Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for improving encoding techniques for mobile devices by adaptively controlling a resolution or frame rate of content to reduce power consumption while maintaining image quality. For example, a local device may determine when the content may be downscaled without degrading a final image quality and may downscale the content prior to encoding and transmitting the encoded content to a remote device. The remote device may decode and upscale the content to the original resolution prior to displaying the content on a display. As downscaling the content is not power intensive, the local device may reduce a power consumption associated with encoding and transmitting the content to the remote device while maintaining the final image quality of the content.