ROG7 Refresh Rate / Stutter Issue

[Intervene]

Every single ROG7 has an issue due to what I believe is the refresh rate not being correct which causes all content to stutter. This issue was picked up on DXOMark here (https://www.dxomark.com/asus-rog-phone-7-display-test/)

If you set the refresh rate to 60hz, the actual refresh rate will be ~61hz
If you set the refresh rate to 120hz, the actual refresh rate will be ~121hz

This leads to duplicate frames and is extremely apparent when playing games like Super Meat Boy Forever that scroll at a fixed speed. You can also see this on testufo.

Using the FPS overlay, you'll see the framerate exceed 60fps and sit at 61.

This means every 60 frames or so, there will be a duplicate frame.

This issue does not occur on the ROG2 which is my previous phone.
I have done a full factory reset of the phone and the same issue occurs.
DXO Mark made a comment on the issue.

ASUS needs to investigate this. I understand its not the latest model, but this stutter completely ruins this phone for me.

[Mattias_ASUS]

This issue is still under investigation.

[Mattias_ASUS]

Hello @Intervene 

The +1 FPS is by design, there was an update that fixed frame pacing issues.

If you are still experiencing stutter in frame capped games could you please share a screen capture and provide some new logs for the team to investigate after the latest update?

Feel free to follow the steps below.

Please follow the below steps to enable the built-in log tool (Bug reporter).
1. Open “Calculator APP”
2. Enter “.19595+=”
3. Select the Log type according to the type of issue you want to capture. “General cases” will work for most issues.
4. After your selection the log tool will exit so you can duplicate the issue or wait for it to happen. Try to use the screen recorder to show your issue when possible. If you can't screen record your issue, then please take a screenshot right after the issue has occurred (as a timestamp) so we know where to look in the log.
5. Navigate back to the log tool via calculator and Tap "FINISH AND SHARE".
6. It takes several minutes for the log to generate. You can exit and do other stuff in the meantime. A silent notification will tell you once the process is done. Tap the notification and then the share button to upload the file to Google Drive and share the link with a moderator. Just make sure to change the permission first so that everyone with the link has permission to view it.
Note: When you're no longer planning on logging your device, enter “.09595+=” in the calculator and the log tool will stop as well as deleting all stored log files. Make sure to share via calculator. The files found in internal storage -> asus_log are not the correct files (they are only 1.2kb)

[Intervene]

---

The +1 FPS is by design

@Mattias_ASUS you cannot make a statement like this and not support it with a reason. Explain why this is by design. Especially when I have demonstrated with video evidence that having an incorrect refresh rate is the cause of these frame pacing issues. DXOMark even made a comment on this in their review of the phone.

There are no other devices on the market, PCs, consoles, phones, handhelds, etc, that operate with 61hz, or 121hz, or 166hz displays. This isn't standard, this is a defect with the phone that is the direct cause of these stutters.

The reason devices stick to 60hz, 120hz, 144hz is because these are common refresh rates to ensure correct delivery of fixed-framerate content.

60fps on a 60hz display = correct frame pacing
60fps on a 61hz display = incorrect frame pacing

I have demonstrated this in a previous reply with a video that running the phone at these incorrect refresh rate is causing fixed-framerate content to have incorrect frame pacing. 

Logs aren't going to show this, the video I spent 2 hours making demonstrates the issue clear as day.

If ASUS intended to set the refresh rate to 61hz, 121hz, 145hz, or 166hz, they would be labelled as such in the options. They aren't. The options presented are 60hz, 120hz, 145hz and 165hz. This is not by design.

[Intervene]

To be crystal clear, I've cut the video I shared earlier demonstrating the issue. 

In this video, I have capped Quake to 60fps. Because the phone display refresh is incorrectly 61hz, there is stuttering. 60fps on a 61hz display = incorrect frame pacing / stuttering.