How to Get 120 FPS in Games on Xiaomi Poco X3: The Complete Guide

Xiaomi Poco X3 is well-deservedly considered a mid-range legend, thanks in large part to the Snapdragon 732G processor, which is still capable of delivering decent performance. However, many owners are faced with the fact that in heavy games frame rates are limited to the standard 60 FPS, although the hardware and screen of the device theoretically allow you to give more. Acceleration to 120 frames per second is not just a figure, but a tangible improvement in the smoothness of the picture and the interface response speed.

In this article, we will look at all the existing ways to achieve maximum refresh rates on your device, learn how to properly configure Game Turbo, whether it is worth the risk installing custom drivers, and what hidden Android menus will help to bypass software restrictions. It is important to understand that not all games support 120 Hz natively, but we will find ways to force activate.

Before you start to take action, you need to realize that the processor's performance at the limit always leads to increased heat. Poco X3 NFC and Poco X3 Pro have different cooling systems, and what easily passes on the Pro version can cause trottling on the conventional model, so the approach should be comprehensive: software setting plus temperature control.

Hardware limitations and display capabilities

The first step to understanding the process is to analyze what exactly we're trying to squeeze out of the device. The screen in the Poco X3 has a 240Hz sensor survey rate, but the physical refresh rate of the matrix is 120Hz. This means that the theoretical ceiling for any animations and games here is 120 frames per second. However, MIUI and HyperOS often artificially lower this threshold to save battery power.

The Snapdragon 732G is an overclocked version of the 730G and is based on an 8nm architecture. It can handle Adreno 618 graphics at high speed, but in heavy projects like PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact, the load is enormous. Without proper cooling, the chip quickly resets frequencies, and the FPS drops even if you turn on all the settings.

⚠️ Attention: Prolonged operation at maximum frequencies can lead to accelerated battery degradation and detachment of the processor (especially relevant for the Pro version with known soldering problems.

It's important to distinguish between the game's software limitation and the system's limitation. Some games simply don't have 120 FPS support for your model, and only modification of configuration files will help. Other times, the system itself blocks high frequency, considering the application to be "heavy."

Setting up the Game Turbo game mode

Xiaomi’s built-in optimization tool is the first frontier to start with. Game Turbo not only clears memory, but also allows you to redistribute CPU resources to an active application. Accessing advanced settings often requires logging into your Mi Account, whose region has been changed to India or Singapore, but the basic features are available immediately.

Inside the game mode menu, you need to find graphics settings, you can manually increase the sensitivity of the sensor and turn off automatic brightness adjustment, which often interferes with dynamic scenes, and you should also activate Do Not Disturb mode so that background processes do not interrupt the rendering of frames.

There is a hidden feature that adds a floating panel with the ability to change the resolution and frame rate "on the fly." To activate advanced settings, sometimes you need to use third-party modules or special versions of the Security application.

Activation of 120 Hz via hidden menu

In Android, and in the MIUI shell in particular, there is an engineering menu that allows you to control the display parameters at a low level. To log in, a special code is used that allows you to access the hardware tests. In the section related to the display (Single Test Items -> Color or Version), you can find information about the current frequency.

But the more effective way to get there is to use the developer menu, and to get there, you have to click 7 times on the build number in the About section, and then in the advanced settings, you'll see a "Developers" option, and find the Force 4x MSAA option there, which improves graphics quality, but can reduce FPS, so you better turn it off for maximum frames.

There is a command through ADB (Android Debug Bridge) that forcibly changes the refresh rate, and you need to connect the phone to the PC and type a command into the console:

adb shell wm size 1080x2400


adb shell wm density 440

But a more effective command to change the frequency is if it is supported by the driver:

settings put system peak_refresh_rate 120.0


settings put system min_refresh_rate 120.0

⚠️ Attention: Entering commands through ADB An error in syntax can cause an interface or bootloop to malfunction. Always check commands before entering.

Use of Turnip and Adreno drivers

Poco X3 owners with superuser rights (Root) can install custom graphics drivers. Turnip drivers (for Vulkan) and Adreno drivers (for OpenGL ES) allow you to replace the standard system libraries with more optimized versions taken from new firmware or other devices.

Installation is done through the driver settings menu, which appears after activating certain flags in the developer menu or through special download apps. Choosing the right driver version can give an increase of 10 to 30% in FPS stability. For example, Turnip 23.x versions are often recommended for Snapdragon 732G.

It’s worth noting that an inappropriate driver can cause artifacts, game crashes, or a full black screen.So always have a way to restore the system on hand, such as via TWRP or Safe Mode.

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Before installing a new driver, make a full backup of the EFS and Persist partition.This will save your IMEI and sensor calibration in the event of a failure.

Optimizing the system for maximum FPS

Even a powerful processor will choke if RAM is clogged with garbage and the background processes consume resources. For the Poco X3, it is critical to disable unnecessary Xiaomi services that are constantly hanging in memory. Use ADB AppControl or similar tools to freeze system debris.

It's also recommended that you disable animations from the developer menu. Find "Window animation," "Change animation" and "Duration of animation" and set them to "No animation" or 0.5x. This won't add frames to the game, but will make switching between apps and menus instantaneous, which subjectively increases responsiveness.

Keep in mind that you clean the cache. Accumulated temporary files can slow down the reading of data from the drive, which causes micro-freezes. Regular cleaning through the standard Security app or third-party utilities like SD Maid helps keep the system on track.

The table below compares the impact of different optimization methods on performance:

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A comprehensive approach that combines system cleaning, Game Turbo setup and installing current drivers gives the best result without the need for deep overclocking.

Cooling and temperature control

The main enemy of a stable 120 FPS is trottling. Once the Snapdragon 732G reaches a critical temperature (usually around 45-50 degrees on the skin sensor), the system forcibly reduces the CPU frequencies, visually it looks like a sharp drop in FPS after 10-15 minutes of play.

To combat this, the Poco X3 often uses external coolers, which is the most effective way to keep its long-distance performance high. If the cooler is not available, remove the protective case while playing, as it works as a thermal insulator, preventing heat from being removed through the back cover.

There are software-based control methods, like using real-time temperature monitoring apps, and if you see heat rising too fast, you should lower your graphics settings in the game, sacrificing texture quality for frame stability.

⚠️ Warning: Never put a heavy-playing phone on soft surfaces (sofa, bed, blanket) that block ventilation and can cause the battery to overheat and bloat.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)