How to find out the screen frequency of Xiaomi phone: the complete guide

Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones offer impressive display specs, and one of the key parameters is refresh rate. Many users purchase devices labeled 90Hz, 120Hz or even 144Hz, but often do not know how to make sure that the screen is really running at the stated speed. Understanding this parameter is critical to assessing the smoothness of the interface, the quality of gameplay and power consumption of your gadget.

The refresh rate measured in Hertz (Hz) shows how many times a second the display is redrawn. Standard screens run at 60 Hz, which means 60 frames per second. However, Xiaomi’s flagship and mid-budget models have long crossed this threshold, offering Dynamic Refresh Rate technologies that automatically change the hertz depending on the content on the screen. Checking the real frequency helps not only make sure the matrix is healthy, but also to properly configure the system to balance between performance and autonomy.

In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can check the refresh rate on Xiaomi devices.We will look at the built-in MIUI and HyperOS features, the use of an engineering menu for advanced users, and third-party applications for accurate diagnostics.You will learn to distinguish between software limitations and real-world features of your display.

Checking through standard Android settings

The easiest and safest way to find out the current screen frequency is to consult the system settings. In the shells of MIUI 12, MIUI 13, MIUI 14 and the new HyperOS, Xiaomi developers have provided a convenient interface for managing display parameters. However, the location of these settings can vary depending on the firmware version and device model. The path usually looks like this: Settings → Screen and brightness → Update Frequency.

In this menu, you'll see the options available. If your smartphone supports adaptive frequency, you can see the switch between Standard (usually 60 Hz) and High (maximum possible for this model). It's important to understand that choosing High does not always mean that the screen is constantly running at maximum. The system can dynamically reduce the hertz in a static image to save battery.

On some Redmi and POCO models, the interface may be slightly different. Here, the settings may be hidden in the submenu Additional or called High Update Mode. If you don't find an explicit indication of Hertz, note the description: often it says "90 Hz" or "120 Hz" next to the switch. The absence of such options indicates that your device is equipped with a standard 60 Hz matrix or software blocked by the manufacturer.

• 📱 Go to the main menu of smartphone settings.
• 🔍 Find the "Screen and Brightness" or "Display" section".
• ⚙️ Look for the "Refresh Rate" or "Refresh Rate" option".
• 👀 Check the available values: 60 Hz, 90 Hz, 120 Hz.

⚠️ Note: Some global versions of the firmware MIUI The option of selecting the frequency can be hidden or limited to only two modes (Auto/Standard), even if the screen technically supports high values.

And it's worth noting that standard settings are just a general idea: they don't show the current hertz in real time while you're browsing through social media or playing, and other methods will be needed to analyze it more deeply.

Using the CIT Engineering Menu for Diagnostics

For more accurate technical verification, Xiaomi provides access to the CIT (Customer Integration Test) engineering menu, a hidden part of the system designed to test device components before sale and in service centers, accessed through a special code in the Phone app. Enter the command ##6484## or ##4636## in the dialer.

Once you enter the code, you'll see a list of tests, and you'll find the item associated with the display, which may be called Display, Screen, or Version Information. In some versions of the firmware, update frequency information can be displayed directly in the main menu or in the version section. If you find the "Display" test, run it: technical data, including resolution and current frame rate, can appear on the screen.

The engineering menu also allows you to test for broken pixels and touchscreen response, which is useful when buying a used device. However, be careful: changing unknown parameters in CIT can lead to malfunctioning of the system. Remember that the engineering menu is a diagnostic tool, not a tool for overclocking the screen. If you are not sure about your actions, you better limit yourself to viewing information.

The good thing about this method is that it doesn't require any additional software to be installed and works even without root rights. However, the CIT interface is often confusing and doesn't always explicitly indicate the current digital hertzing, limited to the mode name.

Applications for real-time FPS monitoring

The most accurate way to see how fast your screen is right now is to use dedicated monitor apps that display a FPS Counter over all windows, which is especially useful for gamers who want to make sure that games are actually 120 or 144 Hz. A popular solution is the FPS Counter or Device Info HW app.

