Do gamers really need it?

Does a 165Hz or 185Hz screen really help you play games better? Find out now the truth about super high refresh rates and the list of supported games.

A few years ago, 60Hz was still the gold standard for phone screens. But as processor chip technology becomes more and more powerful, manufacturers began an arms race in scanning frequency to provide a smoother touch and swipe experience.

In 2026, while 120Hz has become the standard on flagship lines such as iPhone or Samsung Galaxy, some Android phone companies specializing in gaming (Gaming Phone) are pushing this number to unimaginable levels: 165Hz, even 185Hz.

The question is: Do mobile gamers really need such a “huge” refresh rate?

Scanning frequency race: When 120Hz is not enough

Currently, 120Hz is the common standard for both high-end Android and iPhone Pro. However, Chinese manufacturers like OnePlus or Honor do not want to stop there.

Typically the OnePlus 15 with a 1.5K 165Hz screen or the Honor Win series focuses on performance with a scan frequency of up to 185Hz. The reason behind these numbers is the desire to deliver absolute smoothness in every frame of motion.

However, pushing the scanning frequency too high also comes with technical limitations. To achieve speeds of 165Hz or 185Hz, companies often have to reduce the screen resolution from 2K to 1.5K or Full HD +. This puts users in a position of having to choose: sacrifice sharpness for maximum smoothness, or vice versa.

The harsh reality: Game support can only be counted on the fingers of one hand

It is a fact that no matter how powerful the phone hardware is, the gaming experience still depends greatly on the game developer. A 185Hz screen will be meaningless if the game you play is locked at 60fps or 90fps. Currently, the list of games that support refresh rates above 120Hz is still very modest.

According to announcements from companies, there are only a few famous names such as Call of Duty: Mobile, PUBG Mobile, League of Legends: Wild Rift or Honor of Kings that really take advantage of the power of the super high frequency screen.

Most of the remaining games, including graphics-heavy blockbusters, are still not optimized to exceed the 120fps threshold. Therefore, if your favorite game is not on the support list, upgrading to a 185Hz phone is an unnecessary waste.

Own iPhone 17 Pro Max with the most stable and optimal 120Hz ProMotion screen for all games:

Advice for gamers in 2026

So do you need a 185Hz screen?

The answer is only if you are a professional gamer, competing in FPS games that support this frame rate and need every millisecond of advantage to win.

For the majority of remaining players, instead of chasing flashy Hz numbers, prioritize more practical factors such as the ability to maintain stable performance (no FPS drop when playing for a long time), effective cooling system and long battery life.

A phone with a high-quality 120Hz screen, good brightness and a powerful processor like the iPhone 17 Pro Max or Galaxy S25 Ultra is still the most balanced and safe choice to “fight” the game this year.