Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 remains a popular choice among users who value the balance of price and performance. However, there is still debate about the frequency of updating its screen: some claim that it is a classic 60 Hz, others hope for 90 Hz as more expensive models, let’s see what is really hidden under the display of this device and why it is important for everyday use.
Many people mistakenly confuse screen refresh rates (Hz, Hertz) with resolution or brightness. In practice, Hertz determines how smoothly content will be displayed - whether it is scrolling through social media, games or videos. For the Redmi Note 9, this parameter is fixed and does not change depending on firmware or settings, but there are nuances that are worth knowing about.
Next, we'll analyze the official specs, check the data through the engineering menu, and understand how the screen frequency affects autonomy and performance, and if you're planning to buy this smartphone or already own it, this information will help avoid common misconceptions.
Official Features: What Does Xiaomi Say?
According to the manufacturer, Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 (model) M2003J15SC for the global market) equipped IPS-This information is confirmed on the official website of Xiaomi, in technical specifications and even in certification documents. It is important to note that this is the basic version – do not confuse it with the Redmi Note 9 Pro or Note. 9S, where the parameters may differ.
Interesting fact: in some regions (for example, in India) sold a modification of the Redmi Note 9 with the marking M2003J15SI, but there the screen frequency remained at 60 Hz. Xiaomi has not announced versions of this smartphone with 90 Hz, despite rumors in the network. If you offer to "wire to 90 Hz" - it is either fraud or we are talking about another model.
To finally dispel doubts, you can refer to the documentation:
- 📄 Xiaomi official website: the specifications section clearly indicates 60Hz.
- 🔍 GSMArena and other aggregators: All independent sources confirm 60 Hz.
- 🛠️ Service centers: when replacing the display, modules with a fixed frequency of 60 Hz are used.
However, some users claim to “see the difference” after software updates, which is due to optimization of animations in MIUI, but not to changes in hardware specifications.
How to check the screen frequency yourself?
If you want to make sure that your Redmi Note 9 screen is refreshing without going to the service, there are a few reliable ways. The first and easiest way is to use specialized applications. For example, the Display Tester (available on Google Play) shows the current refresh rate in real time. Set it up, run the test, and you will see a value of 60.00 Hz.
The second method is through the engineering menu.
- Open the Phone app.
- Enter the code ##4636##.
- Go to the Testing → Display section.
- Find the Refresh Rate line, and the current value will be indicated.
Note that if the menu does not open after entering the code, then your firmware will block access, in which case the MTK Engineering Mode application (for MediaTek processors) or Qualcomm Mode (for Snapdragon) will help.
The third way is a visual test: take a Redmi Note 9 scrolling screen on another phone (like swiping on the home screen) and at 60 Hz, you'll notice a flicker, whereas at 90 Hz or 120 Hz, you'll see a smoother picture, but it's subjective and requires a trained eye.
☑️ Screen frequency check
Why 60 Hz, not 90? Technical limitations
The decision to equip the Redmi Note 9 with a 60 Hz screen instead of 90 Hz is due to several factors: first, this is the segment of the device: the smartphone is positioned as a budget, and 60 Hz is the standard for this price category. Second, the Helio G85 processor installed in this model is not optimized for high refresh rates, which could lead to:
- 🔋 Increased energy consumption and reduced battery life.
- 🎮 Overheating during long gaming sessions.
- 💰 Higher price due to higher priced display.
Xiaomi also used a display with DotDrop technology in the Redmi Note 9, which itself requires additional resources to process the cutout for the front camera. Raising the frequency to 90 Hz could create an imbalance between the GPU performance and the screen capabilities.
In comparison, even more advanced models of the same lineup, such as the Redmi Note 9 Pro, received 60 Hz, and the transition to 90/120 Hz occurred only in the Redmi Note 10 Pro and later. This confirms Xiaomi’s strategy: high refresh rates are reserved for flagship or “pro” versions of devices.
⚠️ Warning: Some "masters" suggest that the screen be accelerated to 90 Hz through modified firmware, which not only cancels the warranty, but can lead to overheating of the display module and its failure!
The impact of frequency on games and multimedia
If you use the Redmi Note 9 primarily for gaming, 60Hz may seem like a limitation, but in practice, most mobile games are optimized for this frequency.
- 🎮 PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty: Mobile are 60+ FPS, What is synchronized with 60 Hz screen.
- 🏎️ Asphalt 9 supports up to 60 fps, so you won’t see a difference from 90 Hz.
- 🎬 YouTube and Netflix stream content at 60 maximum FPS (even 4K HDR).