Once you install an app, you'll need to give it permission to display on top of other windows. In Android settings, this is usually in the Settings path → Apps → Special. Features → Display on top of other apps. Once activated, a floating numerical widget will appear on the screen. When you scroll through the desktop, the counter should show values multiples of the refresh rate (e.g., 60, 90, 120).

It is important to distinguish between FPS (frames per second generated by the processor) and screen hertz (maximum number of matrix updates). If the processor is weak, it may not produce 120 FPS in heavy play, even if the screen supports 120 Hz. However, in the system menu or when scrolling through light pages, the counter should reach the maximum that the display is capable of.

Some applications, like AIDA64 or CPU-Z, can also display monitor information in the Display section, which will show native resolution and supported frequencies, which is static information, but it confirms the technical capabilities of your matrix.

• 📥 Download the monitoring app FPS Google Play.
• 🔐 Give permission to display over other windows.
• 🎮 Run the game or scroll through the menu to watch the numbers.
• 📊 Compare the meter readings with the declared characteristics.

Checking through ADB and computer

For advanced users who don’t want to clutter their phones with apps, there’s a USB debugging and computer method that requires installing ADB (Android Debug Bridge) drivers on a PC, which allows you to access system logs and display parameters directly.

First, activate Developer Mode. To do this, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly press 7 times on MIUI Version (or OS Version). Then, in Advanced Settings menu → For developers, turn on USB Debugging. Connect your phone to your computer with a cable.

Open the command line on your PC and enter a command to output display information:

adb shell dumpsys SurfaceFlinger --latency

Or a more detailed command to get a list of supported modes:

adb shell wm size

However, the most informative will be the command that deduces the properties of the display:

adb shell dumpsys SurfaceFlinger --display-id=0

In the command output, look for lines containing refreshRate or currentRefreshRate, which will specify the exact values in hertz, which provides the most technically reliable information, bypassing possible software masking of the MIUI shell.

⚠️ Attention: When working with ADB Be careful when you type commands. Misguided system modification commands can cause the GUI to work in an unstable way.

Table of supported frequencies for popular models

To make it easier for you to navigate, we have compiled a table with the declared characteristics of the screens of popular Xiaomi series. Remember that in different regions and firmware versions (Global, CN, EEA), the parameters may differ.

As you can see from the table, even in the mid-range, Xiaomi is actively implementing high frequencies. However, the presence of a 120 Hz matrix does not guarantee its constant operation. LTPO (Low Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide) technologies allow the screen to reset the frequency to 1 Hz when displaying a static picture, which significantly saves charge.

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If you want maximum smoothness in all applications, including those that are not optimized, try to force the update rate in the developer settings, but this will dramatically reduce battery life.

Problems and Limitations of High Hertzov

Despite the obvious benefits of smoothness, using maximum refresh rates has its downsides: the main one is increased power consumption. The screen, which is updated 120 times per second, requires more CPU and matrix resources than the standard 60 Hz. Smartphones with small batteries can see a reduction in battery life by 15-20%.

Also, not all applications support high frequencies. Many video services broadcast content in 24, 30 or 60 frames. In such cases, a high screen hertz will not add smoothness to the video itself, although the phone interface will be more responsive. There is also the problem of optimization: some heavy games can forcefully reset the frequency to 60 Hz to prevent the processor from overheating, ignoring the capabilities of the display.

Another nuance is PWM. Some of them are PWM. OLED-Xiaomi screens with low brightness and high refresh rate may experience increased flickering, which in sensitive users causes eye fatigue. DC Dimming (if available in the Developer Menu or through hidden codes) that stabilizes backlighting.

For users who prefer autonomy over smoothness, it makes sense to manually switch the screen to 60 Hz mode through settings, which will make the device less “flying”, but significantly prolong the life of the smartphone without recharging.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)