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How to change the refresh rate and screen resolution on the Galaxy S21 Ultra

Michael Archambault
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The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra offers a 6.8-inch Infinity-O Display with a dynamic 10-120Hz refresh rate. In essence, this means that the smartphone’s display can remain crisp while showcasing smooth motion, and can also reduce the refresh rate on the fly to tailor battery usage. You may want to manually change your Galaxy S21 Ultra’s display refresh rate or screen resolution, depending on how you use the device. This guide shows you how to adjust your Galaxy S21 Ultra to best suit your needs.

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Are you considering an upgrade from the Galaxy S20 Ultra to the Galaxy S21 Ultra? Check out our head to head comparison of Samsung’s titan smartphones.

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How to change the Galaxy S21 Ultra’s refresh rate

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Your smartphone’s refresh rate determines how quickly the display refreshes every second. This setting can help movement, such as that seen in a video game or when browsing quickly through lists, appear smoother. So, a higher refresh rate can mean the difference between a phone feeling slow and a phone feeling zippy and smooth.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra also includes an adaptive refresh rate that helps conserve battery when needed and display smoother motion when you need it. Simply put, when your phone detects a higher refresh rate would help, it’ll ratchet it up. When it knows you don’t need it, it’ll bring it back down to keep battery use down. But that doesn’t mean you can’t change it yourself. Here’s how to manually change your S21 Ultra’s refresh rate:

Step 1: Open the Settings app.

Step 2: Select the Display option.

Step 3: Scroll down and click on Motion Smoothness.

Step 4: Select the refresh rate you wish to use.

Step 5: Click the Apply button.

How to change the Galaxy S21 Ultra’s screen resolution

Your screen’s resolution is simply a measure of how many pixels appear on your screen, and as such, can change how sharp and how large items appear. Maxing out your Galaxy S21 Ultra with its highest resolution will give you the sharpest image, but things may look a little small, and it will increase your battery use as a result. On the flip side, you can decrease your resolution, making buttons and other items larger, but go too large, and you may suffer from a bit of blurriness. However, it’ll benefit your battery, so you may prefer to find a middle ground between detail and battery life. Here’s how to manually select your S21 Ultra’s screen resolution.

Step 1: Open the Settings app.

Step 2: Select the Display option.

Step 3: Scroll down and click on Screen Resolution.

Step 4: Adjust the slider to select the resolution you wish to use.

Step 5: Click the Apply button.

If you’re worried about how these settings may affect your S21 Ultra’s battery life, be sure to check out our guide on how to save battery life on your smartphone.

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Michael Archambault
Michael Archambault
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Michael Archambault is a technology writer and digital marketer located in Long Island, New York. For the past decade…
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