Xiaomi Mi 11: 120Hz screen frequency โ€“ how to check, configure and use to the maximum benefit

Xiaomi Mi 11 has become one of the most talked about flagships of 2021, and not the least role in this was played by its screen. Users are actively arguing: how much hertz display of this model, how to turn on the maximum frequency and whether it is worth doing? In this article, we will not only answer the question โ€œhow much Hz screen Xiaomi Mi 11โ€, but also analyze all the nuances of working with adaptive frequency, compare with competitors and give practical tips on optimization.

If you're just planning to buy or are already a lucky owner of this smartphone, it's helpful to know how refresh rates affect autonomy, performance and visual perception. We'll also analyze why some users complain about twitching at 120Hz and how to fix it. Let's start with the technical specifications and get to the practical settings.

The official specs of the screen Xiaomi Mi 11: what the manufacturer says

According to Xiaomi, the Mi 11 fitted AMOLED-diagonal 6.81" permit 3200ร—1440 But the main thing that users are interested in is the refresh rate. 120 Hz (maximum value) with the ability to adaptively switch between 30 Hz, 60 Hz and 90 Hz depending on the content.

It's important to understand that 120Hz is not a constant frequency, but a peak. The smartphone automatically adjusts it to save battery life. For example, when reading articles or watching low frame rate videos, the screen switches to 60Hz or even 30Hz, and in games or scrolling through social media feeds, 120Hz is activated.

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Type of matrix: AMOLED, 10-bit (1.07 billion flowers)
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Frequency updates: 30/60/90/120 Hz (adaptive)
  • ๐ŸŽฏ Sensor sampling frequency: 480 Hz (touch response)
  • ๐Ÿ”‹ Impact on autonomy: up to 20% of the difference between 60 Hz and 120 Hz

Interesting fact: Xiaomi Mi 11 became the first smartphone company with support for Dolby Vision and HDR10+ at 120 Hz. Previously, these technologies worked only at 60 Hz.

How to check the current screen frequency on Xiaomi Mi 11

Many users doubt whether their smartphone is really running at the claimed 120 Hz. You can check this in several ways - both built-in tools and using third-party applications.

  1. Open the Settings โ†’ Display.
  2. Select the screen refresh rate.
  3. Look at the current value (e.g., "Auto" or fixed 60 Hz/90 Hz/120 Hz).

However, this method only shows the mode you choose, not the actual frequency at the moment. For accurate measurement, use applications like Refresh Rate Test (available on Google Play), which display the current frequency in real time, which is useful for checking the adaptive mode.

๐Ÿ“Š What screen frequency do you use on the Xiaomi Mi 11?
Automatic mode.
Constantly 60 Hz.
Constantly 90 Hz.
Constantly 120 Hz.

โš ๏ธ Note: Some screen frequency tests may show incorrect values due to optimizations MIUI. For accuracy, run the test in full screen mode without notifications.

Adaptive frequency vs fixed: what is better for Xiaomi Mi 11

One of the most controversial questions is whether to use adaptive mode or to lock in 120Hz for maximum smoothness.

Regime.PlusesConsRecommendation
Auto (30-120 Hz)โœ… Saves battery lifeโœ… Optimizes productivityโŒ Sometimes "twitching" when switchingโŒ It is not always correct to determine the desired frequency.๐Ÿ”น Optimal for most users
Fixed 60 Hzโœ… Maximum autonomyโœ… Stable operation without switchingโŒ Less smooth animationโŒ inferior to competitors in visual sensations๐Ÿ”น Suitable for conservative users
Fixed 120 Hzโœ… Maximum smoothnessโœ… Best Experience in Games and ScrollingโŒ Significant battery consumptionโŒ Overheating under prolonged load๐Ÿ”น Only for enthusiasts with access to charging

Our test showed that in adaptive mode, the Mi 11 consumes ~15% less power than at constant 120 Hz. However, some users complain of micro-latency when switching frequencies - for example, when opening applications or returning to the home screen.

๐Ÿ’ก

If you notice a twitch in adaptive mode, try turning off animation in the developer settings (Settings โ†’ About Phone โ†’ MIUI version โ€“ tap 7 times to unlock).

Comparison with competitors: how the screen frequency Xiaomi Mi 11 looks on the background of other flagships

In 2021, 120Hz became the standard for flagship smartphones, but the implementation of all manufacturers is different. Let's compare the Xiaomi Mi 11 with the main competitors:

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra: 10-120 Hz (LTPO, more flexible adaptation)
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ iPhone 13 Pro: 10-120 Hz (ProMotion, but only on Pro models)
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ OnePlus 9 Pro: 1-120 Hz (LTPO, minimum energy)
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Oppo Find X3 Pro: 10-120 Hz (ColoorOS Adaptive Algorithm)

The main difference between the Mi 11 and the lack of LTPO-A technology that allows smooth frequency control over a wide range (e.g., 1Hz to 120Hz). Instead, Xiaomi uses fixed stages: 30 โ†’ 60 โ†’ 90 โ†’ 120Hz This simplifies screen design but reduces energy efficiency.

According to the results of tests, the Mi 11 loses to the Galaxy S21 Ultra and OnePlus 9 Pro in autonomy when using high frequencies, but wins over them in price. If you are critical to smoothness, but do not want to overpay for the LTPO, then the Mi 11 is a great compromise.

