Google Pixel 4’s Smooth Display feature gets improvements with November security update

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Google recently released November security patch for its Google Pixel smartphones. Android’s November security patch brought host of updates for older Pixel smartphones. This includes improvements to Google Assistant hotword, speaker audio quality and support for Xbox BT controller mapping. The November security patch also brought updates pertaining to the Smooth Display feature of the newly launched Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL smartphones.

Google in its November security bulletin didn’t mention the improvements that it was bringing to the phone’s Smooth Display feature, however, folks at XDA Developers report that the company has fixed issues with the phone’s display that automatically reduced the screen’s refresh rate from 90Hz to 60Hz when the screen’s brightness dips below 75 per cent.

At the time Google had told the US based media channels that it was already working on a fix that would allow users to use 90Hz refresh rate on Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL smartphone even on lower brightness levels, that is lower than 75 per cent. And now, the company is keeping good on its promise. Simply said, now Pixel 4 users can use a refresh rate of 90Hz on Pixel 4 smartphones even on lower brightness level.

However, the report notes that Google has set the lower limit for brightess (at which the screen refresh rate drops to 60Hz) differently for Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL smartphones. Pixel 4 will switch from 90Hz screen refresh rate to 60Hz when the screen brightness level drops below 42 per cent. This criteria would not be affected due to the ambient lighting. The Google Pixel 4 XL, on the other hand, will stick to the 90Hz screen refresh rate irrespective of the screen brightness or the ambient light conditions. The obvious reason for this seems to be the battery capacity. Google Pixel 4 comes with a 2,800mAh battery while Pixel 4 XL comes with a 3,700mAh battery. Google could be implementing Smooth Display feature differently in the two newly launched Pixel 4 smartphones in a bid to conserve battery in the smaller Pixel 4 smartphone.