is managed in applications.
After making this change, restart your device. Once it's back on, go to display settings, access the refresh rate menu, and set it to high refresh rate (usually 120 Hz, or the maximum your device supports). Then, go to the section on Application management to verify that you can now force the higher frequency in all the apps that previously resisted.
These types of procedures are not recommended for everyone. They require care, understanding what you are doing, and accepting that there is some risk involved in altering system components without knowing exactly what they do. However, For advanced users who want to fine-tune their mobile phone's behavior to the maximum.They may be the only real way to force 120 Hz in all apps on some very specific models.
Advantages and disadvantages of always having 120 Hz enabled
Once you get your phone to take full advantage of the screen and get practically everything running at 120 Hz, the feeling is fantastic. Smoother animations, jerk-free scrolling, and a more immediate tactile response They contribute to a more "premium" experience. But it's worth weighing the pros and cons.
Among the most obvious advantages is the greater clarity in fast movements. In videos, action movies, or games with a lot of camera movement, The image remains more stable and with less motion blurEverything seems to "fit" better with what your fingers are doing on the screen.
It also influences the overall perception of system fluidity. Even seemingly simple tasks like opening the app drawer, switching between multitasking, or navigate through menus and settings They feel more polished and modern when the refresh rate is high.
On the downside, the main impact is on battery life. Refreshing the screen twice as often means more work for the panel and GPU, so Energy consumption increases significantlyOn phones with limited battery life or heavy daily use, this can mean barely making it to the end of the day.
Furthermore, not all content is designed to take advantage of such high rates, and there are developers who Limit your apps to 60 Hz to avoid problems or excessive power consumptionForcing the application beyond what it expects may generate some strange behavior, although in most cases there will simply be no noticeable difference because the software itself remains at its limit.
Therefore, many users opt for a mixed approach: leaving the high frequency only in the apps where the improvement is truly noticeable and keep the rest at 60 Hz, either through the new MIUI options, through Samsung's adaptive modes, or other equivalent solutions from each manufacturer.
Ultimately, it's about finding the sweet spot where you're comfortable, considering how you use your phone on a daily basis. If you spend hours gaming or watching videos, you'll probably appreciate the constant 120Hz refresh rate; if, on the other hand, you prioritize battery life and light use, Perhaps you'd prefer to reserve them for specific occasions..
With all these options available—native settings from manufacturers like Samsung, new features in MIUI 14 and 15 to force high refresh rates per app, and advanced methods with Shizuku and Sageo-kun—any user with a compatible phone has room to fine-tune how and when to use 120Hz. Mastering these tools allows the screen to work in your favor, combining fluidity, image quality, and balanced battery consumption according to your own priorities.
