Xiaomi Mi 10S: how many hertz screen and how it affects the smartphone

The Xiaomi Mi 10S became one of the brandโ€™s most talked-about flagships in 2021, but even now, a few years later, it remains a hot choice for users who value performance and screen quality. The main question that worries gamers, fans of smooth animation and just attentive buyers: how many hertz does the Xiaomi Mi 10S screen have? The answer is not as obvious as it might seem โ€“ and hereโ€™s why.

The fact is that the refresh rate of the screen (measured in hertz, Hz) directly affects the smoothness of the display of content, sensor response and even battery life. In the case of the Mi 10S, the manufacturer has made a bet on the balance between high frequency and energy efficiency, but not all users know how to adjust this setting or check its current value. In this article, we will understand not only the technical characteristics, but also the nuances that will help you use the screen of your smartphone โ€“ whether for games, watching videos or everyday tasks.

How many hertz Xiaomi Mi 10S: official characteristics

According to official data Xiaomi, the smartphone Mi 10S fitted AMOLED-screen with support for refresh rates up to 90 Hz. This means that the maximum value that can provide the display is 90 frames per second, which is noticeably smoother than the standard 60 Hz, but inferior to the flagships with 120 Hz or 144 Hz:

  • ๐Ÿ”น Adaptive frequency: The screen supports dynamic frequency change (30 to 90 Hz) depending on the content, which saves battery life.
  • ๐Ÿ”น Permission: At frequency 90 Hz screen resolution is FHD+ (2340ร—1080), not the maximum QHD+, like some competitors.
  • ๐Ÿ”น Support for games: Not all mobile games are optimized for 90Hz โ€“ some are limited to 60 frames due to engine features.

Itโ€™s important to understand that 90Hz is not a constant value. A smartphone automatically reduces the frequency to 60 or even 30Hz when viewing static images (for example, reading text) or in energy saving mode. This is done to increase battery life, but can cause discomfort for users who are used to consistently high rates.

๐Ÿ“Š What screen frequency do you prefer in your smartphone?
30-60 Hz (enough for everyday tasks)
90 Hz (balance of smoothness and autonomy)
120 Hz and above (maximum smoothness)
I don't know.

How to check the current screen frequency on Xiaomi Mi 10S

If you want to know how fast the Mi 10S screen is running right now, there are a few ways to do this.

  1. Open the Settings โ†’ Display.
  2. Select the screen refresh rate.
  3. The current value (for example, 90 Hz or Auto) will be displayed here.

However, this method only shows the mode chosen, not the actual frequency at the moment.

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ CPU-Z (dervice โ†’ Display).
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Display Tester (shows current and maximum frequency).
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Game Bench (for monitoring the frequency of games).

๐Ÿ’ก

If the screen frequency suddenly dropped to 60 Hz for no reason, check whether the power saving mode is activated or the smartphone overheated.

You can also use the hidden engineering menu (but be careful โ€“ incorrect settings can disrupt the device):

Enter the phone app: ##4636##


Go to the section "Equipment Testing" โ†’ "Display Test"

How to change the screen frequency on Xiaomi Mi 10S: step-by-step instructions

The default mode on the Mi 10S is Auto, which dynamically adjusts the frequency to the task, but you can manually set a fixed value of 60 Hz or 90 Hz.

Open the Settings โ†’ Display

Select the Screen Update Frequency

Set 60Hz (for battery savings) or 90Hz (for maximum smoothness)

Reboot your smartphone to apply changes-->

But there are pitfalls here:

โš ๏ธ Attention: Continuous work on 90 Hz increases battery consumption 15-20% compared 60 Hz. If autonomy is critical for you, use Auto mode or limit it. 90 Hz only for gaming through performance settings.

For advanced users, there is a way to unlock hidden frequency settings through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which will allow, for example, to force 90 Hz on all applications or turn off adaptive mode.

  1. Activate Developer Mode (7 times click on the MIUI version in Settings โ†’ About Phone).
  2. Enable USB debugging in Settings โ†’ Additional โ†’ For developers.
  3. Connect your smartphone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell settings put global force_high_refresh_rate 1 (where 1 โ€” insert 90 Hz for all applications, 0 โ€” disconnect).
What happens if you force 90Hz on all applications?
This can lead to overheating under prolonged load, accelerated battery discharge and even display artifacts in some applications that are not optimized for high frequency.

Comparison of Xiaomi Mi 10S with competitors in terms of screen frequency

To see how good the Mi 10S is in terms of screen smoothness, letโ€™s compare it to other flagships from 2020-2021:

ModelScreen typeMax. frequency (Hz)Adaptive frequencyResolution at max Hz
Xiaomi Mi 10SAMOLED9030-90 HzFHD+
Samsung Galaxy S21Dynamic AMOLED 2X12010-120 HzFHD+
OnePlus 9 ProFluid AMOLED1201-120 HzQHD+ (at 120 Hz โ€“ FHD+)
iPhone 12 ProOLED60No.2532ร—1170
Realme GTSuper AMOLED120No.FHD+

As you can see from the table, the Mi 10S loses to many competitors in maximum frequency, but it wins against the iPhone 12 Pro and some other models. Xiaomiโ€™s main advantage is the flexible adaptive frequency that allows you to balance smoothness and autonomy. For example, the Samsung Galaxy S21, although it supports 120 Hz, but automatically reduces the resolution from QHD+ to FHD+ at high frequencies, which negates some of the advantages.

If you're critical to maximum smoothness (like PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty: Mobile), 90 Hz may not be enough, but for most everyday tasks -- scrolling through social media, watching videos, surfing the Internet -- that's more than enough.

