When you pick a new Xiaomi smartphone, it's easy to get lost among dozens of features. One of the key parameters that is often overlooked is the screen refresh rate. It's measured in hertz (Hz) and determines how many times a second the screen updates the image. The higher that number, the smoother the animation, scrolling and games look. But is this really important in practice? And is it worth overpaying for 120Hz or 144Hz if your budget is limited?
In this article, we’ll look at how refresh rates affect the user experience in Xiaomi smartphones, which models support high frequencies, and how to properly adjust the screen to balance smoothness and battery life. You’ll also learn what pitfalls lie behind manufacturers’ marketing statements and how to check the actual refresh rate on your device.
What is the screen refresh rate and how does it work?
The refresh rate is the number of times a display updates an image in one second. For example, at 60 Hz, the picture is updated 60 times per second, and at 120 Hz, 120 times. The higher this rate, the smoother the animation appears, especially when scrolling web pages, in games or using gestures.
It's important to understand that refresh rates are not the same as frame rates (FPS) in games or videos. If your smartphone is delivering 120 FPS in a game, but the screen only supports 60 Hz, you won't see the benefits of high frame rates. The reverse is possible: a 120 Hz screen won't make the game smoother if it's running at 30 FPS.
- 📱 60Hz is the standard for most budget smartphones. Enough for everyday tasks, but can seem twitchy when scrolling fast.
- ⚡ 90Hz is the gold standard for the mid-range segment. Spotably smoother than 60Hz, but not as battery-hungry as 120Hz.
- 🎮 120Hz and above is the top option for gamers and fans of maximum smoothness. Found in Xiaomi flagships such as Xiaomi 13 Pro or Black Shark 5.
Manufacturers often use marketing tricks to indicate the maximum refresh rate, but do not mention that in reality the screen can work at a lower frequency to save charge. For example, in the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+, the screen supports 120 Hz, but by default runs at 60 Hz, switching to a high frequency only when necessary.
How the refresh rate affects the autonomy of the smartphone
One of the main drawbacks of high refresh rates is increased battery consumption: the more frequently a screen is updated, the more power it requires to run, and tests show that switching from 60 Hz to 120 Hz can reduce battery life by 15 to 25 percent depending on the model and use case.
Manufacturers are trying to solve this problem with adaptive refresh rates, and the technology automatically adjusts the frequency based on the content on the screen.
- 📖 When reading text or viewing static images, the screen switches to 60 Hz.
- 🎮 In games or when scrolling social networks, the frequency rises to 90-120 Hz.
- 📺 When watching a video, the frequency is synchronized with the frame rate of the video (usually 24–60 Hz).
In Xiaomi smartphones, adaptive frequency is available on most models with 90 Hz and above. To enable it, go to Settings → Display → Screen refresh rate and select Auto or Adaptive mode.
⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi models (e.g, POCO X5 Pro) Adaptive frequency doesn't work properly with individual applications. If you notice screen twitching in games or social networks, try manually setting a fixed frequency.
| Screen frequency | Impact on autonomy | Typical use cases |
|---|---|---|
| 60 Hz | Minimum battery consumption | Reading, calling, messaging |
| 90 Hz | Battery consumption is higher by 10-15% | Social media, video, easy games |
| 120 Hz | Battery consumption is higher by 20-25% | Required games, scrolling, multimedia |
| Adaptive | Cost depends on the content | The Best Balance for Most Users |
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If you notice that the smartphone began to discharge quickly after the MIUI update, check the screen frequency settings. Sometimes system updates reset the mode to the maximum frequency.
What Xiaomi smartphones support a high refresh rate
In 2026, even Xiaomi’s budget smartphones will have screens of 90Hz or higher, but not all models are equally effective at delivering this feature.
- 📱 Budget segment (90 Hz: Redmi Note 12/13, POCO M6 Pro, Xiaomi Civi 3.
- 💰 Midsize segment (120 Hz): Xiaomi 12T, POCO F5, Redmi K60E.
- 🎮 Flagships and gamers (120–144 Hz: Xiaomi 13/14 Pro, Black Shark 5/6, Mix Fold 3.
The folding Xiaomi Mix Fold smartphones stand out, where the internal screen supports 120 Hz, and the external one - 90 Hz. This is done to save battery, since the external display is used more often.
When choosing a smartphone, pay attention not only to the maximum frequency, but also to the type of matrix, AMOLED-The screens (like the Xiaomi 13 Ultra) support adaptive frequency better than the screens. IPS-Displays (like in Redmi Note 12).
⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO X4 GT) 144Hz is only available in game mode. MIUI screen running 120 Hz.
How to check the actual screen frequency?
How to set the refresh rate on Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions
In most Xiaomi smartphones, the screen frequency setting is hidden in the display menu.
- Open the Settings.
- Go to the Display section.
- Find the screen refresh rate (in some firmware it may be called Update Mode).
- Choose one of the available values: 60 Hz, 90 Hz, 120 Hz or Auto.
If you have a flagship model (such as Xiaomi 14), there may be an additional Adaptive Frequency option in the settings with the ability to fine-tune for individual applications.
Select Auto or Adaptive Frequency mode |
Turn off 120 Hz in game settings if not critical smoothness |
Check the frequency in the Refresh Rate Test application after the MIUI | updates
Use a dark topic to AMOLED-screens (saves charge)
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On some devices (such as Black Shark), the frequency settings are duplicated in the company's app for gamers, where you can set separate profiles for games and the usual interface.
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If your smartphone supports 120Hz but discharges quickly, try manually limiting the frequency to 90Hz. The difference in smoothness is minimal and the battery will last longer.
Frequent update frequency issues and their solutions
Xiaomi smartphone users sometimes encounter frequency-related bugs, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:
- 🔄 The screen spontaneously switches between frequencies. Cause: malfunction of the adaptive algorithm. Solution: reset the device or reset the display settings to Settings. → Display. → Reset.
- 🎮 In games, the frequency drops to 60 Hz. Reason: performance limit to save battery. Solution: turn on Performance mode in the game settings or turn off battery optimization for the application.
- 📉 After updating MIUI The 120Hz option was lost. The manufacturer may have limited the frequency for stability. Solution: check for updates or roll back to the previous firmware version.
If the problem persists, try resetting to factory settings (be sure to back up!) In rare cases, a hardware defect is to blame - then only a service center will help.
On the forums, POCO F4 GT users complain of the screen twitching when scrolling with the adaptive frequency on, in which case the forced installation of a fixed frequency (120 Hz) in the developer settings helps.
Should I pay more for a high refresh rate?
The answer depends on your priorities:
- 💵 For everyday tasks (social networks, calls, videos) 60-90 Hz is enough.
- 🎮 For gamers, high frequency is critical – the difference between 60 Hz and 120 Hz in shooters or races is noticeable to the naked eye.
- 🔋 If autonomy is more important than smoothness, choose models with adaptive frequency or limit yourself to 90 Hz.
In tests of smartphones Xiaomi 2023-2026 it turned out that users in a blind test often do not distinguish 90 Hz from 120 Hz when normal scrolling, but notice the difference in games and when watching videos with a high frame rate.
If you're in doubt, try comparing two smartphones in the store: one with 60 Hz, the other with 120 Hz. Scroll through the same list on Twitter or Instagram, the difference will be obvious. But remember: high frequency eats up the battery, and you'll have to charge the device more often.