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If you buy a new Pixel 10 and start using it right out of the box, you might notice something a bit odd: Scrolling and swiping around Android feels a bit slow and sluggish. That’s particularly going to be the case if you’re coming from another Android flagship, or a “Pro” iPhone. What gives?
It has to do with your Pixel display’s refresh rate. Most displays don’t simply show one static image at any given moment. Instead, they “refresh,” or update the display, many times a second. This is what’s known as the refresh rate: The faster the refresh rate, the smoother the motions appear. A standard display typically has a 60Hz refresh rate, but many modern devices, smartphones especially, have refresh rates of 120Hz.
If you’re used to that 120Hz look, 60Hz is going to seem stuttered by comparison, since you’re quite literally losing half the display information every second. But here’s the thing: The Pixel 10 has a display that supports a refresh rate of 120Hz, so why is it refreshing at 60Hz out of the box?
Google’s battery dilemma
As it turns out, the answer actually makes sense, and has to do with the display technology Google uses in its various devices. As Android Authority explains , the Pixel 10 Pro ships with the 120Hz refresh rate enabled by default, because it uses an LTPO panel. This technology allows the display to adjust its refresh rate as needed: When you’re scrolling, the refresh rate will jump to 120Hz, but when the image is static, it might drop to as low as 1Hz. The display can run whatever refresh rate makes sense for the given moment, and, as such, reduce power consumption when 120Hz isn’t needed.
Pixel 10 doesn’t have an LTPO panel, which means it sticks to either 60Hz or 120Hz, nothing in between, or below. This will burn through your battery faster than the standard 60Hz option, so Google likely keeps 120Hz disabled for the general consumer that would prefer a longer battery life over a smoother display.
I follow that logic. It’s part of why Apple’s base model iPhones are stuck at 60Hz, though it’d be nice if they’d give users the option for 120Hz if they don’t mind the battery hit. But in my view, it’d make sense for Google to explain the compromise here during setup, and let users decide for themselves whether they’d like to prioritize refresh rate or battery life.
How to enable 120Hz on Pixel 10
If you’re in the camp that prefers a smoother display to longer battery life, it’s an easy fix. Just head to Settings > Display & touch > Other display controls, then choose “Smooth display.” The setting explains that it raises the refresh rate up to 120Hz “for some content” and that battery usage will increase.
