One of the most interesting trends that started back in the last year in smartphones was the higher refresh rate displays. The first smartphone to bet on a higher refresh rate was the infamous Razer Phone from 2017 with its 120Hz refresh rate display. Other companies started to bet on 90Hz last year, and now are finally playing with the 120Hz rate. It’s something that can be even found among mid-range smartphones like the Poco X2 aka Redmi K30. Samsung played smart this year by introducing the exciting feature of the Galaxy S20 flagship family.
Despite the addition of a 120Hz mode in the gorgeous AMOLED display of the Galaxy S20 family, at launch, you will have to opt between 120Hz and QHD rendering. The higher refresh rate mode was only available up to FullHD resolution which may be a little underwhelming. After all, you can get the maximum of your hardware. Now, it seems that Samsung changed its mind and will bring the 120Hz@QHD mode via a firmware update.
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The rumor originates from a screenshot of an S20 phone running on a new firmware version which shows the new Dynamic screen refresh rate option. According to some speculation, the refresh rate will drop to 60Hz when the battery temperature passes 42 ºC (107.6 ºF) or the battery charge drops down to 55. Moreover, the phone will tone down the refresh rate in apps like Google Maps and the Stock camera. It aims to conserve some battery where 120Hz mode isn’t really necessary to improve user experience. The phone will dynamically alternate between 60 and 120Hz depending on the app running to maximize battery life.
Galaxy S20 Dynamic screen feature isn’t the ideal, but it’s a good start
We know that this isn’t the best or at least exactly what users were hoping for. However, it represents a step in the right direction in giving consumers the ability to take advantage of their devices’ true capabilities. Unfortunately, there are details indicating when this update will reach the masses.
