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

Android 15 was launched globally in August and since then, authentic tools producers (OEMs) resembling OnePlus, Oppo, and Realme have launched their iterations of the brand new working system (OS) for his or her smartphones and different gadgets. The replace is claimed to carry help for true adaptive refresh charge (ARR) which leverages discrete VSync steps to adapt to the body charge of the on-screen content material with out altering the present show mode.

Adaptive Refresh Price on Android 15

Help for ARR has existed since Android 11 but it surely used a way often called refresh charge switching which basically switched the show between completely different modes relying on the content material and its necessities. Units might change between 60Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz or 144Hz, primarily based on the show sort. Nevertheless, Android 15 brings a real ARR expertise by permitting the system to regulate the refresh charge inside one mode as an alternative of utilizing a hard and fast cadence.

According to Android (via Android Authority), shows that help ARR can decouple the VSync charge and refresh charge primarily based on the cadence of the content material replace. ARR on Android 15 brings two advantages: lowered energy consumption and fewer jank.

With this functionality, gadgets often function at decrease refresh charges and transition to greater charges solely when important. That is mentioned to lead to lowered energy consumption. Moreover, ARR additionally eliminates the necessity for switching between modes, lowering jank — an impact that often seems when the content material is not synced with the system’s refresh charge.

Android says OEMs can implement ARR primarily based on their most well-liked energy trade-offs. The OS is claimed to help ARR with the brand new {Hardware} Composer (HWC) HAL APIs and platform adjustments. To allow it, system makers should help kernel and system adjustments on gadgets working Android 15 and later, in addition to implement model three of android.{hardware}.graphics.composer3 APIs. Nevertheless, screens which don’t help the expertise will nonetheless use the lively show mode’s fastened cadence to regulate the refresh charge.