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 gear producers (OEMs) akin to OnePlus, Oppo, and Realme have launched their iterations of the brand new working system (OS) for his or her smartphones and different units. The replace is alleged to carry assist for true adaptive refresh fee (ARR) which leverages discrete VSync steps to adapt to the body fee of the on-screen content material with out altering the present show mode.

Adaptive Refresh Rate on Android 15

Support for ARR has existed since Android 11 however it used a way referred to as refresh fee switching which basically switched the show between completely different modes relying on the content material and its necessities. Devices might change between 60Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz or 144Hz, primarily based on the show kind. However, Android 15 brings a real ARR expertise by permitting the system to regulate the refresh fee inside one mode as a substitute of utilizing a hard and fast cadence.

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

With this functionality, units often function at decrease refresh charges and transition to larger charges solely when important. This is alleged to lead to diminished energy consumption. Furthermore, 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 gadget’s refresh fee.

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