Pokémon Go: how to finally enjoy a good refresh rate in the game

Pokémon Go is still a hugely popular mobile game. A few days ago, Niantic added a very interesting option to play at the same refresh rate as their smartphone.

Pokémon Go is still a very popular game and is a great example of a unique gaming experience for mobile devices. While the game is mostly about hunting Pokémon around the world rather than the graphics, the app’s refresh rate has always lagged far behind what modern smartphones are capable of. Fortunately, this has changed recently. Here’s how to take advantage of your smartphone’s built-in refresh rate in Pokémon Go.

Pokémon Go handles refresh rate differently on iOS and Android

On Android, it was possible to play at 60 frames per second for a while. Although many Android smartphones have screens up to 90Hz or 120Hz, 60fps playback is quite normal. However, on the iPhone, the limit has always been set at 30fps. In other words, Pokémon Go players on iOS had to settle for a very low refresh rate. Even though the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max are the only two iPhones compatible with 120Hz, all the others can run at 60Hz, so gamers could enjoy the app at 60fps.

As Sam Byford of The Verge recently explained, Pokémon Go recently added a new feature in a recent update, a feature that allows users to set the game’s refresh rate to match their own smartphone. That is, if you have a 60Hz iPhone, such as the iPhone X, Pokémon Go will run at 60fps. If you have a 90Hz smartphone, such as a Pixel 4, Pokémon Go will run at 90fps. The iPhone 13 Pro and its 120Hz screen will display the game at 120fps. This is a very interesting option, but it is not highlighted by Niantic and is not even activated by default. Without going into the parameters, it is impossible to notice its presence.

How to increase the refresh rate of Pokémon Go

To get started, make sure you have version 1.191.0 or later installed. To find out if you’re in this case, check out the Play Store on Android or the App Store on iOS.

After installing the correct version, click on the Pokéball at the bottom of the screen, then go to “Settings”. Scroll all the way down and select Advanced Settings. There you should find the “Native Refresh Rate”option; tap the circle next to an option to activate it.

After restarting the game, you should enjoy a much smoother experience, especially if you’re playing on an iPhone or Android device with a 90Hz or 120Hz screen. However, keep in mind that playing at a higher refresh rate, especially at 120Hz, will impact your device’s battery life. If you prefer the quality of the gaming experience to the autonomy of your smartphone, you activate it. Otherwise, you will leave it disabled. You decide!