Apple’s standard iPhone could finally have display Android phones have had for years

Apple ’s standard iPhone next year could finally have the display that even cheaper Android phones have had for years. Corroborating previous leaks, a new report has claimed the iPhone 17, alongside a new Air variant, will feature 120Hz refresh rate on its display – a functionality that Apple introduced to iPhones with 2021’s iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max models.

According to an ET news report, citing an industry source, the 120Hz ProMotion display will be standard across the entire iPhone 17 lineup, likely coming next year. Apple could use LTPO screens on the standard iPhone 17 models for smooth animations and scrolling. The report said it would allow users of the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air to enjoy the same viewing experience as the users of Pro models.

After launching it on the top-end iPad Pro model, Apple brought the display technology – which enables a high refresh rate with automatic granular adjustments – to the iPhone. The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max were the first devices to ditch the 60Hz OLED screens for ProMotion Super Retina XDR displays. That was way back in 2021, so when the standard iPhone models did not get the screen upgrade, customers anticipated 2022’s iPhone 14 would get 120Hz displays. However, Apple did not make the shift even with this year’s iPhone 16 – which still use 60Hz screens. The 120Hz ProMotion display has been exclusive to the Pro models since its debut in 2021. The latest report claims it could change next year.

The current standard iPhones use LTPS screens, which have a fixed refresh rate. On the other hand, LTPO displays are more advanced and have the ability to refresh the content at different rates. It can go to as low as 1Hz or as high as 120Hz in the case of iPhone. That means the iPhone can offer smooth animations in games or when scrolling a website for maximum display performance, but save the battery at the same time by reducing the refresh rate when the higher ones are not required.