We all want to experience buttery visuals and seamless frame rates when we game; it’s what makes gaming such an immersive experience, after all. A high refresh rate can make animations look smoother, while scrolling feels more responsive and fast movements can appear clearer. However, every device and game has its limits when it comes to their respective refresh rates and FPS.
Today, we’ll be exploring the relationship between a device's display refresh rate and a game's FPS limit. While most people might assume a high refresh rate naturally equates to a high frame rate, the process can be a bit more complicated than that. Every gamer should understand an important distinction: a display's refresh rate and a game's frame rate are not the same.
Understanding the relationship between the two makes it easier to get the most from your REDMAGIC Astra 2 gaming tablet and will allow you to know exactly when a game can take advantage of its high-refresh display. For now, let’s get down to the basics.
Refresh Rate vs. FPS: What's the Difference?
When we see a moving image, like a video or gameplay, what we’re actually seeing is a sequence of still images. Above about 10 frames per second, our brain stops recognizing individual frames and instead sees motion. Now, your device’s refresh rate is measured in Hertz (Hz) and refers to how many times per second the display is able to draw a new image. For example, if your display has a refresh rate of 144Hz, it can refresh the image 144 times per second.
On the other hand, your frame rate, measured in frames per second (FPS), is a measurement of how many individual frames a game is actually rendering each second. Essentially, your refresh rate is more hardware-based and depends on how many pictures your monitor can show. Meanwhile, your FPS is based on how many pictures your system can send out.
Think of your display as a window, and FPS is what’s happening on the other side of it. A high refresh rate display gives you a window capable of showing frequent and almost seamless pictures, but the FPS of the game on the other side still has to produce enough frames to take advantage of that capability.
This is a common misconception that people might have about playing games on a device with a high refresh rate. For example, the Astra 2 is capable of refreshing its display at up to 185Hz, but that does not mean every Android game will automatically run at 185 FPS. In fact, whether a game can take advantage of higher refresh rates depends on several factors, many of which are controlled by the game developer.
If a game is capped at 60 FPS, the Astra 2 cannot simply turn those 60 frames into 185 real frames. The game remains a 60 FPS experience, even though the display itself is capable of much more. This distinction is fundamental to understanding how to achieve seamless gameplay. So, why is it this way?
Why Can’t Every Game Run at a High FPS?
The biggest reason is quite a simple one: game developers decide how their games are optimized and what frame-rate targets they support. A game may be technically capable of running at a high frame rate, but its developer might limit it to 60 FPS, 90 FPS, or 120 FPS. Now, this might seem counterintuitive for most games to sell, but it could also be the result of many factors.
Developers often lock frame rates at 30 or 60 FPS to maintain stable game logic, predictable physics, or consistent console performance. Poorly optimized games can also lead to lower FPS. This happens when the game has large graphic files and includes fine or complex details that cause the game to stutter and slow down. In other words, having powerful hardware is only one part of the equation, but ultimately, the game itself needs to be designed to use it.
The Astra 2 Is Ready. Is Your Game?
The REDMAGIC Astra 2 gaming tablet was designed to provide a solid hardware foundation for high refresh rate gaming. The tablet’s up-to-185Hz OLED panel is paired with flagship-level Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processing and our very own upgraded RedCore R4 gaming chip to ensure superior gaming-focused performance and power.
That means that the Astra 2 has the headroom to handle demanding workloads, while its display is capable of presenting impressively high frame rates when supported. But hardware capabilities don’t automatically remove software limitations. You can have the fastest car on the track, but you’re not going that fast if the road isn’t up to scratch.
Consider a hypothetical game with a developer-imposed 90 FPS ceiling. Even if the Astra 2 can run the game well beyond that performance level, the game itself may never output more than 90 frames per second. This is not the display’s fault; it’s simply the frame-rate limit chosen by the game's software.
This is also why two games running on the same gaming tablet can behave very differently. While one may offer a 120 FPS option, another may be locked to 60 FPS, while another could support an even higher frame-rate mode. So, how do you work your way around this and get the highest quality FPS? Well, you start by choosing the right compatible games.
Which Games Can Take Advantage of High Refresh Rates?
