Samsung Galaxy S20 will come with a gimped 120 Hz display says leaker

Samsung insider Ice Universe has confirmed that the Samsung Galaxy S20 line up will ship with a gimped 120 Hz display, as he had come to suspect. Instead of the higher refresh rate being enabled at the preferred QHD+ resolution, it will be locked at 60 Hz when in this mode. The higher 120 Hz refresh rate can only be enabled at the lower FHD (1080p) resolution with users able to switch this back to what appears to be the standard 60 Hz refresh rate.

The news is surprising as many, if not most, flagship smartphones released in 2020 will feature OLED panels with at least a 90 Hz refresh rate or higher. This includes Apple’s iPhone 12 which is expected to pick up a 120 Hz ‘Pro Motion’ display when it launches later this year. It was only yesterday that OnePlus, one of Samsung’s major competitors, revealed through social media that its OnePlus 8 will come with a fully-enabled 120 Hz refresh rate. As if to rub salt in the wounds of Samsung fans, Samsung Display is the supplier of the OnePlus panel.

There could be at least a couple of reasons for Samsung’s decision, assuming Ice Universe’s information proves to be accurate. With at least 12 GB and even 16 GB RAM fitted to the Galaxy S20, battery life could be a concern. Another possibility is that Samsung has prioritized 120 Hz panel production for its customers, which is expected to include Apple. Either way, you can bet that Android developers will be working overtime to hack the S20 to at least allow users the option of switching on the functionality.