iPhone 17 And iPhone 17 Air Slated To Feature 120Hz ProMotion Displays, A Major Upgrade To Narrow The Gap Between Standard And Pro Models

Apple has launched the new iPhone 16 lineup with some pretty nifty additions that we have been hearing for the past year. While the general design language of the iPhone 16 Pro models is almost identical to the previous version, the company has increased the size of the devices to bolster a bigger display. We have now started hearing details on next year’s iPhone 17 and the special iPhone 17 ‘Air’ model, which is slated to come with a 120Hz ProMotion display.

iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 ‘Air slated to feature 120Hz ProMotion displays, minimizing the gap with the ‘Pro’ models

The iPhone 16 lineup starts at $799, and for that price tag, there are various Android smartphones that offer a 120Hz display refresh rate. In comparison, the iPhone 16 is a downgrade and not a good option at all as far as the display is concerned. However, Apple likes to take things slow for its premium features, and it has to keep a certain gap with the ‘Pro’ models. The tech industry has complained over the past few years that the standard models should get a higher refresh rate 120Hz ProMotion displays, and it appears that the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 ‘Air’ will be the ones to bring it.

The details were shared by prominent display analyst Ross Young of DSCC, informing MacRumors that the standard iPhone 17 and the ultra-thin iPhone 17 ‘Air’ will feature Apple’s ProMotion technology. If you are unfamiliar, ProMotion refers to the company’s 120Hz refresh rate that boosts more frames for content, offers smoother scrolling, and bolsters better video content that supports it.

The ProMotion technology on the standard models of the iPhone would also allow them to have Always-On technology, offering reduced frame rates on the Lock Screen. This specific addition would also play a major role in saving battery life as the display is not constantly pushing 60Hz but can bring the refresh rate down to just 1Hz. However, this is only the case if the company decides to introduce a variable refresh rate option that can go as low as 1Hz. We have previously seen on older ‘Pro’ models that the company capped the refresh rate to 10Hz.

As for the current models, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus still have 60Hz panels, which is something that the devices desperately need to avoid in order to boost sales. From a broader perspective, the introduction of the ProMotion display on the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 ‘Air’ would minimize the gap between the standard and the ‘Pro’ models. It remains to be seen whether the company is looking to ramp up the refresh rate of the iPhone 17 Pro models from 120Hz to 240Hz.

The iPhone 17 lineup will be announced in September of next year, so we have a lot of time to anticipate and report what changes are coming in the future. Do you think Apple will offer a 240Hz refresh rate on the iPhone 17 Pro models?