Typically, fast-paced games, first-person shooters, and racing games look for the highest FPS limits. However, game support can also change over time as developers release updates, optimize engines, and introduce new performance modes. As a general guide, games that have historically offered native high-frame-rate modes on Android, and would probably render much smoother frames on the Astra 2, include titles like:
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Game suggestions**
Now, there is no guarantee that every title you choose will operate at 185 FPS on every version or under every setting. Game updates can change supported frame-rate modes, and developers can enable or disable options for particular devices.
So, Does 185Hz Still Matter If a Game Runs at 60 or 120 FPS?
Absolutely. The value of a high refresh rate display isn't limited to finding games that run at exactly 185 FPS. For example, a game running at 120 FPS can still make excellent use of an agile display even though it isn't reaching 185 FPS. Likewise, games and system animations can benefit from the responsiveness and fluidity associated with a higher-refresh panel.
More importantly, the Astra 2 is built for the future of gameplay as well as the games available today. As developers continue optimizing Android games for high-performance hardware, more titles can potentially take advantage of the higher frame rate standards that the Astra 2 sets. But for now, how do you still get the most out of your Astra 2 gaming tablet?
Elevate Your Approach to Seamless Gameplay
If you want to experience the smoothest gameplay possible, don't just look for spec sheet numbers; instead, focus on optimization. The Astra 2's up-to-185Hz display represents what the hardware is capable of, not an FPS guarantee for every game. For supported games, that can mean exceptionally fluid motion and highly responsive gameplay. For games with lower FPS caps, the Astra 2 still provides a premium OLED gaming experience while leaving room for future adjustments.
If you’re trying to elevate your Astra 2 FPS, run through this quick checklist to ensure the most optimized visuals in every game:
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Set your refresh rate to a high setting.
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Consider the game’s FPS settings and whether those can be changed.
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Adjust your Game Space settings to improve agility in-game.
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Make use of the several plug-ins to improve your gameplay skills and visuals.
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Enable Frame Rate Boost on compatible games for more fluid visuals.
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Focus on sustainable performance by adjusting cooling and cooling accessories accordingly.
Ultimately, the goal of a high refresh rate on a gaming tablet isn't to make every game magically run at 185 FPS, but to give gamers a display with the ability to go further and show extremely high frame rates. However, this only works when the software, game engine, and hardware can work together to deliver them.
So, if your favorite game doesn't currently reach 185 FPS on the Astra 2, don't think of that as the tablet simply falling short immediately. As Android gaming continues to evolve, developers have more opportunities to build experiences that make better use of high refresh rate displays, and the Astra 2 is designed to be ready for that evolution.
FAQ
Q: Does every game on the REDMAGIC Astra 2 support 185Hz?
A: No. The Astra 2's display can refresh at up to 185Hz, but individual games have their own FPS limits and optimization. A game may be capped at 60, 90, 120 FPS, or another frame rate regardless of the tablet's display capability.
Q: Is the refresh rate the same as FPS?
A: No. Refresh rate is how fast your monitor displays frames, while FPS refers to the number of frames a game renders. An 185Hz display can show up to 185 refreshes per second, but a game must actually output a sufficiently high frame rate to take full advantage of it.
Q: Why does my game only run at 60 or 120 FPS on the Astra 2?
A: The game's developers may have set a specific FPS limit or not yet optimized the game for higher frame rates. Game settings, Android compatibility, software versions, and device-specific optimization can all affect the available FPS options.
Q: Can the Astra 2 run games at 120 FPS?
A: Yes, where the game supports a 120 FPS mode and the appropriate conditions are met. The actual frame rate will depend on the game's optimization, graphics settings, and other performance factors.
Q: Will a game eventually support higher FPS after an update?
A: It is possible. Developers can introduce new performance modes or optimize existing games for additional devices and higher frame rates through software updates.
Q: How can I check whether a game is taking advantage of the Astra 2's high refresh rate?
A: Start by checking the game's graphics or performance settings for available FPS options. Then make sure the Astra 2 is using an appropriate high-refresh display setting. If the game is capped at a lower frame rate, the display cannot override that limit; the game itself needs to support the higher FPS mode.
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