Fool Speed ​​on Android: a complete analysis of the problem and solutions

Example: your smartphone on Snapdragon 660 suddenly begins to become “stupid” in simple games like Brawl Stars or even when scrolling the tape Instagram, although before everything worked smoothly. At the same time:

• 🔋 The battery is charged by more than 20%.
• 🌡️ The processor temperature is normal (up to 40–45°C).
• 📱 Resource-intensive tasks (video rendering, updating maps, etc.) do not work in the background. p.).

What's the catch? The fact is that many manufacturers artificially lower CPU frequencies through firmware - supposedly to “extend battery life” or “stability”. In practice, this often leads to the opposite effect: the user becomes disappointed in the device and prematurely thinks about buying a new one.

⚠️ Attention: Do not confuse “stupid speed” with thermal throttling (throttling from overheating). When throttling, the frequency decreases temporarily and recovers after cooling. "Fool speed" can persist constantly, even after a reboot.

Reasons for the appearance of "fool speed" on Android

The problem can arise for several reasons, and not all of them are related to the “evil intent” of the manufacturer. Here are the key factors:

The problem is especially common on smartphones with processors MediaTek Helio Gxx i Snapdragon 4xx/6xx, where manufacturers skimp on the cooling system and compensate for this with software limitations. For example, in Redmi Note 8 Pro (with chip Helio G90T) many users complain about “stupid speed” after updating to MIUI 12.5+.

How to check if your phone has “stupid speed”

Before taking action, you need to confirm that the problem is an artificial limitation of the CPU, and not overheating or lack of memory. Here 3 reliable methods diagnosis:

1. Checking via CPU Throttling Test (application)

Download from Google Play utility CPU Throttling Test (from the developer Grishka>). It analyzes the real and maximum frequency of processor cores. If the difference between the “current” and “maximum” frequency exceeds 20–30%, the limit is most likely enabled.

2. Analysis via DevCheck or CPU-Z

Open the application DevCheck (or CPU-Z) and go to the section CPU. Pay attention to:

• 📊 Current frequency (should be close to maximum under load).
• 🔄 Number of active cores (if some cores are disabled, this is a sign of limitation).
• 🌡️ Temperature (if it is below 50°C, but the frequency is underestimated, this is “stupid speed”).

3. Test in benchmark (AnTuTu or Geekbench)

Run the performance test in AnTuTu or Geekbench. If the results are 20-40% lower than expected for your model, this is an indirect sign of a software limitation. For example, Redmi Note 10 Pro normally dials ~300,000 in AnTuTu, and with “stupid speed” - only 180,000–220,000.

How to remove “stupid speed”: step-by-step guide

Solution methods depend on the cause of the problem. Let's start with the simplest and safest methods, then move on to radical ones.

1. Disabling power-saving modes

Many shells (for example, MIUI or EMUI) have hidden performance limiting settings. Try:

1. Go to Settings → Battery → Performance Mode.
2. Select option High performance or No restrictions.
3. Disable Adaptive brightness and Battery optimization for critical applications.

2. Factory reset

If the problem appeared after updating the firmware, try resetting the settings:

Make a backup copy of your data|Write down logins/passwords for accounts|Make sure the battery charge is >50%|Delete your Google account (if you plan to sell the device)-->

To reset:

1. Go to Settings → System → Reset settings.
2. Select Delete all data.
3. Confirm the action (you will need to enter a PIN code).

3. Changing the power plan (for advanced)

On some devices (for example, Samsung or OnePlus), you can manually switch the power plan via ADB:

1. Connect the phone to the PC and enable Debug by USB.
2. Enter at the command line:

   adb shell settings put global power_profile high_performance

3. Restart the device.

⚠️ Attention: This method may reduce battery life. Use it only if you are ready to charge your smartphone more often.

4. Flashing or rolling back to an older version of the software

If the “stupid speed” appeared after the update, try rolling back to the previous firmware version. To do this:

• 🔗 Download the official firmware for your model from the manufacturer's website (for example, en.miui.com for Xiaomi).
• 📱 Use the utility Mi Flash Tool (for Xiaomi), Odin (for Samsung) or SP Flash Tool (for MediaTek).
• ⚠️ Important: Flashing will erase all data and may lead to loss of warranty.

What to do if nothing helps?

If you have tried all the methods, but the “stupid speed” remains, perhaps the problem is in hardware:

• 🔋 Worn out battery (when discharged below 20% the power controller may force limit the CPU). Solution: replacing the battery.
• 🔥 Chipset overheating (even if the temperature is normal, the sensor could have failed). Solution: diagnostics at a service center.
• 🛠️ Damage to the motherboard (for example, after a fall or moisture). Solution: repair or replacement of the board.

It is also worth checking your smartphone for viruses using Malwarebytes or Dr.Web Light —some Trojans block processor cores to mask their activity.

How to avoid "fool AIDS" in the future

To minimize the risk of encountering an artificial performance limitation:

• 📵 Do not install custom firmware from unknown developers - they may contain hidden restrictions.
• 🔄 Update the software regularly, but watch for reviews about the new version (sometimes updates worsen performance).
• 🛡️ Use original chargers —poor quality memory can cause malfunctions in the controller power supply.
• 🧹 Clear the cache every 1-2 months after Settings → Storage → Clear cache.

If you are buying a budget smartphone, pay attention to models with pure Android (for example, Nokia, Motorola or line Android One). They are less likely to suffer from software limitations, since manufacturers do not impose aggressive energy-saving algorithms.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about “fool speed”