120 Hertz for all Apple smartphones: hope for the iPhone 17
So far, only the Pro models of the iPhone have always-on display and high Hertz numbers. This could finally change with the iPhone 17.
iPhone 16: Without ProMotion, despite the price.
(Image: Sebastian Trepesch)
A glance at the specifications of the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus initially looks impressive until you take a closer look: Apple has installed a "Super Retina XDR display" with OLED technology, with a pixel density of 460 ppi and a resolution of 2556 x 1179 (iPhone 16 with 6.1 inches) and 2796 x 1290 pixels (iPhone 16 Plus with 6.7 inches). The P3 color space is also achieved, as is HDR playback, as well as a contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1 including 1000 nits maximum standard brightness (1600 nits for HDR, 2000 nits peak outdoors). What is missing, however, is the information on the refresh rate. This is no longer up to date: it has been 60 hertz on standard iPhones for years. There are now rumors that this could change, at least in the coming year.
120 Hertz – also with Always-On-Display?
Display expert Ross Young from Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC), who has been right on such topics in the past, told Macrumors in a report that Apple is planning new iPhone 17 standard models for 2025, both of which will be equipped with ProMotion technology for the first time. This is what Apple has been calling the ability to display up to 120 hertz for years –, which has been available since the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max. The analyst believes that both the iPhone 17 and the "iPhone 17 Air" or "iPhone 17 Slim" – the successor to the Plus model with a particularly thin casing – will receive ProMotion for the first time.
It is still unclear whether the devices will also have an always-on option. Since the iPhone 14 Pro, the refresh rate can be reduced to 1 Hertz, which allows the power-saving display of individual unchanging elements. Young did not provide any details on this. But even 120 Hertz would be welcome: The higher frame rate allows smoother scrolling and can also display suitable videos more adequately – and ProMotion can also be helpful when playing games.
Apple saves money on components
From a technical point of view, Apple could have built 120 Hertz into its standard models a long time ago. In the Android world, such screens are also available in cheaper devices. In the iPhone 16, Apple also uses the same SoC –, albeit slimmed down – in the standard models as in the Pro iPhones, so there would easily be enough power available. (However, this was probably also the case for the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, which came with SoCs from the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max).
Above all, Apple is saving money with the missing ProMotion. In view of the fact that the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus cost at least 949 and 1099 euros respectively, this is very unpleasant for prospective customers. The iPhone 17 and "17 Air" are expected in fall 2025.
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