LTPO is NOT required for variable refresh rate. Stop spreading this misinformation. Variable refresh rate has existed long before LTPO or even smartphones were invented. It is simply a display driver/gpu buffer/ arbitrary software limitation. It has absolutely nothing to do with backplane technology. When did tech journalists throw common sense out the window? I'm sure you've reviewed plenty of laptops with LCD displays using traditional backplane tech, that had adaptive refresh rate.
A new report has delivered fresh details about Google's next mid-range smartphone. While the Pixel 9a may only cost as much as the current Pixel 8a when it launches, it should feature a bounty of upgrades over its predecessor.