This iPhone 17 display rumor is the biggest reason yet to skip the iPhone 16
If you’ve been humming and worrying about whether or not you should buy the iPhone 16, the latest information from the iPhone 17 rumor mill suggests that waiting for next year’s model could be the best course of action.
The Korean news site reports this ET News (which cites “industry sources”), every model in the iPhone 17 range will come equipped with an LTPO screen. Why is this a big problem? Well, LTPO panels support variable refresh rates up to 120 Hz, meaning Apple’s 2025 standard models could finally ditch the 60 Hz refresh rates of their predecessors in favor of Apple’s ProMotion and Always-On Display technology (these features were exclusive for Pro and Pro Max models since their introduction in the iPhone 13 Pro).
Indeed, this isn’t the first time we’ve heard this rumor. Another Korean news site, Elec, also reported that the entire iPhone 17 line could get LTPO panels in February, while recently noted industry analyst Ross Young also claimed that the standard iPhone 17 will get a ProMotion display. So, by all accounts, this feature is a teaser for next year’s iPhone lineup – and we couldn’t be more relieved.
Apple’s continued commitment to 60Hz displays on its non-Pro iPhones has proven to be a major problem for Apple fans and industry commentators alike. “I really hope this iPhone 15 rumor isn’t true. You deserve better,” wrote TechRadar’s former Senior Phones Editor, Alex Walker-Todd, ahead of the 2022 launch of the iPhone 15, while our Managing Editor for Mobile Computing, Roland Moore -Coyler echoed a similar sentiment in August 2023: “Please , Apple, don’t do this with the iPhone 15.” Both pieces referenced the lack of a 120Hz refresh rate on Apple’s 2023 standard model.
The disappointment continued this year too. Staff writer Jamie Richards recently described the omission of a ProMotion display on the iPhone 16 as “another example of Apple’s worst practice.” He continued: “In the world of Android, 120Hz is the new standard for flagship and high-end phone displays, while budget options typically come with 120Hz or 90Hz displays. Nowadays, 60 Hz screens are reserved for tablets and the cheapest budget phones. The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are, by modern standards, complete strangers.”
For those unfamiliar, refresh rate refers to the number of times per second your phone can display a new image. A 120Hz screen feels smoother and more responsive than a 60Hz screen, and the former’s improved efficiency means longer battery life. at.
Tactical gatekeeper
Of course, there’s a big reason why Apple has stuck with its standard models through the dark ages of displays. As a company, it makes good business sense to equip your best iPhones with the best features, regardless of whether those features are considered the bare minimum by others in the industry. If you want an iPhone with a 120Hz refresh rate, Apple’s more expensive Pro models are ready to be purchased (the Pro Max models are even regular bestsellers).
An argument can also be made that 60Hz-using iPhone users don’t care as much about the supposed benefits of a smoother display (although that sentiment likely stems from a lack of exposure to the other end).
In any case, it appears that Apple’s position on this controversial topic has finally changed. It looks like every iPhone 17 will come with a 120Hz display, which you can bet your bottom dollar means Apple has a plan to differentiate the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max in other ways. That’s right: expect more than an extra camera lens next year.