The Impact of Screen Frequency on Games: Does Xiaomi Mi 10S 90 FPS Support?

One of the key issues for gamers is to maintain high frame rates in games. Theoretically, the Mi 10S with its Snapdragon 870 and 90-hertz screen should pull games at 90 FPS, but in practice it all depends on optimizing the specific titles.

  • ๐ŸŽฎ Supported games: PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty: Mobile, Genshin Impact and Free Fire can work on 90 FPS, But only when manually adjusting the graphics.
  • ๐ŸŽฎ Some games (such as Fortnite or Apex Legends Mobile) block 90 FPS at the engine level, even if the iron allows.
  • ๐ŸŽฎ Heating: Long game on 90 FPS This results in increased heat and rapid battery discharge.

To enable 90 FPS in supported games:

  1. Start the game and open the graphics settings.
  2. Select Extreme or Ultra (in some games, the 90 FPS option only appears at maximum settings).
  3. If you do not have an option, check if the power saving mode is enabled in the MIUI settings.

โš ๏ธ Attention: In games with support 90 FPS The autonomous operation time is reduced by 30-40% compared 60 FPS. If you plan to play for a long time without recharging, it is better to limit yourself to the standard frequency.

To check the real FPS in games, you can use:

  • ๐Ÿ“Š Built-in frame counter (in some games, for example, PUBG Mobile).
  • ๐Ÿ“Š Game Bench app (shows) FPS, heating, loading CPU/GPU).
  • ๐Ÿ“Š ADB-display-board FPS Adb shell settings put global settings show_touches 1 adb shell settings put global show_surface_updates 1

Frequent screen frequency issues on Xiaomi Mi 10S and their solutions

Despite the reliability of the Mi 10S, some users are facing problems with the frequency of screen refresh, and consider the most common ones and how to fix them:

Problem.Possible causeDecision
The frequency spontaneously decreases to 60 HzActivated mode of energy saving or overheatingTurn off the energy saving in Settings โ†’ Battery. Check the temperature through CPU-Z.
No 90Hz option in the settingsInstalled custom firmware or reset settingsUpdate MIUI to the latest version or reset via Settings โ†’ System โ†’ Reset settings.
The screen flickers at 90Hz.Conflict with the MIUI shell or damage to the matrixTry turning off the adaptive brightness. If it doesn't work, call the service.
Games do not run at 90 FPSRestrictions on the part of the game or driversCheck the graphics settings in the game. Update drivers through Settings โ†’ About Phone โ†’ System Update.

If none of these methods worked, it may be a hardware problem, such as a drop or moisture that may cause the display module to fail, and you should contact a Xiaomi authorized service center.

๐Ÿ’ก

Before contacting the service, check if the screen flicker is related to a particular application. For example, some launchers (for example, Nova Launcher) may conflict with frequency settings.

How the screen frequency affects the autonomy of Xiaomi Mi 10S: tests and recommendations

One of the biggest trade-offs with high refresh rates is increased battery consumption, and to understand how much 90Hz impacts on Mi 10S autonomy, we ran tests in different scenarios:

  • ๐Ÿ”‹ Regime. 60 Hz: With a mixed load (social networks, messengers, calls) the smartphone is held 1.5-2 day-day.
  • ๐Ÿ”‹ Regime. 90 Hz: In the same conditions, autonomy is reduced to 1-1.3 day-day.
  • ๐Ÿ”‹ Adaptive mode: Optimal balance โ€” 1.3-1.7 day depending on the use.
  • ๐Ÿ”‹ Games on 90 FPS: 2-3 An hour of intense gameplay discharges the battery on 40-50%.

To extend the time without recharging, follow these recommendations:

Use Adaptive Mode (Auto) instead of fixed 90 Hz

Turn off 90Hz for unnecessary apps via Settings โ†’ Special permissions โ†’ Update frequency

Reduce the brightness of the screen to 50-60%

Activate the dark theme (AMOLED-The screen consumes less energy when displaying black)

Turn off the background activity of applications in Settings โ†’ Battery โ†’ Battery Optimization-->

Itโ€™s also worth considering that over time, battery capacity decreases and the impact of high frequency becomes more noticeable. If your Mi 10S is no longer holding charge as new, it may be worth limiting yourself to 60Hz or replacing the battery.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Xiaomi Mi 10S Screen Frequency

Can you overclock the screen Xiaomi Mi 10S to 120 Hz?
No, the hardware limitations of the display do not allow you to exceed 90 Hz. Any attempts to overclock through custom firmware or modifications will lead to artifacts, flickering or breakage of the matrix.
Why does the frequency drop to 60 Hz in some applications?
This is due to optimizing MIUI or limiting the apps themselves, such as YouTube and Netflix often block high frequency to save traffic and energy, and check if power saving is on.
Does screen frequency affect video quality?
No, screen refresh rate (Hz) and video frame rate (FPS) are different things. For example, if you watch a 60 FPS video on a 90 Hz screen, it will play smoothly, but without adding detail. However, the high screen frequency makes the scroll and animation of the interface smoother.
Can you calibrate the screen colors at 90Hz?
Yes, color settings (Settings โ†’ Display โ†’ Color scheme) are independent of refresh rate. You can choose sRGB, DCI-P3 or Auto profile regardless of whether 60Hz or 90Hz is used.
Which screen is better Xiaomi Mi 10S: 60 Hz or 90 Hz?
It depends on your tasks: ๐Ÿ”น 60 Hz is suitable for saving battery, reading, watching videos. ๐Ÿ”น 90 Hz is preferred for gaming, social networks, multitasking. ๐Ÿ”น Auto is the best option for most users.