Xiaomi Mi 8: How much hertz does it really matter and how to check it

The question of how much hertz is the refresh rate of the Xiaomi Mi 8 smartphone remains relevant to many users considering buying a used device or trying to understand the technical limitations of their gadget. This flagship of 2018, which became the world’s first phone with dual-frequency GPS, received many praise for performance, but the display technology of the time had its own characteristics. The refresh rate directly affects the smoothness of animations, scrolling tape and the operation of the interface in general.

Many people confuse refresh rates with touchscreen surveys, leading to misconceptions about the real capabilities of the matrix. In the era of the release of the Mi 8, the industry standard for flagships was a fixed frequency of 60 Hz, and this model is no exception, despite the powerful processor. In this article, we will examine the technical characteristics of the display, explain the difference between the physical capabilities of the panel and the software limitations, and consider ways to accurately diagnose.

Understanding how the scanning works on your device will help you fine-tune the visuals and avoid false expectations of performance.We will analyze why even at 60Hz, the screen of this smartphone looks bright and contrasting, and what technologies were used by engineers to compensate for the lack of high hertz. This knowledge is critical for those who compare the device to modern analogues, where 90 or 120Hz has become the norm.

Technical characteristics of the display Xiaomi Mi 8

The visual experience in the Xiaomi Mi 8 is based on a Super AMOLED matrix made by Samsung, which is 6.21 inches, which was considered the optimal size for use, and reaches a resolution of 2,248 by 1,080 pixels, providing a high pixel density of about 403 ppi, which makes the picture extremely sharp even when viewed closely.

However, answering the main question, it is worth noting: the native screen refresh rate of Xiaomi Mi 8 is strictly 60 Hz. This means that the image on the screen is updated 60 times per second. For 2018, this was the absolute standard, and even top models of competitors rarely went beyond this value, since AMOLED technologies with high hertz were only in their infancy and cost prohibitively expensive.

Despite the “standard” 60 Hz, the color and contrast quality of the Mi 8 remains at its best thanks to the use of organic LEDs. Each pixel here is individually illuminated, giving perfect black and high energy efficiency when displaying dark themes. The brightness of the screen is also sufficient for comfortable use in daylight, although in direct sunlight there may be difficulties with readability, which is characteristic of the light. AMOLED-panels of that generation.

📊 What is the screen refresh rate for you?
60 Hz (standard)
90 Hz (smooth)
120Hz (very smooth)
I don't know what it is.

Difference between refresh rate and touchscreen survey

Often, users who ask “xiaomi mi 8 how many hertz” get conflicting answers because they confuse two different parameters: Refresh Rate is the number of frames per second that the display draws, while the Touch Sampling Rate determines how often the processor polls the screen for finger touches.

The Xiaomi Mi 8 uses technology that allows the touchscreen to respond to touch at high speeds, often exceeding 120Hz or even 240Hz in game modes. This creates the illusion of greater responsiveness of the interface. When you type quickly or play shooters, it is the high score of the touchscreen poll that provides instant response, even if the image is updated standard 60 times per second.

It's important to understand that software-based motion smoothing does not change the physical properties of the matrix. If the panel is physically only able to update 60 times per second, no amount of tweaking will make it 90 hertz. However, optimizing the MIUI system can hide micro-latency, making the animations visually more enjoyable.

Why is 60Hz still enough?
For most everyday tasks, such as reading, watching videos and social networks, the human eye has difficulty noticing the difference between 60 Hz and 90 Hz. The key advantage of high hertz is revealed in games and very fast scrolling of long lists, where 60 Hz can give a slight "lubrication" of movement.

How to check the real hertz on Xiaomi Mi 8

If you want to personally verify how much hertz your Xiaomi Mi 8 gives, you can use built-in diagnostic tools or third-party applications. The most reliable way is to use an engineering menu or special utilities that read data directly from the display controller, excluding software cheats.

One popular method is to use the Device Info HW or AIDA64 application. Once you install the program, you need to go to the Display section. There, the "Refresh Rate" line will indicate the current value. On the standard Mi 8 firmware, you will see a value of 60.0 Hz.

You can also use online tests through your browser. There are sites that show moving objects at different frame rates. If your eye sees smooth motion on a 60 FPS test, but notices jerks on a 90 FPS test, then the physical limit of the screen is reached. It's a simple but visual way to check without installing any extra software.