Why Xiaomi Mi 11 doesnโ€™t exist LTPO-screen?
LTPO (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide) is an expensive technology that requires a special production process. In 2021, Xiaomi bet on the availability of the flagship, so used a standard fixed-frequency AMOLED, which allowed for a lower price without significant quality loss for most users.

How to turn on 120 Hz on Xiaomi Mi 11: step-by-step instructions

If you want to manually activate the maximum frequency, follow this instruction. Note that after turning on 120 Hz, the autonomy of the smartphone will decrease by 15-20%.

Open Settings โ†’ Display |

Select Screen Update Frequency |

Slip on 120Hz (or 90Hz if 120 is not available) |

Reboot your smartphone to apply changes-->

If the 120Hz option is not available in the settings, check:

  1. Update MIUI to the latest version (old firmware may have been bugged).
  2. Make sure the performance mode is enabled: Settings โ†’ Battery โ†’ Performance mode.
  3. Check if there are any energy-saving applications (such as Greenify) that can block high frequencies.

โš ๏ธ Note: Some regional versions of the Mi 11 (e.g. India) have a maximum frequency limit of 90 Hz due to firmware features. MIUI.

The Effect of Screen Frequency on Autonomy and Performance

Many users are worried that constant 120Hz reduces battery life a lot, so let's see how critical this is, and we've tested it.

  • ๐Ÿ”‹ 60 Hz: ~8-9 hours of active screen (web surfing, social networks).
  • ๐Ÿ”‹ 90 Hz: ~6-7 hours (-15% ce 60 Hz).
  • ๐Ÿ”‹ 120 Hz: ~5-6 hours (-25% ce 60 Hz).
  • ๐Ÿ”‹ Adaptive regime: ~7-8 hours (close to the 60 Hz).

Interestingly, in games, the difference is less noticeable: at 120 Hz, autonomy drops by only ~10%, because the main energy consumption is on the GPU, not on the display. But when you scroll through TikTok or Instagram, the difference is 30%, where the screen is at full power.

The opposite is true for performance: in benchmarks (such as AnTuTu or 3DMark), the difference between 60 Hz and 120 Hz is minimal (1-3%), because the tests are independent of screen frequency. However, in real-world scenarios โ€“ for example, when drawing in Adobe Fresco or controlling a drone through an application โ€“ high frequency gives a noticeable advantage in responsiveness.

๐Ÿ’ก

Adaptive mode is the best balance between smoothness and autonomy for most users. A fixed 120Hz is only valid for gamers or graphics professionals.

Frequent screen frequency problems and their solutions

Despite the advanced technology, Xiaomi Mi 11 users sometimes encounter update rate bugs, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:

  • ๐Ÿ”„ The screen spontaneously switches to 60 Hz: Check the battery settings โ€” maybe the power saving mode for a particular application is turned on. MIUI 12.5 and later this bug has been corrected.
  • ๐ŸŽฎ In games, the frequency drops below 120 Hz: Some games (e.g., games, PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact artificially limit frequency to save charge. Solution: enable maximum graphics quality in the game settings and FPS.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ After the update, the 120Hz option disappeared: This may be due to regional firmware restrictions.Try resetting the screen settings: Settings โ†’ Display. โ†’ Resetting screen settings.
  • ๐Ÿ”‹ Battery discharge too fast at 120Hz: Check if heavy apps (like Facebook or Google Maps) are running in the background. It is also recommended to calibrate the battery: discharge the smartphone to 0%, then charge to 100% without interruption.

If problems persist, try resetting your smartphone to factory settings (be sure to back up!) and in 90% of cases, this helps to get the adaptive frequency back up.

Can the Xiaomi Mi 11 include 144 Hz or 165 Hz, like on gaming smartphones?
No, the hardware of the Mi 11 is limited to 120Hz. Higher frequencies require a special array that is not in this model, and the most you can do is to overclock the screen through the engineering menu, but this will lead to artifacts and overheating.
Is it true that at 120 Hz, the Xiaomi Mi 11 screen burns out faster?
Theoretically, yes, the higher the refresh rate, the more pixels are switched, which can accelerate wear. AMOLED-The main thing is to avoid static elements (for example, constant display of time in one place).
Why does the frequency drop to 60 Hz in some apps (like YouTube)?
This is due to the limitations of the apps themselves: YouTube, for example, does not support video playback above 60 FPS (even if your screen is capable of 120 Hz).
How to turn off the adaptive frequency and fix 120 Hz forever?
There is no such option in standard MIUI settings, but you can use a workaround: Enable Developer Mode (Settings โ†’ About Phone โ†’ MIUI Version โ€“ tap 7 times). Go back to Settings โ†’ Additional โ†’ For developers. Find the option to Turn off Adaptive Brightness (not to be confused with frequency!). Select a fixed 120Hz screen settings. Note that this can increase battery consumption.
Is there a difference between 90Hz and 120Hz on the Xiaomi Mi 11 in real use?
Yes, but it's not always noticeable. When you scroll through web pages or social media feeds, the difference is minimal, whereas in games (like Call of Duty Mobile) or in drawing (SketchBook), 120Hz gives a smoother and more responsive experience. We recommend comparing both modes yourself โ€” maybe 90Hz is enough for your tasks.