Google’s mid-range Pixel 6a ships with a 6.1-inch OLED display working at 60Hz, however there’s a way to unlock a 90Hz mode. Twitter person TheLunarixus has created a mod to unlock the 90Hz mode on the Pixel 6a, and so they’re engaged on a customized ROM to make it straightforward for any Pixel 6a proprietor to unlock the improved refresh price.

Verge Senior Editor Sean Hollister has examined the mod on his personal Pixel 6a, and has confirmed it works. What we don’t know is whether or not the display panel really helps 90Hz, or whether or not that is successfully overclocking it to get to the sooner refresh price. We’ve reached out to Google to touch upon whether or not 90Hz is solely software program locked, or if there are certainly display panel constraints.

Screenshot by Sean Hollister / The Verge

The mod exists as a result of many within the Android group observed that the Samsung display within the Pixel 6a shares some similarities to the bigger Pixel 6 display, and curiosity ensued. Google permits 90Hz on its 6.4-inch Pixel 6 panel, however the two shows aren’t precisely equivalent.

Proper now the mod is very concerned. To get the 90Hz possibility unlocked on the Pixel 6a you will have to allow debugging mode and OEM unlock within the settings (which you won’t have the ability to do on a locked service handset), after which unlock the bootloader, manually flash an Android 13 beta with some checks disabled, and flash a modified vendor_boot picture.

If that each one went over your head otherwise you’ve by no means heard of XDA Builders, it’s most likely finest to wait on a customized ROM. The results of all these hacks unlocks the Clean Display possibility and the power to pressure the max refresh price within the developer settings to 90Hz.

Others within the Android group have additionally examined this mod and confirmed it’s legit. Mishaal Rahman observed a inexperienced tint on his handset after making use of the mod, and we’ve observed the identical (though some others don’t have the difficulty).

There are additionally some considerations round the long run results on the Pixel 6a display. Developer Kuba Wojciechowski warns that Samsung won’t price the Pixel 6a’s display at up to 90Hz, and that that is probably simply overclocking. TheLunarixus says we gained’t totally know till the mod is run on greater than 100 telephones.

“We aren’t pushing the panel any tougher by way of energy, all this mod consists of is including a brand new frequency mode to the driving force with timings from the Pixel 6’s s6e3fc3 driver with modified top and width values,” says TheLunarixus. “No voltages and many others had been modded right here, we use our personal gamma desk.”

Both approach, TheLunarixus inform The Verge they’re “engaged on a customized ROM with the ROM aspect modifications to make this totally secure and prepared for the general public.” We’ll control our personal handset to see if there are any long run results of unlocking the 90Hz mode, and right here’s hoping Google or Samsung Display touch upon why the 90Hz possibility isn’t formally out there on the Pixel 6a.