One smartphone feature that really gained in popularity in 2019 is the high refresh rate display. Companies like ASUS, OnePlus, and Google launched phones with the feature this year, and according to a new report, Samsung could soon release its first phone with a high refresh rate screen.
The Android 10-based One UI 2.0 beta includes a hidden "High refresh rate" setting. Spotted by Ice universe, the setting allows you to toggle on a 120Hz refresh rate for "smoother scrolling and more realistic animations".
Someone found 120Hz in Note9's One UI 2 Beta! (hidden settings) pic.twitter.com/ii1fNic1YE
— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) November 20, 2019
You can choose to either always use a 120Hz refresh rate, which Samsung warns will use more battery than usual, or allow the phone to automatically switch between 60Hz and 120Hz based on the apps you choose and what's being shown on the screen. The setting also includes a list of high refresh rate apps.
Here it is in English pic.twitter.com/6l459LPAIR
— Jay Dabhi (@JayDabhi) November 20, 2019
While the feature was spotted on a Galaxy Note 9, that phone doesn't support a high refresh rate. It is possible that next year's Galaxy S11 will have a 120Hz display, though.
As noted by SamMobile, Samsung recently announced its new Exynos 990 processor and confirmed that it supports 120Hz screens. Leaks have suggested that the Galaxy S11 will be powered by an Exynos 990, and a 120Hz screen is a major new feature that Samsung could save for the Galaxy S11.
We've seen several other Android phones come to market with high refresh rate displays lately, and it's definitely a feature that seems to be catching on with users. Samsung is one of the biggest Android device makers around, and so it makes sense that it would eventually add a high refresh rate screen to its flagships to help them compete with other phones on the market. And now it's starting to look like next year's Galaxy S11 will be the first Samsung phone to have that feature.
