Modern Android smartphones feature beautiful displays capable of high refresh rates (typically 120Hz or 144Hz) that make scrolling through social media or playing video games feel incredibly smooth. However, running a screen at 120Hz drains the battery significantly faster than a standard 60Hz screen.
To balance this, most Android phones utilize “LTPO” technology combined with software algorithms that automatically and dynamically change the display refresh rate on the fly. If you are scrolling, it ramps up to 120Hz. If you stop touching the screen to read a static paragraph of text, it instantly drops down to 10Hz or 60Hz. While this saves battery, some users can actually perceive the screen stuttering during the micro-second it takes to switch between these rates, resulting in a slightly jittery experience.
If you prioritize absolute, buttery-smooth consistency over battery life, you can disable the dynamic scaling and force the screen to remain locked at a static refresh rate.
How to Stop Dynamic Refresh Rate Scaling
You must turn off the adaptive display feature in your Settings.
On Google Pixel / Standard Android
- Open the Settings app on your Android device.
- Tap on Display.
- Scroll down to the “Display options” section.
- Look for the toggle labeled Smooth Display (which dynamically adjusts from 60Hz to 120Hz).
- Turn this toggle to the Off position.
Note: This forces the Pixel to lock at a static 60Hz. If you want to force it to lock at 120Hz permanently, you must go to Developer Options and toggle on “Force peak refresh rate.”
On Samsung Galaxy Devices
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap on Display.
- Tap on Motion smoothness.
- Change the selection from “Adaptive” (which automatically changes the rate) to Standard (which locks it permanently at 60Hz).
- Tap Apply.
Your screen will no longer throttle its performance based on what is happening on screen, providing a perfectly consistent visual experience at the expense of a slightly shorter battery lifespan.