However, in dynamic shooters or racing games, higher refresh rates could give the advantage of smooth animations. But here comes the second limiting factor, the performance of the Helio G85. This chipset is physically unable to consistently deliver 90 FPS in heavy games, so 60 Hz becomes a bottleneck only in theory.
For comparison, the table below shows the refresh rate and supported FPS in popular games for Redmi Note 9 and its competitors:
| Model phone | Screen frequency (Hz) | PUBG Mobile (FPS) | Call of Duty (FPS) | Genshin Impact (FPS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 | 60 | 40–60 (Balanced) | 50–60 (Medium) | 30–40 (Low) |
| Redmi Note 9 Pro | 60 | 40–60 (HD) | 60 (High) | 30–45 (Medium) |
| POCO X3 NFC | 120 | 60–90 (HDR) | 90 (Very High) | 40–60 (High) |
| Realme 6 | 90 | 60 (Smooth) | 70–90 (High) | 45–50 (Medium) |
As you can see, even 90/120Hz smartphones don’t always use this potential because of hardware limitations. So the Redmi Note 9, with its 60Hz, remains a balanced choice for casual gamblers.
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If you’re critically interested in a high refresh rate, consider Snapdragon 7xx or 8xx models, which are better optimized for 90+Hz and heavy gaming.
Can I increase the screen frequency programmatically?
The short answer is no. The screen refresh rate is determined by the hardware: the display module and the controller. The firmware or tweaks in the developer settings (Settings → About phone → Tap on MIUI version 7 times) may enable the frequency selection option, but it will be a bogus one. For example, after activation of the developer mode, some users see Force 90Hz, but in fact the screen continues to work at 60 Hz.
In addition, the frequency of the ADB-commands or modified nuclei result in:
- 🔄 Unstable operation of the interface (artifacts, twitching).
- 🔥 Overheating of the display controller.
- ⚡ Decrease in autonomy by 15-20%.
The only legal way to speed up the display is to enable Force GPU rendering and Disable HW overlays in the developer settings. This will smooth the animations a little bit, but it won't change the physical frequency of the screen.
- Activate the Developer Mode (as described above).
- Go to Settings → Additional settings → Developer options.
- Find Force GPU rendering and Disable HW overlays, and turn them on.
- Reboot the phone.
⚠️ Note: Including forced rendering through GPU It can cause bugs in some applications (e.g. banking or security games). If you notice a problem, return the settings to the original state.
Comparison with competitors: who offers 90 Hz in the same price segment?
If the 60Hz on the Redmi Note 9 doesn’t seem like enough, look for alternatives from other brands that offer 90Hz or even 120Hz in a similar price range.
- 📱 POCO X3 NFC (120Hz, Snapdragon 732G) — perfect choice for gamers.
- 📱 Realme 6/7 (90 Hz, Helio. G90T) — balanced performance.
- 📱 Samsung Galaxy M31s (60 Hz, but with AMOLED-screen) - better color reproduction.
The table below shows a comparison of key parameters:
| Model | Screen frequency (Hz) | Processor | Price (No. 2023) | Autonomy (screen clock) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 | 60 | Helio G85 | 12 000–15 000 ₽ | 8–10 |
| POCO X3 NFC | 120 | Snapdragon 732G | 18 000–20 000 ₽ | 6–8 |
| Realme 6 | 90 | Helio G90T | 16 000–18 000 ₽ | 7–9 |
| Samsung Galaxy M31s | 60 | Exynos 9611 | 17 000–19 000 ₽ | 10–12 |
As you can see, the extra hertz is not just a cash-in-the-money expense, but also a autonomy, and the Redmi Note 9 remains one of the most balanced options, especially if the priority is long-term work without recharging.
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The high refresh rate increases the load on the processor and battery, and if you're more interested in autonomy, 60 Hz is the best choice.
Frequent misconceptions about the Hertz on the Redmi Note 9
There are many myths surrounding the Redmi Note 9 screen frequency, and we'll look at some of the most common ones.
- "After the MIUI update, the screen became 90Hz," which is impossible. Software updates don't change hardware performance. You may have noticed the smoothness improvement due to the animation optimization in the new MIUI version.
- "I see 90 Hz in the engineering menu" is a mapping error, and some firmware versions misread the controller data.
- "If you put custom firmware, it's 120Hz," no. The best you can do is overclock the processor, but the screen is still 60Hz.
- "In games, the screen automatically switches to 90 Hz" is not true. Games can render more frames/s, but the screen only shows 60.
Another common misconception is that 60 Hz is worse for the eyes, and actually, the refresh rate doesn't affect the screen's harmfulness.
- 🌡️ Brightness (recommended 200-300 nits in the room).
- 🔵 Blue light (use reading mode or blue light filter).
- ⏱️ Continuous use time (take breaks every 20-30 minutes).