Google’s mid-range Pixel 6a ships with a 6.1-inch OLED show moving astatine 60Hz, but there’s a method to unlock a 90Hz mode. Twitter idiosyncratic TheLunarixus has created a mod to unlock the 90Hz mode connected the Pixel 6a, and they’re moving connected a customized ROM to marque it casual for immoderate Pixel 6a proprietor to unlock the improved refresh rate.

Verge Senior Editor Sean Hollister has tested the mod connected his ain Pixel 6a, and has confirmed it works. What we don’t cognize is whether the show sheet genuinely supports 90Hz, oregon whether this is efficaciously overclocking it to get to the faster refresh rate. We’ve reached retired to Google to remark connected whether 90Hz is simply bundle locked, oregon if determination are so show sheet constraints.

Our Pixel 6a moving astatine 90Hz. Screenshot by Sean Hollister / The Verge

The mod exists due to the fact that galore successful the Android assemblage noticed that the Samsung show successful the Pixel 6a shares immoderate similarities to the larger Pixel 6 display, and curiosity ensued. Google enables 90Hz connected its 6.4-inch Pixel 6 panel, but the 2 displays aren’t precisely identical.

Right present the mod is very involved. To get the 90Hz enactment unlocked connected the Pixel 6a you person to alteration debugging mode and OEM unlock successful the settings (which you mightiness not beryllium capable to bash connected a locked bearer handset), and past unlock the bootloader, manually flash an Android 13 beta with immoderate checks disabled, and flash a modified vendor_boot image.

If that each went implicit your caput oregon you’ve ne'er heard of XDA Developers, it’s astir apt champion to hold connected a customized ROM. The effect of each these hacks unlocks the Smooth Display enactment and the quality to unit the max refresh complaint successful the developer settings to 90Hz.

Others successful the Android assemblage person besides tested this mod and confirmed it’s legit. Mishaal Rahman noticed a greenish tint connected his handset aft applying the mod, and we’ve noticed the aforesaid (although immoderate others don’t person the issue).

There are besides immoderate concerns astir the agelong word effects connected the Pixel 6a display. Developer Kuba Wojciechowski warns that Samsung mightiness not complaint the Pixel 6a’s show astatine up to 90Hz, and that this is apt conscionable overclocking. TheLunarixus says we won’t afloat cognize until the mod is tally connected much than 100 phones.

“We are not pushing the sheet immoderate harder successful presumption of power, each this mod consists of is adding a caller frequence mode to the operator with timings from the Pixel 6’s s6e3fc3 operator with modified tallness and width values,” says TheLunarixus. “No voltages etc were modded here, we usage our ain gamma table.”

Either way, TheLunarixus archer The Verge they’re “working connected a customized ROM with the ROM broadside changes to marque this afloat unchangeable and acceptable for the public.” We’ll support an oculus connected our ain handset to spot if determination are immoderate agelong word effects of unlocking the 90Hz mode, and here’s hoping Google oregon Samsung Display remark connected wherefore the 90Hz enactment isn’t officially disposable connected the Pixel 6a.