The (digital) ink has barely dried on our iPhone 16 review and we’re already in the thick of iPhone 17 rumor season, with a reliable source claiming screen upgrades are on the way when Apple launches an update in 2025.
This comes from a well-known industry analyst Ross Jong (via 9to5Mac), which says the two cheaper iPhone 17 models will get the same always-on display and ProMotion technology that were previously exclusive to the Pro and Pro Max devices.
This means upgrading to LTPO (low-temperature polycrystalline oxide) panel technology to reduce power consumption and support a variable refresh rate, up to 120Hz (or even down to 1Hz) when needed.
Young initially predicted that Face ID would be built into the display of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, but later said that was a misunderstanding. So we’ll have to wait a little longer for developments on that front.
Proponents and opponents
If the cheaper iPhone 17 models do indeed get LTPO display tech next year, there will be less to differentiate them from the Pro and Pro Max – though the latter phones are still likely to get better cameras and faster processors.
It also ties in with another rumor we’ve heard about next year’s iPhone refresh: that the iPhone 16 Plus won’t be replaced by another Plus model, but rather an iPhone 17 Air – perhaps with a slimmer, more stylish design for the same price.
Apple has of course already used the same branding with the iPad Air and MacBook Air, so it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see the name added to one of the iPhone 17 models. We’ll still have to wait almost 12 months to know for sure, though.
That’s not the only iPhone 17 rumor going around, by the way: there’s also talk of improved selfie cameras and more RAM in the 2025 iPhones, along with the usual performance improvements.
