When enthusiasts talk about smartphone displays, there’s a long list of specs to obsess over. While resolution was and still remains the headline feature everyone cares about, there’s a different spec that makes the biggest difference day to day—yet it doesn’t get nearly the attention it deserves. Of course, I’m talking about refresh rate.
Your eyes won’t notice slightly higher resolution, but they’ll feel higher refresh rates instantly
Sharpness hits diminishing returns, but motion is something you interact with constantly
As far as displays are concerned, the QHD (aka 1440p/2K) resolution has been one of the primary differentiating factors between premium flagships and more budget-friendly offerings for years. And that’s a fair point—technically speaking, a QHD screen looks noticeably sharper and more “crisp” than a Full HD (1080p) if everything else is equal.
However, aside from foldable phones with larger inner screens, that difference doesn’t matter nearly as much as you might think. Full HD and slightly higher resolutions still look plenty sharp on phones because the screens are relatively small.
And short of the phone’s own UI, texting apps, watching content, and playing games in QHD, there are few use cases where you’ll notice the improvement—and even then, it’s fairly minimal, especially if you aren’t making an active effort to hold your screen right up to your face.
In contrast, refresh rate is a display spec that almost anyone will notice the second they pick up the phone and start using it. In case you’re not familiar with what “refresh rate” means, it’s essentially the number of frames (images) a display can show in a single second. A “standard” refresh rate that many displays used in the past was 60Hz, but today that number is around 120Hz.
Although a higher refresh rate has long been associated with enhancing the gaming experience, the benefits don’t end there. In fact, even if you’re not a tech geek, you can easily notice the improvement because using a phone with a high refresh rate display feels smoother and “faster” (even though it technically isn’t). After getting used to a higher refresh rate, your eyes will be trained enough to notice that 60Hz screens feel laggy and choppy.
High refresh rates can make even budget phones feel premium
Smoothness creates the illusion of speed and quality
One of the best trends we’ve seen in the past few years with smartphone displays is that high refresh rate screens have trickled down to budget offerings. Mid-range phones like the Google Pixel 10a and Samsung Galaxy A56 now come with 120Hz screens, just like their flagship counterparts.
Some even go a step above—the Nothing 4a Pro‘s display can do 144Hz, which is more than even most flagships.
In fact, you might be surprised to learn that even some ultra-cheap phones now feature 90Hz or 120Hz displays.
The Motorola Moto G (2026) costs only $200, yet it somehow packs a 120Hz display. Granted, it’s an IPS rather than AMOLED, but it’s still extremely impressive given the low price.
The fact that a $200 phone with a carefully thought-out budget still uses a 120Hz display shows that high refresh rate isn’t just some marketing gimmick—it’s something that the average person wants. They just don’t know it yet.
The Moto G’s primary demographic are people who don’t even read the specs sheet, so you can only imagine that they’ll notice how much smoother and, in turn, more premium this phone feels compared to their old one.
7/10
- SoC
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Google Tensor G4
- Display
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6.3-inch Actua display
The Google Pixel 10a is a barely updated version of the Google Pixel 9a, with a slightly brighter screen and an upgrade from Gorilla Glass 3 to Gorilla Glass 7i. Google has shaved the remaining few millimeters from the camera bump, making it completely flat. Unlike prior versions of the Pixel a series, this model year does not share the same Tensor processor as the mainline Pixel 10.
Refresh rate is more than just a spec flex, yet nobody talks about it
One looks good on paper, the other improves daily use
While QHD sounds like a premium specification, that’s where most of its benefits end. In contrast, a high refresh rate is a specification that’s going to transform the user experience for anyone who tries the phone.
The point is, smooth animations matter far more in day-to-day use than a few extra pixels from a higher resolution. Opening and closing apps, scrolling through social media, gaming, and general phone interactions all feel snappier, and since it’s something you do all the time, it’s hard to ignore the improvement. After all, you are literally seeing twice as many images in the same amount of time, so the smoothness comes as no surprise.
Given how important it is, I’m a little sad to see that the Samsung Galaxy S26 lineup that’s just been released features a 120Hz refresh rate screen—not even on the Ultra model. Samsung has been equipping its S series with 120Hz displays since the S20, so this marks the sixth year without a spec bump in this regard.
Now, compare that to my OnePlus 15, which costs a lot less than the Galaxy S26 Ultra and comes with a 165Hz display (probably made by Samsung, if we’re being honest).
The OnePlus 15’s resolution sits between Full HD and QHD, and while I haven’t noticed any sharpness difference compared to the 1440p screens I’ve looked at, the extra refresh rate is immediately noticeable in compatible apps. Funnily enough, I’m used to 240Hz on my main monitor, so believe me—there’s still plenty of room for growth in phone refresh rates!
In case we’re wondering, that “compatible apps” caveat is exactly where the cracks with going above 120Hz start to show. The majority of apps—and even many games—don’t support refresh rates above 120Hz, at least not yet.
The only apps on my phone that hit up to 165Hz are Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Moonlight when I’m streaming games from my PC. Even the system caps the refresh rate at 120Hz, which I was able to verify by enabling the refresh rate overlay in Developer Options. I’m sure we’ll see better support once more phones start pushing beyond 120Hz.
120Hz is probably the sweet spot, but it’s hard not to want more
We might have reached a practical balance, but the push for higher numbers has to press on
I’m an enthusiast who loves using the highest refresh rate possible, but even I can’t deny that 120Hz on phones is where we start to see diminishing returns. Many people still struggle to notice the difference between 90Hz and 120Hz displays, so going even higher is unlikely to provide a major benefit for the masses.
That said, I’d still love to see more widespread support for refresh rates beyond 120Hz, both in hardware and software. There are hardly any downsides, since thanks to technologies like LTPO, phones can maintain excellent battery life even with the higher refresh rate option enabled.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
