Android 15 Brings for True Adaptive Refresh Rate on Smartphones and Other Devices 1m1x6f Technology News

With adaptive refresh rate, devices can operate at lower refresh rates and transition to higher rates only when essential. 2r26b

Written by Siddharth Suvarna | Updated: 11 November 2024 14:38 IST

Android 15 Brings for True Adaptive Refresh Rate on Smartphones and Other Devices

Photo Credit: Android 4j2d56

Devices running Android 15 can adjust the refresh rate within a single mode

Highlights

Android 15 rolls out adaptive refresh rate for ed devices
Displays can decouple the VSync rate and refresh rate
This technology can lower the power consumption and reduce jank

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Realme have introduced their iterations of the new operating system (OS) for their smartphones and other devices. The update is said to bring for true adaptive refresh rate (ARR) which leverages discrete VSync steps to adapt to the frame rate of the on-screen content without changing the current display mode.

Adaptive Refresh Rate on Android 15 4u265i

for ARR has existed since Android 11 but it used a method known as refresh rate switching which essentially switched the display between different modes depending on the content and its requirements. Devices could switch between 60Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz or 144Hz, based on the display type. However, Android 15 brings a true ARR experience by allowing the system to adjust the refresh rate within one mode instead of using a fixed cadence.

According to Android (via Android Authority), displays that ARR can decouple the VSync rate and refresh rate based on the cadence of the content update. ARR on Android 15 brings two benefits: reduced power consumption and less jank.

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With this capability, devices usually operate at lower refresh rates and transition to higher rates only when essential. This is said to result in reduced power consumption. Furthermore, ARR also eliminates the need for switching between modes, reducing jank — an effect that usually appears when the content isn't synced with the device's refresh rate.

Android says OEMs can implement ARR based on their preferred power trade-offs. The OS is claimed to ARR with the new Hardware Composer (HWC) HAL APIs and platform changes. To enable it, device makers must kernel and system changes on devices running Android 15 and later, as well as implement version three of android.hardware.graphics.composer3 APIs. However, screens which do not the technology will still use the active display mode's fixed cadence to adjust the refresh rate.

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Shaurya Tomer

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Shaurya Tomer is a Sub Editor at Gadgets 360 with 2 years of experience across a diverse spectrum of topics. With a particular focus on smartphones, gadgets and the ever-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), he often likes to explore the industry's intricacies and innovations – whether dissecting the latest smartphone release or exploring the ethical implications of AI advancements. In his free time, he often embarks on impromptu road trips to unwind, recharge, and ...More