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Google Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL: More evidence for 90Hz display refresh rate
Google’s new Pixel 4 series is weeks away from becoming official and we’re seeing leaks pouring in from all corners of the internet. Just yesterday, we caught a glimpse of the Pixel 4 strutting its stuff in a short hands-on video.
Now, XDA-Developers has dug through the Android 10 source code to find evidence that the Pixel 4 series will indeed sport a 90Hz display. This could be a welcome change for Pixel users who have thus far been stuck with a 60Hz refresh rate on the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL.
According to the source code, developers will have an option to check if their apps run at 90Hz on the Pixel 4 phones. A comment in the Android 10 source code further reveals that a switch to toggle 90Hz “should only be available to P19 devices” (i.e. the 2019 Pixel phones).
A 90Hz refresh rate should enable smoother scrolling and UI transitions on the new Pixels compared to their predecessors (provided that the processor can keep up). Although the difference might not be immediately visible to the untrained eye, the overall experience of using apps should be more fluid on a 90Hz display. This is because 90Hz refreshes visuals 90 times per second compared to 60 times per second on 60Hz displays.
Smartphone OEMs have been upping display refresh rates lately, with one of the most prominent examples out there being the OnePlus 7 Pro and its 90Hz display. Some devices, like the ASUS ROG Phone 2 and Razer Phone 2, up the ante even further with a 120Hz display refresh rate.
Apart from a faster display refresh rate, the Pixel 4 series is expected to bump up the screen resolution as well. The smaller Pixel 4 is expected to feature a 2,280 x 1,080 resolution, compared to the Pixel 3’s 2,160 x 1,080 resolution. Meanwhile, the larger Pixel 4 XL could come with a 3,040 x 1,440 screen, up from Pixel 3 XL’s 2,960 x 1,440 resolution.
You can check out all the latest Pixel 4 rumors and leaks in our dedicated rumor hub at the previous link. Would you buy a phone purely for a higher refresh rate? Give us your thoughts below.