The Google Pixel 10 brings a lot to the table smooth performance, refined design, and one of the best camera systems on a non-Pro Pixel yet. But right after powering it on, there’s a frustrating surprise. If you’re not careful, you’ll be stuck with a sluggish screen thanks to one quiet software default.
Google Pixel 10 hides its smooth side
For a phone that flaunts a 120Hz OLED screen, the Pixel 10 sure doesn’t act like it at first. Out of the box, animations stutter. Scrolling feels stuck in molasses. That’s because Google ships it locked at 60Hz.
Yes, seriously.
Sure, some users might not care. But if you’ve ever used a high-refresh phone, you’ll feel the drop instantly. It’s like switching from a sports car to a scooter. Thankfully, the fix is quick.
How to enable the Pixel 10’s 120Hz refresh rate
Getting the display up to speed takes less than a minute. Here’s how:
- Open Settings
- Tap Display & touch
- Scroll to Other display controls
- Tap Smooth Display
That’s it. Once toggled, the screen jumps to 120Hz and finally feels like it should. Google throws a quick warning about increased battery use, but unless you’re glued to your phone 24/7, the trade-off is worth it.
Google Pixel 10 deserves better defaults
The confusing part is that this isn’t new. Google has been locking down refresh rates on base Pixels since the Pixel 4. Despite offering 90Hz and 120Hz support, the company keeps these features off by default on non-Pro models.
Why? Blame the panel. The Pixel 10 lacks an LTPO display, so it can’t dynamically shift to ultra-low refresh rates like the Pro can. That means 120Hz uses more battery. But is that really a reason to hide it?
Smooth Display shouldn’t be a secret
At this price point, the Pixel 10 should flaunt its strengths, not bury them in settings menus. Most users won’t go digging unless they know what to look for. And frankly, they shouldn’t have to.
Wouldn’t it make more sense to let people choose during setup?
It still shines, but give it that final polish
Make no mistake, the Pixel 10 has the bones of a top-tier phone. But Google needs to stop kneecapping its base model with quiet compromises. A display this good shouldn’t feel slow out of the box.
Set it free. Let the refresh rate rip. Fast clicks cost trust.
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