If you’ve ever wondered whether your Samsung Galaxy S25 is truly delivering that buttery-smooth 120Hz refresh rate, you’re not alone. As someone who has spent years fine-tuning and troubleshooting Samsung devices, I can tell you what’s promised on paper doesn’t always translate to what’s happening on-screen. Manufacturers love to highlight high refresh rates, but without a way to monitor it, how do you know if your phone is actually hitting that peak performance?
The Galaxy S25 boasts an adaptive refresh rate, meaning it dynamically shifts between 1Hz and 120Hz depending on what you’re doing. Scrolling through social media? It ramps up. Reading an article? It slows down to save battery.
But sometimes, things don’t work as expected your phone might stick to a lower refresh rate, making animations feel sluggish, or it could drain your battery faster than it should. That’s where knowing how to display the refresh rate in real time becomes a game-changer.
Most users don’t realize that Samsung has a built-in tool to track this, tucked away in Developer Options. But that’s not the only way. In this guide, I’ll break down multiple methods official and third-party so you can see exactly how your Galaxy S25 is handling refresh rate at any moment.
Whether you’re a gamer chasing the smoothest experience, a tech enthusiast fine-tuning performance, or just someone who doesn’t take “it’s working fine” for an answer, this guide will arm you with the knowledge you need. Let’s get started.
Understanding Refresh Rate on Samsung Galaxy S25
If you’ve been using Samsung devices for a while, you know that refresh rate isn’t just a flashy spec it’s the backbone of a smooth display experience. But here’s the thing: a high refresh rate doesn’t always mean your phone is running at its peak. The Galaxy S25 is equipped with an adaptive refresh rate, shifting dynamically between 1Hz and 120Hz depending on what’s happening on-screen. Sounds great in theory, but how does it actually work? And more importantly, how do you know if it’s working right?
The Truth About Refresh Rate: More Than Just 120Hz
Samsung markets its S25 display as a 120Hz powerhouse, but that’s not the full picture. Unlike older flagship models with a fixed 60Hz or 120Hz setting, the S25 automatically adjusts its refresh rate to balance performance and battery life. That means:
- 1Hz–10Hz when viewing static images or reading (to conserve battery).
- 30Hz–60Hz for standard UI interactions and most apps.
- Up to 120Hz for gaming and fast-scrolling apps.
Most users assume their phone is always running at 120Hz, but that’s rarely the case. Samsung’s One UI and software algorithms prioritize efficiency, ensuring the phone isn’t wasting power on unnecessary high refresh rates.
Why Knowing Your Refresh Rate Matters
Understanding your refresh rate isn’t just for tech nerds it has real-world benefits:
- Gaming Performance: Some games claim to support 120Hz, but without a refresh rate overlay, you won’t know if they actually do.
- Battery Optimization: If your battery drains too fast, an unnecessarily high refresh rate could be the culprit.
- UI Smoothness: Ever notice laggy scrolling? Your refresh rate might be stuck at a lower setting.
Does Adaptive Refresh Rate Always Work?
Not always. Sometimes, software glitches, app limitations, or even battery-saving settings can force your screen to stay at a lower refresh rate than it should. This is why knowing how to monitor your refresh rate in real-time is a must because if something’s off, you need to fix it.
Up next, I’ll show you the best ways to display your refresh rate on the Galaxy S25, whether you’re using Samsung’s built-in tools or third-party apps. Let’s dive in.
Built-in Methods to Display Refresh Rate on Samsung Galaxy S25
Most Samsung users don’t realize this, but your Galaxy S25 already has a hidden tool to display the real-time refresh rate no need for third-party apps or complicated workarounds. As a technician who’s spent years optimizing Samsung devices, I can tell you that knowing where to look is half the battle.
If you want to see exactly when your screen hits 120Hz, when it drops to 60Hz, or if it’s stuck at a lower rate, here’s how to unlock the refresh rate overlay using Samsung’s built-in tools.
1. The Developer Options Method – Samsung’s Secret Debugging Tool
Samsung, like most Android manufacturers, hides advanced settings from regular users to prevent accidental changes. But if you know your way around Developer Options, you can enable a real-time refresh rate counter directly from the system.
How to Enable Refresh Rate Display in Developer Options:
Unlock Developer Mode:
- Open Settings >Tap About phone>Go to Software information.
- Find Build number and tap it seven times until you see “Developer mode has been enabled.”
- Enter your PIN if prompted.
Enable Refresh Rate Overlay:
- Go back to Settings > Scroll down to Developer options (now unlocked).
- Look for Show refresh rate and toggle it ON.
Check Your Display in Real-Time:
- A small red number will appear at the top of your screen, showing the current refresh rate (60Hz or 120Hz).
- Open different apps and watch how it changes based on what you’re doing.
Pro Tip: If you notice your refresh rate isn’t hitting 120Hz even when scrolling fast, check Battery Saver mode it might be limiting performance.
