If you’re considering the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro as a potential purchase or already own it, the question of screen refresh rates (measured in hertz, Hz) is certainly of interest to you. This parameter directly affects the smoothness of animation, interface responsiveness and even the perception of games. But with the Redmi Note 9 Pro, the situation is not as clear as it may seem: official data and real tests sometimes differ, and marketing statements from manufacturers do not always reflect the full picture.
In this article, we'll look at how much Hz the Redmi Note 9 Pro actually supports, how it affects the user experience, and why some tests show unexpected results. And how to check your smartphone's refresh rate yourself, compare the model to competitors, and debunk popular myths. If you're a gamer, a lover of smooth scrolling, or just want to figure out whether to overpay for high frequency, this is the material for you.
Official characteristics: what Xiaomi claims
According to the official specifications from Xiaomi, Redmi Note 9 Pro is equipped IPS LCD-resolution-screen 2400 × 1080 pixels (Full) HD+) diagonally 6.67 The manufacturer indicates that the refresh rate of the screen is 60 Hz is the standard value for most budget and mid-budget smartphones. 2020 year-end.
However, there is a nuance here: in some regions (for example, in India) Redmi Note 9 Pro Pro was sold under the name Redmi Note 9 Pro Max, and this version also remained at 60 Hz. It is important not to confuse the model with the Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G or later versions (for example, Note 10 Pro), where already there is support for 90 Hz or 120 Hz.
- 📱 Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro (codename: joyeuse)
- 🔄 Screen frequency: 60 Hz (officially)
- 🖥️ Type of display: IPS LCD supportive HDR10
- 🔋 Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G (It does not affect Hz, but is important for productivity)
Interestingly, some reviews and tests mention the possibility of overclocking the screen to 90 Hz through an engineering menu or custom firmware, but this is not officially confirmed and can lead to overheating, accelerated battery discharge or even damage to the matrix, and we will come back to this question later.
Why is 60 Hz not always a bad thing?
Many users think that 60Hz is an outdated standard, but in practice, for most tasks, this frequency is enough.
- 🎬 Video viewing: Most movies and TV shows are shot at 24 Hz, and content on YouTube or Netflix rarely exceeds 60 fps. Thus, the Redmi Note 9 Pro screen displays video without unnecessary interpolation.
- 📱 Everyday tasks: Scrolling on social networks, working with messengers or reading text do not require high frequency. The difference between 60 Hz and 90 Hz is minimal here.
- 🔋 Battery savings: The higher the refresh rate, the faster the battery goes down. Redmi Note 9 Pro with its 5020 mAh is not distinguished by record autonomy, and 60 Hz help to extend the life of the battery.
Of course, in games or in fast scrolling, the difference between 60 Hz and 120 Hz is noticeable, but for most users it is not critical. Moreover, many popular mobile games (for example, PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact) are limited to 60 FPS at medium settings, so a high screen frequency will not give an advantage.
How to check the real screen frequency on Redmi Note 9 Pro
If you want to make sure your Redmi Note 9 Pro is actually 60Hz, there are several ways to test it. Importantly, some methods require installing third-party apps or activating developer mode.
Method 1: Through Android Settings (without apps)
Unfortunately, standard MIUI settings don't have a direct display frequency, but you can turn on FPS (frames per second) to indirectly confirm the refresh rate:
Activate Developer Mode (7 times click on MIUI Version in Settings → About Phone)
Go to Settings → Additional → For Developers
Find the item Show the processor boot and enable it
Return to Developers and Enable Debugging USB Do not turn off the screen during charging (optional)-->
After activation, a small counter will appear in the upper right corner of the screen showing the current FPS. If the value is stable at 60, this confirms that the screen is running at 60 Hz.
Method 2: Applications
For more accurate verification, third-party utilities can be used:
- 📊 CPU Monitor – shows the screen refresh rate in real time.
- 🔍 Display Tester – Tests the display for “broken” pixels and displays current Hz.
- 🎮 Game Bench is useful for gamers, as it shows FPS in games and compared to the screen frequency.
Example of Display Tester:
- Install the app from Google Play.
- Run the Refresh Rate test.
- If the screen flashes at 60 times per second, then the frequency is really 60 Hz.
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If the app shows a value below 60 Hz (for example, 30 Hz), it may mean that the power saving mode or adaptive refresh rate is turned on.
