How many hertz in Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro: myths and reality about the screen frequency

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro is still one of the most popular models in the line of budget smartphones of the brand, but around its screen there is a lot of controversy. Users often wonder: how much hertz supports the display of this phone is a classic 60 Hz or more modern 90 Hz? In this article, we will analyze the specifications, test the real capabilities of the screen and explain why this parameter is important for everyday use, games and viewing content.

Many confuse the refresh rate of the screen (measured in hertz, Hz) with the frame rate in games or videos. The first is responsible for the smoothness of the display interface and animations, the second is responsible for the number of frames that the processor can produce. In the case of the Redmi Note 9 Pro, the manufacturer clearly declares support for 60 Hz, but some users claim that they managed to “accelerate” the screen to 90 Hz through hidden settings. In fact, the hardware of the display does not physically support the frequency above 60 Hz – any attempts to change this software will only lead to artifacts or no effect.

If you’re planning to buy this smartphone for gaming or dynamic content, it’s important to understand its real-world capabilities, and then we’ll take a look at how to check the current screen frequency, compare the Redmi Note 9 Pro to other Xiaomi models, and explain whether to overpay for a 90/120Hz smartphone.

Redmi Note 9 Pro: What Xiaomi Says

According to the manufacturer, Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro is equipped IPS-diagonal 6.67 inch and resolution 2400×1080 pixels (Full) HD+). among the key parameters:

• 🔹 Update frequency: 60 Hz (fixed, no adaptive shift support)
• 🔹 Brightness: up to 450 nits (typical), peak - 600 nits in mode HDR
• 🔹 Contrast: 1500:1 (standard for IPS-matrix)
• 🔹 Support HDR: HDR10 (partial, not for all applications)
• 🔹 Protection: Gorilla Glass 5

Importantly, the Redmi Note 9 Pro Released was launched in May 2020, when the 90Hz screens were just starting to hit the budget segment.For example, the Redmi Note 9 Pro Max (Indian version) and the POCO X3 NFC already offered 120Hz, but the base model of the Note 9 Pro remained at the standard 60Hz. This was Xiaomi’s conscious decision to reduce the cost of the device.

The official website and documentation do not mention the possibility of overclocking the screen, and the hardware limit is laid at the level of the display controller – even if the firmware will be the option of selecting 90 Hz, the screen will not be able to physically support it without losing the stability of the image.

How to check the screen frequency on Redmi Note 9 Pro: 3 reliable ways

If you are in doubt about the claimed specs or want to make sure your screen is running at the claimed 60Hz, use one of the proven methods.

1. Through the developer settings

This way, you can see the current refresh rate, but not the maximum refresh rate.

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and tap 7 times on this line to unlock the developer mode.
2. Return to the main settings menu and open Additional settings → For developers.
3. Find the screen refresh rate (or Window animation scale – if the option is missing, then the screen is fixed at 60 Hz).

The Redmi Note 9 Pro doesn’t usually have this item, which indirectly confirms that it doesn’t support other frequencies, and if you do, you probably have a different model (like the POCO X3).

2. using the CPU-Z application

CPU-Z (available on Google Play) provides detailed information about the hardware, including the screen:

1. Install and open the application.
2. Go to the Device tab (Device).
3. Find the Display bar, where the current frequency (e.g. 60.0 Hz) will be indicated.

3. Test through the TestUFO website

Online service TestUFO allows you to visually assess the smoothness of the screen:

1. Open the site in the smartphone browser.
2. Select the 60Hz vs 120Hz vs 144Hz test.
3. Compare the smoothness of the animation on your screen with reference values.

On the Redmi Note 9 Pro, you’ll see a clear “shaking” when scrolling at 120/144Hz – which is normal, as the screen is not physically capable of displaying such frequencies.

Is it possible to overclock the screen of Redmi Note 9 Pro to 90 Hz: myths and reality

There are instructions on the web to overclock the Redmi Note 9 Pro screen to 90 Hz through system file editing or custom firmware.

• ⚠️ Hardware Limitation: Display Controller JDI NT36672C, The software installed in this model does not physically support frequencies above 60 Hz. Any changes to the software will not change this.
• ⚠️ Image artifacts: with a forced increase in frequency, there will be tears of the picture, flickering or stripes.
• ⚠️ Overheating and wear: even if you manage to “cheat” the system, the screen will work at the limit of possibilities, which will reduce its lifespan.
• ⚠️ Loss of warranty: Any manipulation of firmware or system files will void the Xiaomi warranty.

