Does the S23 Ultra's battery life suffer significantly at 120 FPS

Battery Performance at 120 FPS

1. Adaptive Refresh Rate: The S23 Ultra features an adaptive refresh rate that can scale from 1Hz to 120Hz. This means that while gaming or using high-refresh-rate applications, the device can dynamically adjust the refresh rate based on the content displayed. For instance, it can drop to as low as 24Hz during idle or static images, which helps conserve battery life[1].

2. Overall Battery Life: In practical usage, users have reported that even with 120Hz enabled, the S23 Ultra maintains impressive battery longevity. For example, one user indicated their phone lasts from 100% at 8 AM to around 20% by 8 PM under heavy use, including gaming and streaming[1]. Additionally, testing has shown that the S23 Ultra can achieve around 12 hours and 22 minutes of battery life in adaptive mode (which includes high refresh rates) and slightly better performance at a fixed 60Hz[3].

3. Gaming Performance: When playing demanding games at 120 FPS, such as PUBG Mobile, users noticed a moderate increase in battery consumption—approximately 4% for every ten minutes of gameplay[2]. Despite this, the overall experience remains positive, with many users reporting satisfaction with the balance between performance and battery life.

4. Comparison with Previous Models: The S23 Ultra has shown better battery efficiency compared to its predecessor, the S22 Ultra. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset enhances power management, allowing for longer usage times even under heavy load scenarios[5][8].

5. Real-World Usage: Users have noted that even with intensive tasks like gaming and video recording, the device manages to retain a significant amount of battery throughout the day. Reports indicate that moderate use can lead to nearly two days of battery life between charges[7].

In summary, while running at 120 FPS may increase battery consumption during intensive tasks, the overall impact on daily battery life is mitigated by the device's adaptive technology and efficient hardware design. Users generally find that they can enjoy high-performance features without experiencing significant drawbacks in battery longevity.