iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air likely to get 120Hz ProMotion displays, more efficient chipset

Apple introduced a host of updates to its iPhone lineup with the launch of the iPhone 16 series earlier this month. In addition to the Action button, the company brought the new Capture button and support for Apple Intelligence to all the four iPhone models in the iPhone 16 series, marking a change in company's trend of restricting premium features to the Pro models. Now, new reports suggest that Apple is planning to bring another premium feature to its non-Pro iPhone models next year -- 120Hz ProMotion display.

For the unversed, Apple offers 120Hz LTPO OLED displays only in the Pro variants of its iPhones. This means that the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max can vary their screen refresh rates between 1Hz and 120Hz as per users' viewing requirements. However, this feature isn't available in the non-Pro iPhone 16 models, that is, the iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16 Plus, despite being a standard feature in all premium Android smartphones.

Now, Apple analyst Ross Young says that Apple is reportedly planning to bring the 120Hz ProMotion display to the non-Pro iPhone models in 2025, that is, the iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17 Air that will replace the Plus model. This change will also bring the Always-on-Display feature to the base-level iPhone models. 

Additionally, reports suggest that the iPhone-maker is likely to make major changes to the front-facing camera in the iPhone 17 Pro models. Reports suggest that the company is likely to introduce a 24MP front-facing camera in the iPhone 17 Pro and the iPhone 17 Pro Max models next year. This will be a major upgrade from the 12MP TrueDepth camera that the company has been offering since the iPhone 11 series.

A separate report says that the iPhone 17 series is expected to use TSMC's N3P 3nm chip manufacturing technology. The company is likely to use TSMC's 2nm chips in the iPhone models that will release in 2026.