☑️ Screen parameters check

Done: 0 / 4

The influence of frequency on autonomy and play

The 60Hz limit for the Xiaomi Mi 8 has played a positive role in terms of power consumption. High refresh rate screens require significantly more GPU and matrix resources, which leads to a quick battery drain. In an environment where the Mi 8 battery capacity is 3400 mAh, fixed 60 Hz allow the device to confidently hold on all day of active use.

In games, the situation is ambiguous. On the one hand, the powerful Snapdragon 845 processor is capable of delivering high-quality results. FPS But the physical limit of 60 frames per second means you won't see more than 60. FPS, Even if the hardware is 90 or 120, it can be a bottleneck for esports, where every millisecond is important.

However, for most mobile games, 60 FPS optimization is standard, and the graphics look stable, without the surges and friezes that might occur when you try to force a higher hertz on unsupported hardware.

ParameterThe value in Xiaomi Mi 8Impact on experience
Frequency of update60 HzStandard interface smoothness
Type of matrixSuper AMOLEDDeep black, brightness
Frequency of the tacha surveyHigh responsiveness when touching
Permission2248 x 1080Clear image, high detail

💡

The 60Hz on the Xiaomi Mi 8 is a trade-off between picture quality, power consumption and production costs at the time of the device’s release, which is now considered the basic standard.

Comparison with modern standards of 90 Hz and 120 Hz

Comparing the Xiaomi Mi 8 to current models with screens of 90 Hz, 120 Hz and higher, the difference becomes noticeable when directly matching "side by side." Modern panels update the image twice as often, making page scrolling, animations of opening applications and moving around the menu incredibly smooth, almost "oily".

But the 60Hz to 120Hz transition is not immediately visible to all users. If you've been using 60Hz devices for years, your brain has adapted to this smoothness, and the difference is felt more as "lack of delay" and increased clarity of moving objects than as a dramatic change in the quality of the static picture.

It’s also worth considering that content (video, movies) is still created predominantly at 24, 30 or 60 frames per second, so when watching YouTube or Netflix, you won’t get the benefit of a 120-hertz screen on the Mi 8 or any other smartphone, as the signal source doesn’t contain additional frames.

⚠️ Attention: Attempts to overclock the screen Xiaomi Mi 8 to 90 Hz or 120 Hz through modified firmware or root rights can lead to unstable system operation, artifacts on the display or complete failure of the matrix.

Display settings to improve visual perception

Even at a fixed 60Hz, you can improve the subjective perception of picture quality on the Xiaomi Mi 8. In the Settings screen settings menu → Screen → Colors and saturation, you can choose the appropriate color profile. The “Standard” or “Saturated” mode makes the colors more vivid, which visually masks the shortcomings of low hertz.

It is also recommended to enable DC Dimming (if available in your version of MIUI via a hidden menu or Second Space app) which reduces screen flickering at low brightness.This reduces eye fatigue when reading at night, making using a 60-hertz screen more comfortable in the long run.

Don't forget to scale the interface. Reduce the size of fonts and elements. UI (Settings → Screen. → Text size) creates the illusion of a denser, faster interface, less information on the screen requires less time to scan with a glance, which reduces the visibility of the refresh rate.

💡

Enable "Dark Theme" in the settings MIUI. Nana AMOLED-In screens, this not only saves battery power, but also makes the animations transition between applications visually more enjoyable, distracting from 60 Hz.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can the screen hertz on Xiaomi Mi 8 be increased to 90 Hz?
No, it's impossible. 60Hz refresh rate is a physical characteristic of the matrix installed in a smartphone. No application, root rights or custom firmware can make pixels switch faster than their hardware design allows, and trying to do that will only lead to software errors.
Why do Xiaomi Mi 8 games feature more than 60 FPS?
Some benchmarks or FPS counters can be above 60 if the processor renders frames faster than the screen can display them. However, you will only physically see 60 unique images per second. The rest of the frames will either be skipped or repeated, which does not give a real advantage in smoothness.
Does 60Hz affect vision when used long-term?
For most people, 60Hz is a safe and comfortable standard. Eye fatigue is more often caused by low frequency of flashbacks (PWM) or blue light than frame refresh rate. on Xiaomi Mi 8 with AMOLED-screen is recommended to monitor the brightness level to minimize the impact of PWM adjustment.
Does Xiaomi Mi 8 have MEMC technology for smoothness?
In its pure form, the MEMC (Motion Estimation, Motion Compensation) technology that generates intermediate frames is not implemented at the system level for the entire interface in Xiaomi Mi 8. Some video players may have their own anti-aliasing algorithms, but the system screen runs strictly at 60 Hz.