Some users claim that after installing a custom core or modified firmware (such as the Pixel Experience), they managed to turn on 90 Hz.

⚠️ Note: In such firmware often replaced the display frequency in the settings, but the actual refresh rate of the pixels remains at 60 Hz. Check this with a high-speed camera (slow-motion will show flickering at 60 Hz).

If you really want a high screen frequency, consider alternative models:

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It is impossible to overclock the Redmi Note 9 Pro screen to 90 Hz, which is a hardware limitation. The only way to get a high frequency is to buy another model with support for 90/120 Hz.

Why you need a high screen frequency: games, video and interface

The screen refresh rate affects three key aspects of smartphone usage:

1.Games: FPS vs Hz

Many users mistakenly believe that the screen frequency and FPS in games are the same.

• 🎮 FPS (frames per second. How many frames does the processor output. PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty: Mobile phone can give 60 FPS, But the screen only shows 60 Hz.
• 📱 Hz (screen frequency) - how many times per second is the picture on the display updated. FPS higher than Hz, there is a thearing effect (image gaps).

On the 60Hz Redmi Note 9 Pro, you won’t see the difference between 60 FPS and 120 FPS in games — the screen just can’t display more than 60 frames per second. However, for most mobile games (except eSports titles), this is enough.

2. Watching video: 24, 30 or 60 Hz?

Modern movies and TV shows are shot at 24 frames / s (film standard) or 30 frames / s (television), screens with 60 Hz do a great job of playing them, because:

• 🎬 24 FPS multiple 60 Hz (24 × 2.5 = 60), which excludes jittering.
• 📺 30 FPS Doubles to 60 Hz without artifacts.

Problems can only occur with 120 FPS content (rarely found on YouTube), but such videos are usually automatically lowered to 60 FPS when played on a smartphone.

3.Smoothness of MIUI interface

MIUI 12/13/14 is optimized for 60Hz, and the difference from 90Hz is only noticeable when compared directly.

• 📱 When scrolling through the tape on TikTok or Instagram at 90Hz, the animation seems smoother.
• 🔄 Switching between applications is faster (due to more frequent screen updates).

However, for most tasks (messaging, social networks, web surfing) 60 Hz is enough, and the difference in smoothness becomes noticeable only with prolonged use.

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If you play mobile shooters (such as Free Fire or Fortnite), turn on the FPS limit to 60 in your graphics settings – this will reduce the processor’s heat and save battery power.

Redmi Note 9 Pro comparison with other Xiaomi smartphones by screen frequency

To understand how far the Redmi Note 9 Pro lags behind modern models, compare it with other popular Xiaomi devices:

As can be seen from the table, Redmi Note 9 Pro became the last flagship model of the Note line with 60 Hz. Already in 2020, Xiaomi began the transition to 90/120 Hz, and since 2021, high frequencies have become the standard even for budget devices.

If you’re choosing between the Redmi Note 9 Pro and the newer models, consider:

• 🔄 Redmi Note 10 Pro offers 120Hz AMOLED for a comparable price (b/w market).
• 🎯 POCO X3 NFC cheaper, but has 120 Hz IPS (worse color, but higher frequency).
• 💰 Xiaomi 11 Lite NE — optimal balance: 90 Hz AMOLED + thin-hull.

The effect of screen frequency on autonomy: how much the battery loses

One of the main disadvantages of high frequencies (90/120 Hz) is increased battery consumption. The screen is the main consumer of energy in a smartphone, and its frequency directly affects autonomy.

Tests show that switching from 60Hz to 90Hz increases charge consumption by 10 to 15 percent, and 120Hz by 20 to 25 percent. For the Redmi Note 9 Pro with a 5020mAh battery, this means:

• 🔋 At 60 Hz: ~1.5-2 days of moderate use.
• 🔋 At a hypothetical 90 Hz: ~1–1.5 days (if the screen had maintained this frequency).

In addition, the high frequency loads the processor, which leads to:

• ⚡ Faster discharge when playing or scrolling social networks.
• 🔥 Overheating during prolonged load (especially in hot weather).
• 📉 Battery degradation when used at high frequencies.

So the 60Hz Redmi Note 9 Pro is a more balanced option for those who value autonomy. If you want smoothness but you need a battery, look for models with adaptive frequency (for example, the Redmi Note 11 Pro+, which automatically lowers Hz when down).

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60Hz saves 15-25% battery life compared to 90/120Hz. If battery life is critical for you, the Redmi Note 9 Pro is a good choice.

Frequent questions about the Redmi Note 9 Pro screen frequency