Does the OnePlus 13 have a 120Hz refresh rate?
The OnePlus 13 is the latest addition to OnePlus's flagship phone lineup. However, does this device, along with the more affordable OnePlus 13R, feature 120Hz refresh rates?
OnePlus has recently unveiled its new flagship model, the OnePlus 13, accompanied by its more affordable version, the OnePlus 13R. The latter features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and offers an IP68 and IP69 water resistance rating, allowing users to use the device even in the shower. The 6.82-inch display of the OnePlus 13 promises to be impressive, especially due to its refresh rate.
The display of the OnePlus 13 stands out with a 2K resolution and a peak brightness of 4,500 nits, but what is truly exciting is its variable refresh rate ranging from 1Hz to 120Hz. This means that the phone adjusts the refresh rate according to the content being displayed on the screen, ensuring smoother visuals and better battery savings.
On the other hand, the OnePlus 13R, which is priced at around $600, will also feature a variable refresh rate of 1 to 120Hz, just like its bigger sibling. This model presents a 6.78-inch AMOLED screen with a resolution of 2,780 x 1,264 and the same maximum brightness of 4,500 nits.
When considering the purchase of a new device, it's useful to understand the benefits of higher refresh rates. This metric indicates how many times per second the image on the screen updates, measured in Hertz (Hz). Some expected advantages include:
- Smoother visuals: Transitions, scrolling, and animations appear more fluid on screens with high refresh rates.
- Improved video playback: When playing audiovisual content, there is less tearing and stuttering.
- Better gaming experience: For mobile gaming enthusiasts, there is less motion blur, more precise controls, and a more responsive gameplay experience, especially in resource-intensive titles.
- Greater responsiveness: Everything done on the screen feels more immediate and accurate with higher refresh rates.
Since the beginning of the smartphone era, concerns about refresh rates were not relevant; most devices featured 60Hz displays. As phones evolved in multimedia and gaming capabilities, these rates increased. In 2017, the Razer Phone introduced a 120Hz LCD display, followed by the OnePlus 7 Pro in 2019, which incorporated a 90Hz OLED display. Over time, 120Hz OLED displays became a standard in high-end Android devices. Today, some high-end and gaming-oriented models offer refresh rates of up to 165Hz or even 240Hz.
Unlike Android, Apple has been more cautious in adopting higher refresh rates in its line of iPhones, with models such as the iPhone 13, 14, 15, and 16 limited to 60Hz, although the Pro models include adaptive 120Hz displays. There are rumors that the upcoming iPhone 17 lineup may adopt this refresh rate across all its models.
