Xiaomi Mi 9T: 60Hz screen frequency – why isn’t that a drawback in 2026?

Xiaomi Mi 9T (also known as Redmi K20 in some regions) is still one of the most talked about smartphones of the brand, despite the release in 2019. Users often ask, "How much hertz does Xiaomi Mi 9T?" — and this question is not accidental. In the era of 90 Hz, 120 Hz and even 144 Hz displays, the 60-hertz screen seems an anachronism. But is this parameter critical in practice?

Specifications of the Mi 9T screen and why the manufacturer chose 60 Hz

How the refresh rate affects game experience, scrolling and autonomy

- Can you overclock the screen to 90 Hz programmatically (spoiler: no, but there are nuances);

Comparison with modern Xiaomi smartphones and competitors in terms of price/quality ratio.

If you are considering a Mi 9T for purchase in 2026 or already own it, this article will help you to objectively assess how critical the screen refresh rate parameter is in everyday use.

The technical characteristics of the screen Xiaomi Mi 9T: what is hiding 60 Hz?

Xiaomi Mi screen 9T fitted AMOLED-diagonally 6.39 resolution 2340×1080 pixels (Full) HD+). The main issue is the frequency of the update: fixed 60 Hz without adaptive frequency support, which means that the image is updated. 60 once per second, regardless of the use case.

For comparison, even budget smartphones from 2023 to 2026 (like the Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5) offer 90Hz or 120Hz. Why didn’t the 2019 Mi 9T get a more modern display?

• 💰 Price policy: at the time of the release of the Mi 9T worthless ~300$, 60Hz was the standard solution for the mid-segment.
• 🔋 Autonomy: AMOLED s 60 Hz consumes significantly less energy than 90/120 Hz.
• 🎯 Target audience: the smartphone was positioned as a device for multimedia (due to frameless design and multimedia). AMOLED), not for gaming.

It is important to understand that refresh rates are not the only parameter that affects picture quality. The Mi 9T compensates for the "low" 60Hz:

• 🌈 Support HDR10 for bright and contrasting colors;
• 🔦 Maximum brightness up to 600 nits (enough for outdoor use);
• 🖤 Deep black (thanks to you) AMOLED-technology).

60 Hz vs 90/120 Hz: Is the difference noticeable in practice?

Theoretically, the higher the refresh rate, the smoother the animation and scrolling. But how critical is it in real life?

As you can see from the table, the difference is noticeable primarily in games and intensive scrolling. However, for most everyday tasks (calls, messengers, videos), 60 Hz is enough. Moreover, many users, after switching from 60 Hz to 90/120 Hz, after 1-2 weeks, stop noticing the difference.

⚠️ Note: If you plan to play competitive shooters (such as Free Fire or Valorant Mobile), 60Hz can be a competitive disadvantage.

Can you overclock the screen Xiaomi Mi 9T to 90 Hz?

The short answer is no. The refresh rate of the screen is determined by the hardware and physical characteristics of the display panel, but there are "instructions" on the network to overclock through:

• 📱 Engineer Mode (service menu);
• 🔧 Modified firmware (Custom) ROM);
• 🤖 ADB-commands to change display parameters.

All of these methods do not work on the Mi 9T, as:

1. AMOLED-The panel does not physically support a frequency above 60 Hz;
2. Any attempts to change parameters through the adb shell will result in a reset to the standard 60 Hz.
3. Custom ROMs (like LineageOS) may add a frequency selection option in the settings, but there will be no real difference.

The only way to get 90+Hz on Xiaomi is to buy a newer model, such as the POCO X3 Pro (120 Hz) or Redmi Note 12 Pro+ (120 Hz) are not much more expensive than the used Mi 9T, but offer a modern display.

How to optimize the screen at 60 Hz: tips for the Mi 9T

If you already own the Mi 9T and want to improve the user experience, take advantage of these tips:

Enable Read mode in screen settings | Turn off animation in developer (Settings → Phone → MIUI version → 7 times press) | Use dark themes (AMOLED saves charge) | Turn off autobrightness and set a fixed value-->

In addition, it is possible to:

• 🎮 For gaming: Enable performance mode in battery settings (Settings) → Battery. → Performance mode. This will reduce lags, but reduce running time.
• 📱 For smooth interface: disable MIUI-Animation through the developer menu: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (press 7 times) Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Animation Scale (select "Without animation")

💡

If the Mi 9T screen is flickering or artifacts (like green stripes) are showing up, check the charging cable. Cheap cables without Quick Charge 3.0 support can cause interference when charging.

Comparison of Xiaomi Mi 9T with modern smartphones by screen frequency

To understand how relevant 60Hz is in 2026, compare Mi 9T with newer Xiaomi models in one price segment (up to 25,000) ₽ secondary-market):

As you can see, even 2020-2021 smartphones offer 120 Hz for comparable money, but the Mi 9T beats them in:

• 📸 Camera: 48 MP main module with good color reproduction;
• 🔋 Autonomy: 4,000 mAh + 60 Hz = longer;
• 🖤 Design: frameless screen with a retractable front camera.

⚠️ Note: When buying a used Mi 9T Check the screen on burn-in (pixel burnout). AMOLED-After 3-4 years of use, panels may have traces of static interface elements (e.g., navigation bars) and can be checked using a color uniformity test (start a monochromatic video on YouTube).

Should you buy Xiaomi Mi 9T in 2026?

The decision depends on your priorities:

✅ A good camera for a little money;

✅ AMOLED-deep-black-screen;

✅ Long battery life.

❌ It won't work if you:

✖ Play competitive games (60 Hz - disadvantage);

✖ Get used to it. 90/120 Hz on other devices;

✖ Plan to use your smartphone for longer than 1-2 years (no updates) MIUI).-->

Alternatives for those who are critical of screen frequency:

• 💎 POCO X3 Pro (120 Hz, Snapdragon 860, ~15 000 ₽ B/U - the best choice for gamers;
• 📸 Redmi Note 11 Pro (120 Hz, AMOLED, ~18 000 ₽) — balanced;
• 🔋 POCO M5s (90Hz, Helio. G95, ~13 000 ₽) — budgetary alternative.

If you like the Mi 9T in other ways (design, camera, AMOLED), 60Hz will not be a critical drawback, but the main thing is to understand the limitations and not expect the 2019 device to feature the flagship 2026.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the screen frequency Xiaomi Mi 9T