Other Brands should copy the OnePlus 13 display functionality.

Quick LinksWhat is a local refresh rate?Why should you care?Why aren't more people talking about it?Chinese brands are innovating faster than everSmall details, big impact The OnePlus 13 was launched this month and, while there's much to say about its Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, ample RAM, and spacious storage, one feature stands out as truly brilliant: the local screen refresh rate. No winning ad found for the area: below the first paragraph! No winning ad found for the area: half introduction! This innovation allows the screen to operate at different refresh rates in different sections, saving energy where it's not necessary while maintaining smooth and fluid performance where it matters. It's astute, practical, and truly something I believe more brands should adopt. [X] Remove adsNo winning ad found for the area: native within the content!

What is a local screen refresh rate, anyway?

Most high-end smartphones today are equipped with displays that support high refresh rates, typically up to 120Hz. This makes scrolling, animations, and gaming feel very smooth. The problem? Keeping the screen running at 120Hz all the time drains the battery. Cellular phones with LTPO screens, like many elite Samsung and Apple smartphones, can reduce the refresh rate to just 1 Hz when the screen displays static content. However, this affects the entire screen. If a part of the screen needs to run at 120 Hz, the entire display adjusts its refresh rate accordingly. Justin Duino / How It Works The OnePlus 13 changes the game by allowing different sections of the screen to update at different rates. For example, while scrolling Instagram, the video you're watching in your feed can run at 120Hz, while static text and surrounding icons can slow down to 10 Hz. [X] Remove ads

The world is innovating faster than ever

The rate at which Chinese smartphone brands are currently innovating is truly impressive. First, we saw the revolutionary introduction of silicon-carbon batteries, offering greater energy density and longer lifespan - arguably the biggest leap in battery technology in years. Now, OnePlus has surpassed this limit with this new feature. [X] Remove ads Realme Samsung and Apple are giants in the mobile world, but even giants can fall behind. According to revelations and reports, the next Galaxy S25 series will not include silicon-carbon batteries or this local refresh rate technology. Instead of Apple, it seems to be moving slowly and steadily. The occasional hints about the iPhone 17 do not mention anything about the capabilities of local refresh rates or the adoption of silicon-carbon batteries. [X] Remove ads

Small Features, Big Impact

In the end, innovations like this silently push the industry forward. The OnePlus 13's local screen refresh rate may not get as much attention as its chipset or camera, but it's a feature that makes you stop and think: "This is astute." If more brands tackle this type of innovation, everyone will have an advantage. [X] Remove ads