2. Samsung Game Booster – For Gamers Who Want to See FPS & Refresh Rate
If you’re serious about mobile gaming, Samsung’s Game Booster is another built-in tool that helps you track performance. It doesn’t just show refresh rate it also gives insights into frame rate (FPS), which is critical for smooth gameplay.
How to Use Game Booster to Check Refresh Rate:
- Launch Any Game: Open a supported game like Call of Duty Mobile, Genshin Impact, or PUBG.
- Swipe from the Side: This opens the Game Booster panel (if it’s not enabled, go to Settings>Advanced Features>Game Booster).
- Tap “Monitoring”: Look for the FPS counter; it shows both frame rate and refresh rate behavior.
Pro Tip: Some games cap their frame rate at 60FPS, even if your phone supports 120Hz. Checking this data will confirm whether your phone or the game is limiting performance.
Samsung gives you the tools you just need to know where to find them. Whether you’re a gamer fine-tuning FPS, a power user monitoring performance, or just curious about how adaptive refresh rate works, these built-in methods let you see exactly what’s happening on your Galaxy S25’s screen.
Next, I’ll cover third-party tools that go beyond what Samsung offers, giving you even deeper insights into refresh rate behavior. Stay tuned.
Third-Party Apps for Refresh Rate Monitoring
Samsung provides built-in tools to check the refresh rate, but let’s be honest they’re basic. If you want deeper insights, real-time graphs, or even logs to track how your refresh rate fluctuates throughout the day, third-party apps are the way to go. As someone who has spent years fine-tuning Samsung devices, I’ve tested countless tools, and only a handful are truly worth your time. These apps go beyond what Samsung offers, giving you real, detailed refresh rate monitoring.
1. Refresh Rate Checker – The Simple, No-Nonsense Overlay
If all you need is a small, floating number on your screen showing the refresh rate in real time, Refresh Rate Checker is a solid choice. Unlike Samsung’s built-in Developer Options overlay, this app works system-wide and doesn’t require diving into hidden settings.
Why It’s Useful:
- Always-on overlay that displays refresh rate no matter what app you’re using.
- Works on any Samsung device, even without Developer Options enabled.
- Lightweight won’t drain battery or interfere with performance.
How to Use It:
- Install Refresh Rate Checker from the Play Store.
- Open the app and grant accessibility permissions (needed for the overlay to work).
- Enable “Show Refresh Rate”, and you’ll see a floating number in the corner of your screen.
Tech Tip: The overlay works even when screen recording, making it perfect for tech reviewers or gamers who want to showcase refresh rate behavior.
2. GPU Watch – Samsung’s Hidden Gem for Real-Time Monitoring
Most people don’t know this, but Samsung has a powerful hidden tool inside its Game Plugins suite called GPU Watch. This is a professional-grade performance monitor designed for developers but if you know how to use it, it becomes one of the most accurate refresh rate trackers available.
Why It’s Better Than Basic Overlays:
- Shows actual FPS, refresh rate, GPU usage, and CPU load in real time.
- Works not just for gaming, but for any app you choose.
- Provides detailed performance insights beyond just refresh rate.
How to Enable GPU Watch:
- Install Game Plugins from the Galaxy Store.
- Open Game Plugins and enable GPU Watch.
- Customize it to display refresh rate, FPS, and GPU load on-screen.
Pro Insight: This is the tool developers use to fine-tune graphics performance, and it works far better than generic Play Store apps. If you’re serious about display performance, this is the one to use.
Samsung’s built-in tools only scratch the surface of what your refresh rate is doing. If you’re serious about display performance whether for gaming, battery optimization, or just curiosity third-party apps give you the control and data that Samsung doesn’t.
Conclusion: Mastering Refresh Rate on the Samsung Galaxy S25
Understanding and monitoring the refresh rate on your Samsung Galaxy S25 isn’t just a tech enthusiast’s curiosity it’s an essential skill if you want to get the most out of your device. Whether you’re aiming for ultra-smooth scrolling, optimizing gaming performance, or troubleshooting unexpected drops in responsiveness, knowing how to display and control refresh rate puts you ahead of the average user.
Here’s the reality: Samsung devices are powerful, but software optimization doesn’t always match the hardware’s full potential. Even the mighty Galaxy S25, with its cutting-edge display, sometimes needs fine-tuning to perform at its best.
That’s why a knowledgeable user someone who understands refresh rate behavior, knows how to access hidden settings, and can tweak third-party tools always gets a better experience than those who just accept default settings.
You now have the knowledge most Samsung users don’t even know exists. Use it wisely, experiment with settings, and don’t settle for a subpar experience.
If your Galaxy S25 isn’t performing as expected, don’t just assume it’s normal chances are, there’s a setting, an app, or an optimization tweak that can unlock its true capabilities. Keep pushing the limits, and your device will reward you with the smoothest experience possible.