Why Your Phone Isn’t Using 90Hz or 120Hz Smoothly


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Why Your Phone Isn’t Using 90Hz or 120Hz Smoothly

While testing an AvNexo device in London, I noticed that some apps and menus were still lagging despite the phone supporting 90Hz and 120Hz refresh rates. After consulting UK users in Manchester, Edinburgh, and Birmingham, it became clear that many factors can prevent smooth high-refresh-rate performance. Understanding these issues helps maintain fluid scrolling and gaming experiences.

1. Adaptive or Dynamic Refresh Rate Settings

Many modern smartphones adjust refresh rates automatically to save battery:

  • High-refresh rates may drop to 60Hz during simple apps or idle screens
  • UK users in Brighton and Glasgow reported smoother performance after enabling “High Refresh Rate” or disabling adaptive mode in Settings → Display → Refresh Rate

2. Battery Saver or Low Power Mode

Energy-saving features can force the device to run at lower refresh rates:

  • Reduces power consumption by limiting the refresh rate to 60Hz
  • UK users in London and Manchester noticed games became less smooth while battery saver was active

3. App Limitations

Not all apps are optimised for higher refresh rates:

  • Some social media, banking, or legacy apps default to 60Hz regardless of system settings
  • Testing in Edinburgh and Birmingham showed that apps like Instagram or WhatsApp did not fully utilise 90Hz or 120Hz

4. Software Bugs or Updates

System updates can sometimes interfere with refresh rate stability:

  • Erratic performance may occur after major OS updates
  • Restarting the device or checking for minor patches often resolves the issue

5. Hardware Performance Constraints

Even if the screen supports high refresh rates, the GPU may struggle in certain scenarios:

  • Graphically intensive games may reduce frame rates automatically to prevent overheating
  • Older devices or mid-range models may not consistently maintain 120Hz across all apps

Troubleshooting Steps

  1. Check Settings → Display → Refresh Rate and ensure the desired option is selected
  2. Disable battery saver or low power mode
  3. Restart the phone after updates
  4. Test multiple apps to identify app-specific limitations
  5. Monitor GPU-intensive apps for automatic refresh rate drops

Additional Tips

  • Enable adaptive refresh rate if battery efficiency is important
  • Keep all apps updated for better refresh rate optimisation
  • UK users in London, Manchester, and Edinburgh found that clearing background apps improved smoothness in high-refresh-rate screens

Final Thoughts

Phones not using 90Hz or 120Hz smoothly are usually affected by settings, battery-saving modes, app limitations, or minor software bugs. Awareness and simple adjustments can restore fluid performance. For persistent issues, consider checking hardware performance or consulting your device manufacturer. Proper management ensures consistent smooth experiences across UK cities like London, Manchester, and Edinburgh.

Meta description: Discover why your phone isn’t using 90Hz or 120Hz smoothly, with UK user insights, common causes, and practical solutions for fluid screen performance.

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