Comparison with competitors: 60 Hz vs 90 Hz vs 120 Hz
To understand how much 60Hz the Redmi Note 9 Pro is relevant in 2026, compare the model with its peers in the same price segment.
| Model | Screen frequency (Hz) | Type of display | Permission | Price (at the time of issue, $) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro | 60 | IPS LCD | 2400 × 1080 | ~250 |
| Realme 6 Pro | 90 | IPS LCD | 2400 × 1080 | ~280 |
| Samsung Galaxy M31 | 60 | Super AMOLED | 2340 × 1080 | ~270 |
| POCO X3 NFC | 120 | IPS LCD | 2400 × 1080 | ~270 |
| Redmi Note 10 Pro | 120 | AMOLED | 2400 × 1080 | ~300 |
As you can see from the table, the Redmi Note 9 Pro is losing to competitors in refresh rate, but wins in price. For example, the POCO X3 NFC with 120 Hz cost a little more, but offered a smoother screen.
- 🔋 Large battery: 5020 mAh vs 5160 mAh POCO X3, But with 60 Hz, autonomy is higher.
- 📸 Camera: Main module for 64 MP (y) POCO X3 — 64 MP, but with a different sensor).
- 🛡️ Protection: Certification IP53 (Protection against dust and splashes, which many competitors do not have.
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If you’re critical about screen frequency but have a limited budget, look out for the POCO X3 NFC or Realme 6 Pro – they offer 90–120 Hz for a comparable price.
Can I overclock the screen of the Redmi Note 9 Pro to 90 Hz?
There are claims online that the Redmi Note 9 Pro can be overclocked to 90Hz or even 120Hz via an engineering menu or modified firmware.
⚠️ Note: The Redmi Note 9 Pro Matrix does not physically support a frequency above 60 Hz. Any overclocking attempts via the engineering menu (#4636##) or custom cores will result in artifacts on the screen, overheating or breaking the display. Xiaomi does not provide official support for such changes, so the warranty will be lost.
Some users confuse screen overclocking with CPU overclocking or FPS increase in games. For example, in games you can achieve 90 FPS, but the screen will still display only 60 frames of them, which will lead to thearing (image tears). For smooth gameplay, it is important that FPS and Hz coincide or be multiples (for example, 120 FPS on a 60 Hz screen will give a 2:1 effect, but with artifacts).
What is Thearing and How to Avoid It?
Refreshment frequency and autonomy: how Hz and battery are related
One of the key arguments for 60 Hz is energy efficiency: the higher the refresh rate, the more energy it takes to run the screen, for example, switching from 60 Hz to 90 Hz increases battery consumption by 10-15%, and 120 Hz by 20-25%.
In the case of the Redmi Note 9 Pro, this is especially true, since the model is equipped with a Snapdragon 720G processor, which is not characterized by high energy efficiency.
- 📺 Watching video (YouTube, 60Hz): ~18:20 hours.
- 🎮 Games (PUBG Mobile, 60 FPS): ~6-7 hours.
- 📱 Mixed use (social networks, messengers): ~1.5–2 days.
By comparison, the 120Hz POCO X3 NFC will run 20 to 30 percent less under the same conditions, so 60Hz is a trade-off between smoothness and autonomy that most users will enjoy.
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If you need to extend the Redmi Note 9 Pro, activate the power saving mode in MIUI (Settings → Battery → Power Saving Mode).It limits the processor performance and reduces the brightness of the screen, but does not affect the refresh rate.
Myths and Truths About Screen Update Frequency
There are many myths surrounding the topic of Hz, and we will examine the most popular ones in relation to the Redmi Note 9 Pro:
- 🔄 Myth 1: "The higher the Hz, the better the image quality." Truth: refresh rate only affects fluency, not color reproduction, contrast or resolution. Redmi Note 9 Pro with 60 Hz can have more saturated colors than competitor with 120 Hz, if it has a better matrix.
- 🎮 Myth 2: "60Hz isn't enough for gaming." Truth: Most mobile games are optimized for 60Hz FPS, The high frequency of the screen gives an advantage only in competitions (for example, in the case of a high frequency). PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty: Mobile. for casual games, the difference is not noticeable.
- 🔋 Myth 3: "Adaptive frequency (e.g. 60-120 Hz) saves a lot of battery life." Truth: Yes, adaptive frequency reduces consumption, but only if it is implemented at the hardware level. Redmi Note 9 Pro does not support such a feature, so there will be no savings.
Another common misconception is that 90 Hz or 120 Hz is for everyone, and in fact, studies show that only 20 to 30 percent of users can visually distinguish 60 Hz from 90 Hz without a direct comparison, and if you're not in that group, it doesn't make sense to overpay for high frequency.