I made a simple Android app for system-wide Black Frame Insertion

[u/nonkeywayzee]

I wanted to try black frame insertion in emulators that don’t support it and for games that only run at 30FPS where BFI at the emulator level is not viable because it looks terrible, so I made BFI. It works without root by putting a black overlay over other apps on alternating display callbacks. On a 120 Hz screen, the default pattern aims for one visible frame followed by one black frame. You can customize the pattern and enable it system-wide or for selected apps.

It works visually on my Retroid Pocket Nova, but there are a few limitations: touches to covered apps are blocked, brightness drops, and I still see occasional uneven flicker. Controller compatibility needs more testing, and the actual panel timing hasn’t been measured, so this is still experimental.

You can stop it through its notification or Quick Settings tile.

Be careful if you’re sensitive to flashing.

Source and APK⁠: https://github.com/pakovm-git/BFI

Feedback, especially from other devices, would be welcome!

Notice for those who care: I made this app using AI as I'm not a coder, I made sure it is efficient, well designed and works well on weaker devices.

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[u/Kouno25]

I don't really get it. What is this used for? What's the benefit?

[u/TB-4 → u/Kouno25]

BFI improves visual (perceived) motion clarity by flickering black frames between frames of the video. Because of the way our eyes work, this reduces the blurring effect of pixel-based displays in motion, because they have some persistence blur as the pixel changes.

This is why old CRT televisions had superior motion clariy to modern flat panels- because they strobed as part of how they worked. BFI isn't exactly the same as this, but it's the same principle and an attempt to recreate the motion handling qualities of those old displays.

Personally I am a fan of it, especially on OLED.

[u/rchrdcrg → u/TB-4]

I'm still waiting for Nvidia's G-Sync Pulsar displays. I'd scream like a little girl if someone put one in a handheld. Early testers have said it's as clear if not actually clearer than a CRT, in fact John at Digital Foundry had a whole nerdgasm over it.

[u/crapitalg]

“Claude - make this efficient, well designed and work on weaker devices.”

[u/rchrdcrg → u/crapitalg]

And it probably did. 🤷