Owners of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro often face confusion about the refresh rate of their modelβs screen. Official specs indicate 60 Hz, but rumors about βhiddenβ 90 Hz or even 120 Hz in some firmware are circulating online.
The smartphone screen is not just a βpictureβ, but a dynamic system where the refresh rate directly affects the smoothness of animation, response when scrolling and even battery life. IPS LCD-display diagonal of 6.53 inches this parameter is fixed at the factory, but you can check it in several ways - from standard settings to engineering menu.
It's important to understand that the screen frequency is not equal to the CPU frequency or the GPU clock frequency. It's about how many times per second the display updates the image. And if you bought the Redmi Note 8 Pro with your hands or after repair, this setting could be changed software (although the hardware remains the same).
1. Verification through standard Android settings
The most obvious, but not always working, way is to look at the settings of the smartphone. In the Redmi Note 8 Pro, the path to information about the display is not always straightforward, but letβs try:
Open Settings β Display. Depending on the version of MIUI (11, 12, 12.5 or later), it may show "Screen Update" or "Adaptive Frequency." However, most firmware for this model does not have it - the manufacturer did not provide manual adjustment.
If you don't have a point, it doesn't mean that the screen is running at 60Hz, but it might just keep the user from changing the setting, so we're going to go to alternative methods.
2. Use of testing applications
Specialized utilities from Google Play can show the real refresh rate of the screen.-3 tested applications:
- π Display Tester is a free app that tests the flicker of the screen, shows the current frequency and allows you to compare 60 Hz vs 90 Hz visually.
- π CPU-Z β Device displays basic display information, including refresh rate (if supported by the device).
- π― Screen Refresh Rate Tester - creates animations on which you can visually assess the smoothness (at 60 Hz, you will notice "twitching").
β οΈ Note: Some applications may show incorrect data if the manufacturer has blocked access to the app. API It's a display, CPU-Z Sometimes it gives 60 Hz even on screens with 90 Hz due to restrictions MIUI.
To minimize errors, use at least two apps and compare results. If both are 60Hz, chances are they are.
Close all background applications|Turn off the power saving mode|Set the brightness on 50-70%|Repeat the test. 2-3 once-->
3. Engineering menu: hidden data about the display
For advanced users, there's a way to look at the Engineering Mode of a smartphone, which stores low-level hardware settings, including display data.
- Open the Phone app.
- Enter the combination: ##4636### (for some versions, MIUI may not work β see the alternative below).
- Select the Testing item β Display.
- Look for lines from Refresh Rate or Screen Update.
If the standard code doesnβt work, try an alternative method:
1. Install the MTK Engineering Mode application (for MediaTek processors).
2. Go to the Hardware Testing β Display section.
3.The Screen Refresh Rate or Panel Info must contain the data required.β οΈ Warning: Do not change the settings in the engineering menu unless you are sure of their purpose! Incorrect settings can lead to unstable display operation or even a "brick" of the device.
What to do if the engineering menu is not available?
4. Visual test: how to distinguish 60 Hz from 90 Hz "by eye"
If the software methods don't give a definitive answer, you can do a visual test, which is not 100% accurate, but it helps you estimate the frequency.
- Open any website with animation (e.g. TestUFO).
- Run the test with the stripes moving across the screen.
- At 60 Hz, the bands will be less smooth, with noticeable "steps" when moving slowly.
- At 90 Hz, the animation will become noticeably smoother, without jerks.
For more accuracy, compare your Redmi Note 8 Pro to another device where the frequency is known in advance (for example, the POCO X3 Pro, which has exactly 120 Hz).
π‘ Useful tip: Record the screen on video in slow-motion mode and watch the result on another device. 60 Hz will see the "flicker" frames, and 90 Hz - smoother transitions.
5. Hardware Limitations: Why the Redmi Note 8 Pro Doesn't Support 90Hz
Despite rumors, the Redmi Note 8 Pro is not capable of operating at a frequency above 60Hz.
- π± Model display β IPS LCD from JDI (Japan Display Inc.) with fixed frequency of 60 Hz. This is confirmed by the technical specifications of the panel. JDI LT065390FHD.
- π§ MediaTek Helio processor G90T It supports output up to 90 Hz, but only if the display allows it. In this case, the bottleneck is the matrix itself.
- π Raising the frequency to 90 Hz would require an increase in energy consumption by 15-20%, Which contradicts the concept of a budget smartphone with a battery 4500 mic.
Table of comparison with other models Xiaomi by screen frequency:
| Model | Type of display | Frequency (Hz) | Adaptive frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 8 Pro | IPS LCD | 60 | No. |
| POCO X3 NFC | IPS LCD | 120 | Yes (60/120) |
| Redmi Note 10 Pro | AMOLED | 120 | Yes (30/60/90/120) |
| Mi 11 Lite | AMOLED | 90 | Yes (60/90) |
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All attempts to overclock the screen of the Redmi Note 8 Pro to 90 Hz are programmatically doomed to failure - the limitation is laid at the level of the hardware (display panel).
6. Frequent errors in screen frequency check
Users often make mistakes that distort test results.
- π« Use energy saving modes β they can force the frequency to 30 Hz to save charge.
- π« Test on a discharged battery (less than 20%) β the system automatically limits performance.
- π« Compare with devices on AMOLED β Display technology affects the perception of smoothness.
- π« Trust screenshots from apps β they can show the βdesiredβ frequency, not the real one.
β οΈ Note: If you find that the screen is operating at a frequency below 60 Hz (such as 30 Hz), this may indicate that the screen is operating at a frequency below 60 Hz:
- Activated Battery mode in the MIUI settings;
Damage to the display cable after repair;
- Firmware with incorrect graphics drivers.
In such cases, resetting the settings to factory or flashing through Fastboot will help.
7.Can I increase the screen frequency on the Redmi Note 8 Pro?
The short answer is no. The long answer is with caveats:
Technically, it is possible to modify the firmware to simulate 90 Hz, but this will lead to:
- Image artifacts (frame gaps, flickering);
Overheating of the processor due to increased load;
Accelerated battery discharge (25-30% faster);
Loss of warranty (if the device is in service).
The only safe way to improve smoothness is to optimize the system:
Disable animation in Settings β About Phone β MIUI version (click 7 times, then set the developerβs Settings Animation = 0.5x);
Use light launchers (for example, Nova Launcher);
Clean the cache regularly (via Settings β Memory).
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If youβre critically interested in high screen frequency, consider switching to the POCO X3 Pro (120 Hz) or Redmi Note 11 Pro+ (120 Hz AMOLED) models β they donβt cost much more, but offer a hefty better experience.