If the picture complexity is low then the number of pixels in a frame may be reduced. For example, pixel-to-pixel variation in terms of RGB color values can be used to determine the complexity of the frame. Frames can be characterized, in one embodiment, as non-complex frames with less pixel variation and complex frames with very high pixel variation. The high PPI may be used only for complex frames while non-complex frames can use low PPI. This method reduces memory fetching and pixel processing within the display engine and thereby saves power.