The standard iPhone models have been heavily criticized for having displays whose refresh rates are limited to 60Hz whereas other competitors in the same price range have had displays that can go up to 120Hz, and with the recent launch of both the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, those phones are no exception. Still, initial reviews suggest that the regular iPhone 16 models are still the ones to get if users won’t mind the displays. However, this product differentiation between the non-Pro and Pro models might change next year as next year’s base models have been rumored that they’ll finally adopt LTPO displays that will allow refresh rates to go up to 120Hz.
Ross Young of Display Supply Chain Consultants informed MacRumors that next year’s base iPhone 17 models, including the anticipated thinner iPhone 17 “Air” model, will adopt ProMotion technology that has been exclusive to the Pro models since the iPhone 13 Pro. When ProMotion was introduced on the iPhone 13 Pro, it could go as low as 10Hz and as high as 120Hz. Starting with the iPhone 14 Pro, can go as low as 1Hz, allowing for always-on display capability for the first time on an iPhone. With ProMotion coming to next year’s iPhone 17 models, this will allow the displays to dynamically adjust the refresh rates depending on the content that displays on the screen, even allowing to save battery life when showing something idle.
Ross Young has had a very solid track record when it comes to display specifications for upcoming Apple products. He correctly predicted that the iPhone 16 Pro/Max displays would get larger from 6.1- and 6.7-inches to 6.3- and 6.9-inches, respectively. The regular iPhone 16’s displays remained unchanged from the iPhone 15’s displays. The only major improvement is that the iPhone 16’s display’s brightness can dim as low as 1 nit.
Although it’s still unclear whether Apple will still limit ProMotion technology for the iPhone 17 models in some way, it will be more of a welcome change for customers who want higher refresh rates without spending an arm/leg on the Pro models.
