You are deeply split over 165Hz smartphones

Phones with high refresh rate displays are becoming increasingly common these days, with even budget devices offering this option. We usually see refresh rates ranging from 90Hz to 120Hz, but we also saw 144Hz phones last year.

Nubia has upped the ante this month, as it launched the Red Magic 6 series (seen above). This is the first phone line with a 165Hz screen, but is this too much for a smartphone? We posed this question to Android Authority readers and here’s how you voted.

Is a 165Hz screen too much for a smartphone?

Results

We posted the poll in our Nubia Red Magic 6 series announcement article on March 5, with 1,126 votes being cast. The results show an almost even split between those who think a 165Hz phone is too far and those in favor of it. But the former camp earned the majority of votes by the smallest of margins (50.98%).

It’s understandable that many people would think this is a bridge too far, as higher refresh rate displays generally require more power. There are solutions like LTPO screens and adaptive refresh rates that can reduce power consumption, but these options are available to phones with lower refresh rates too.

Related: High refresh rates exploded in 2020, but you need to look beyond the numbers

You could also argue that it’s a case of diminishing returns at this point. Many people might struggle to tell the difference between a phone with a 120Hz screen and one with a 165Hz display. In fact, we even see some people struggling to tell the difference between 60Hz and 120Hz. Then again, it’s not uncommon to find 165Hz+ monitors in the PC gaming space. So there is an appetite for ultra high refresh rates in some capacity.

Still, the Red Magic 6 series has more up its sleeve than just a super-high refresh rate. The Pro model also offers 120W charging for the 4,500mAh battery, the Snapdragon 888 chipset, fan cooling, and up to 18GB of RAM.

Comments

• sachouba: Honestly, what’s the point of a 165Hz display, 18GB of RAM or 120W fast charging on a smartphone? First, you can’t play any game at 165Hz with a smartphone’s processor and I doubt it makes a large difference in the interface, compared to 120Hz. You’ll see the difference in battery life, though.
• NiffirgkcaJ: This is so cool~ I really want to own one~
• Jason Mclaughlan: 120hz 4k display (both variable) would be amazing. Though 1080p & 90hz is all anyone could need…
• Kaloian Mitrev: Like it was pointed these are useless gimmicks human eye sees 24fps let’s double it that’s OK, 18gb is useless as well even in games on ultra i got 8 GB and playing latest games on high and ultra.

That’s it for our poll, thanks for voting and leaving comments! Do you think 165Hz phones are a step too far? Give us your thoughts below.