11 November 2026. Going from 60Hz to 90Hz is easy to spot; beyond 120Hz it is hard. Here is what refresh rate does to battery and gaming, with three phones as examples.
Yes, refresh rate matters, but mostly at the low end. The step from 60Hz to 90Hz or 120Hz is the one you notice in daily use. The step from 120Hz to 144Hz is mostly a number on a spec sheet.
Refresh rate is how many times the screen redraws itself every second, and a higher figure makes scrolling and animations look less jumpy. To keep this concrete, we use three phones as examples: the realme C71 (4 GB/64 GB) at ₹13,499 with 90 Hz, the Samsung Galaxy M35 5G (8 GB/128 GB) at ₹31,999 with 120 Hz, and the OnePlus Nord 5 (8 GB/256 GB) at ₹49,999 with 144 Hz.
90Hz is where the upgrade really shows
Think of a day of Instagram, long WhatsApp chats and Google Maps on a bike mount. On a 60Hz screen, text blurs a little as it scrolls past, and a 90Hz panel like the realme C71's trims that blur.
This is the most visible screen upgrade you can get on a tight budget. At ₹13,499, a smoother feel in everyday apps is a fair reason to pick one phone over another.
120Hz to 144Hz is a spec-sheet difference
Hold the Galaxy M35 5G's 120 Hz next to the Nord 5's 144 Hz, and in normal use most people would struggle to say which is which. Flicking through a feed looks fluid on both. The extra step is small.
Your eyes will likely react more to panel type and brightness than to those last few Hz. Both phones use AMOLED, and deep blacks in a dim room matter more than 120 versus 144.
Refresh rate costs battery, but not much
A faster refresh makes the screen and processor work harder, so some extra drain is the trade-off. A static page costs little, while non-stop scrolling costs more.
Big batteries soften the hit. The realme C71 has 6,300 mAh behind a 6.74" screen, the Nord 5 has 6,800 mAh, and the Galaxy M35 5G has 6,000 mAh. If you are on a long train ride with no charger, drop the refresh rate in your display settings, if your phone offers that option.
Charging speed matters too. The Nord 5 charges at 80 W and the M35 at 25 W, while the C71 manages 15 W. If you forget to plug in overnight, the C71 is the one that will leave you waiting.
Only a fast chip makes 144Hz worthwhile
For an evening of BGMI, a higher refresh rate helps you track movement. But the screen can only show what the chip delivers. A 144Hz panel on a weak processor is just a smoother menu.
That is why the Nord 5 makes sense of its screen. Its Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 scores 1482K on AnTuTu, against 611K for the Galaxy M35 5G's Exynos 1380. The M35 is a sensible match for casual and mid-level gaming at 120 Hz.
The realme C71 has a Unisoc T7250 and 4 GB of RAM, so it suits scrolling, video and calls. Its 90 Hz screen is there for smoothness, not competitive play.
Most buyers should not pay for 144Hz
If your phone life is WhatsApp, UPI, YouTube and the odd call, 90Hz is plenty. For that kind of use, the Nord 5's display alone does not justify its price.
Skip the realme C71 if you want an AMOLED screen, serious gaming or quick top-ups. Skip the Galaxy M35 5G if 25 W charging will frustrate you. Skip the Nord 5 if this is your first smartphone and money is tight.
Don't buy on Hz alone. Check the panel, the chipset and the RAM first. Buyer ratings on Amazon tell a similar story: 4.4 for the Nord 5 from 4,476 reviews, 4.3 for the M35 from 4,798, and 4.2 for the C71 from 16,932. The SyncScores run 83, 61 and 38 in the same order.
Verdict
Pick 90Hz if you are on a budget and want everyday smoothness, as on the realme C71. Pick 120Hz if you can spend more and want a comfortable middle, like the Galaxy M35 5G at ₹31,999. Pay for 144Hz only if you game seriously, as on the OnePlus Nord 5 at ₹49,999, because only then do the chip and screen use the extra frames.
Prices on 11 November 2026
- realme C71 (4 GB/64 GB) — ₹13,499 at Amazon
- realme C71 (4 GB/64 GB) — ₹13,499 at Amazon
- Samsung Galaxy M35 5G (8 GB/128 GB) — ₹31,999 at Amazon
- OnePlus Nord 5 (8 GB/256 GB) — ₹49,999 at Amazon
FAQ
Is 90Hz enough for daily use?
Yes. For WhatsApp, Instagram, UPI and Maps, 90Hz feels clearly smoother than 60Hz, and most people will not miss 120Hz or 144Hz. The realme C71 shows what that level offers.
Does a higher refresh rate drain the battery faster?
Somewhat, because the screen redraws more often. A large battery like the 6,800 mAh in the OnePlus Nord 5 absorbs much of it. If your phone has a refresh-rate setting, lower it when you need to stretch a charge.
Do I need 144Hz for BGMI?
No, but it helps if the chip can keep up. A phone like the OnePlus Nord 5 with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 can make use of it, while a 120 Hz phone such as the Galaxy M35 5G suits casual gaming.