OnePlus is progressing in reverse, but that could be a huge win for iPhone users

Instead, the aforementioned report states that OnePlus is probably going to force display panels on its future phones to support a 165Hz refresh rate.



Many know that a phone's refresh rate is how often the screen refreshes each second. The higher it is, the smoother swiping, scrolling, and gaming feel – lower refresh rate feels like trying to watch online videos on your old dial-up modem, compared to buttery-smooth YouTube on fiber.

So, 165Hz would be great, right? End of story.

Not so fast.

Let's start with the (potential) negative

First, the real-world benefits of a 165Hz refresh rate over the (now-almost-standard-if-it-wasn't-for-Apple) 120Hz one are minimal. Most users scrolling through social media, texting, or watching videos won't notice any meaningful difference between the two. The extra 45Hz is more about headline numbers than day-to-day usability.

Even enthusiasts who think they'll feel the smoothness might find that it's barely perceptible outside of very specific gaming scenarios – you may be one of the few, but I'm perfectly fine with 120Hz.

Second, software limitations in OxygenOS could further limit the impact. Some have reported that OnePlus' operating system has struggled with adaptive refresh rate management, which means the system doesn't always optimize the display properly. In some cases, the phone might default to a lower refresh rate when it should ramp up, wasting the potential of the 165Hz panel.

Battery life is another concern. Pushing a higher refresh rate consumes more power, and if OnePlus doesn't optimize the hardware-software interaction, users could see faster battery drain. A feature that looks good on paper can quickly become a hassle when it forces you to charge mid-day.

Finally, a 165Hz refresh rate feels to me like a marketing stunt rather than a meaningful improvement. I might be wrong, but I think this is a case of "Look Ma, no hands!" rather than "Let me help you with those groceries, Mother".

Now, let's move on to the (potential) positive

OnePlus pushing refresh rates up to 165Hz on its upcoming flagship could have interesting ripple effects across the smartphone market, even if mid-range OnePlus devices offer 120Hz. In practical terms, most Android users already enjoy smooth scrolling and gaming on 120Hz panels, so the immediate benefits for them might be limited.

The real impact, I hope, would be felt by iPhone users. Apple continues to limit its vanilla flagships, like the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, to just 60Hz. If OnePlus raises the bar, it might create pressure for Apple to gradually catch up, especially in the budget-friendly segment.

For instance, the iPhone 17e (the iPhone 16e potential successor) could potentially see a refresh rate jump to around 90Hz if Apple feels the need to stay somewhat competitive. The iPhone 17 could offer 120Hz, but until it's official, I'm not betting any money on it.

Do we really need a 165Hz refresh rate on a phone?

There's a particular group of mobile users that will surely take smiling pictures of themselves if something bad happens to me when I say that 2026 flagships – yes, even flagships – do not need a 165Hz refresh rate. That group is consisted of gamers – they're after the highest possible refresh rate screens out there.

What we, everyday users, need is bigger, better batteries and camera sensors, bright lenses, AI agents that do not break down when given the simplest of tasks (that's another Apple hint right there: yes, their lagging-behind-the-rest Siri assistant is to blame here), sturdy chassis… We need practical stuff, because 120Hz is good enough – in fact, it's buttery smooth.