A low refresh rate 60Hz experience still plagues the base iPhone family, even when the rest of the industry has moved on to 120Hz as standard across all segments. We’ve been increasingly reporting new Android smartphones from entry-level to flagship categories with high refresh rates and Apple might finally bend the knee to this trend for the base iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Plus.
We’ve come across a new report that says all iPhones in the 17 lineup will use ProMotion tech, Apple’s trademark label for a 120Hz refresh rate. That means the baseline iPhone 17 and 17 Plus will probably score the same refresh rate as the Pro variants, the courtesy never given to the 60Hz iPhone 16 and 16 Plus.
Apple supply chain analyst and leaker Digital Chat Station sourced the info from his leads and shared a post on Weibo. He says that the supply chain material for the standard iPhone 17 series hints at the possibility of a high refresh rate.
What the leaker meant by a high refresh rate is still convoluted. The best case scenario: Apple gives the ProMotion 120Hz to all Apple's next-year iPhones. There’s also a possibility that iPhone 17 and 17 Plus may get 90Hz panels if Apple still wants to gatekeep the ProMotion to high-paying customers.
It’s been reported before. The 90Hz refresh rate for basic iPhone 17 will keep the boundaries defined, not overstepping into Pro territory. Of course, after this happens, the iPhone SE’s 60Hz display will make more sense as an entry-level feature, and buyers probably won’t mind that limit in the sub-$500 price.
