WeChat was among a few apps that were blacklisted from the 90Hz “Smooth Display” of Google Pixel 4. Now after the app’s latest update, it has finally been removed from the list.
Google recently released the November 2019 security patch for Pixel devices, bringing with it the first set of post-launch software improvements for the Pixel 4.
One of the most requested improvements was to the Pixel 4’s 90Hz Smooth Display, allowing it to work in more scenarios, instead of being disabled at lower brightness levels.
However, four apps are very explicitly restricted from using a higher refresh rate, namely Google Maps, Pokémon Go, Waze, and WeChat.
The first three apps all have technical limitations that prevent them from working well at 90Hz on the Pixel 4, but WeChat is different. Google engineer’s own explanation is WeChat just had “poor performance” according to 9to5google.
Tencent has apparently spent time optimizing the app for the Pixel 4.
In a new commit posted late last week to the Android Open Source Project, Google has deemed that WeChat version 7.0.8 fixes all of the “jank” issues the app faced, and subsequently removed the app from the blocklist.
But also note that WeChat is still on version 7.0.5 in the Play Store and the latest version needs to be updated and released.
Google also has to integrate the new blacklist into one of its monthly security patches before sending them out to everyone. Unfortunately, the November security patch did not come with the newer list.