iPhone 17 May Feature 120Hz Display Across the Entire Lineup: Is Apple Finally Abandoning its "Ancestral Laws"?

iPhone 17 May Feature 120Hz Display Across the Entire Lineup: Is Apple Finally Abandoning its "Ancestral Laws"?The new iPhone 16 series has been out for a few days now, and Lei Technology has conducted numerous reviews and evaluations over the past few days. We believe you have a good understanding of the models

iPhone 17 May Feature 120Hz Display Across the Entire Lineup: Is Apple Finally Abandoning its "Ancestral Laws"?

The new iPhone 16 series has been out for a few days now, and Lei Technology has conducted numerous reviews and evaluations over the past few days. We believe you have a good understanding of the models. Specifically, aside from the Pro models, many agree that the biggest drawback of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus is their 60Hz refresh rate. When the iPhone 13 Pro introduced the 120Hz refresh rate, standard edition users could only watch enviously as Pro users enjoyed the silky smooth visual experience. But even in 2024, with high refresh rates becoming commonplace even in Android phones under $1000, Apple still hasn't given a standard iPhone a 120Hz screen. It's no wonder people continue to joke that "the ancestral laws cannot be changed."


However, shortly after the launch of the iPhone 16 series, well-known analyst Ross Young stated that this "ancestral law" passed down from the iPhone 13 series will be broken with the next generation, the iPhone 17.

Will the iPhone 17 Feature 120Hz Refresh Rate Across the Entire Lineup?

As the founder of DSCC, a display supply chain consulting company, Ross Young has a high accuracy rate regarding leaks related to Apple device screens. This includes his prediction that the iPhone 16/16 Plus would continue to use a 60Hz screen and that the iPhone 16 Pro/16 Pro Max screens would be enlarged to 6.3 and 6.9 inches respectively. Recently, MacRumors cited Ross Young's report, indicating that the standard iPhone 17 and the newly designed iPhone 17 Air will all feature a 120Hz refresh rate and support ProMotion adaptive refresh.

ProMotion adaptive refresh means that the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air can intelligently adjust the refresh rate in different scenarios, optimizing battery life during everyday use. It's worth noting that the iPhone 13 Pro, which was the first to support ProMotion, could drop to 10Hz at its lowest setting; the iPhone 14 Pro and subsequent Pro models could drop to 1Hz. As of now, neither Ross Young nor other reliable sources have revealed whether the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air will fully align with the latest Pro series, supporting 1-120Hz ProMotion adaptive refresh.

Besides the increased smoothness offered by the high refresh rate, ProMotion's adaptive refresh can also lead to lower power consumption in different software scenarios. Theoretically, it would also support the AOD (Always-On Display) feature.


It's also noteworthy that earlier this year, Korean media outlet TheElec stated that all four models in the iPhone 17 series would be equipped with LTPO variable refresh rate screens.

But will Apple really embrace adaptive high refresh rates with the iPhone 17? Many remain skeptical. To answer that, we must first answer another question: why has Apple insisted on not including high refresh rates in the standard editions?

Users Need ProMotion, Apple Can't Turn a Deaf Ear to Profits

ProMotion first appeared on the iPad Pro, released in 2017. However, it wasn't until four years later that Apple finally introduced ProMotion adaptive refresh rate technology to the iPhone 13 Pro, supporting a screen refresh rate of 10-120Hz (later upgraded to 1-120Hz). Soon, ProMotion became a hallmark of the Pro series. Yet, standard iPhone users have always been stuck with a 60Hz screen.

There are definitely cost factors behind this, but the most important reason is Apple's "clear distinction" between the Pro and standard product lines.

The Pro series has always been positioned as the top choice for high-end, professional users, primarily targeting those who demand higher performance, display quality, and camera capabilities. Pro models typically feature the latest technologies, such as more advanced camera modules, 120Hz ProMotion high refresh rate displays, and more powerful processors and graphics performance.


On the other hand, standard iPhones are positioned for the mainstream market, targeting consumers who value a good everyday user experience but don't need top-tier hardware configurations. While maintaining excellent smoothness and overall performance, standard models often omit some high-end features to lower costs and allow more users to enjoy the iPhone ecosystem at a lower price.


Within this positioning, "high refresh rate" is undoubtedly a crucial factor influencing the definition of standard iPhone products. While the text above mentioned that high refresh rate screens are now standard in phones under $1000, high refresh rate is only one aspect of a screen. Brightness, color, clarity, viewing angles, and other screen parameters are all critical factors affecting the mobile phone's display experience. Besides not supporting ProMotion, the standard editions have essentially caught up to the Pro editions in terms of specifications in the iPhone 15 and 16 models. Adding ProMotion at this point would significantly increase hardware costs, compressing profit margins. Apple is known for its meticulous pricing strategies, optimizing profits by adjusting hardware configurations across different models.

User perception is another factor that cannot be ignored. For average users, the difference in screen refresh rate is not as obvious as processor performance. Without a direct comparison, many users might not even realize the difference between 60Hz and 120Hz, especially in everyday use scenarios where the user experience isn't significantly different.


Apple is likely aware of this, and they can maintain high refresh rate as an exclusive feature for high-end models without affecting the experience for most users. Those who demand a better visual experience will naturally be willing to pay a higher price for the smoothness of 120Hz.

However, product line differentiation is likely the most crucial reason. Apple has always been meticulous about its product positioning and segmentation. The differences between standard iPhones and Pro versions are not limited to hardware aspects like cameras and chips; screen experience is also a significant tool they use to differentiate pricing. By limiting ProMotion to the Pro series, Apple can maintain the "professional" and "top-tier" high-end image of the Pro models. This makes Pro models more appealing and provides a clear choice for users who are willing to pay a higher price for the "best iPhone."


Previously, Apple has carefully maintained this distinction, avoiding blurring the line between the "affordable" standard edition and the "high-end" Pro series. After all, if all users could enjoy Pro-like experiences on standard editions, what would make the Pro series unique?

With the iPhone 17, however, Apple may no longer need to use ProMotion to differentiate between standard and Pro models.

The iPhone's Big Year is Approaching, AI and Chipsets Will Be the "Core Blade"

The iPhone 16 series upgrades were clearly not substantial, even somewhat underwhelming. However, looking ahead, next year is destined to be a "big year" for the iPhone.

First, AppleIntelligence is set to fully launch. As planned, Apple will only launch AppleIntelligence for select English-speaking markets this year, expanding to Chinese, Japanese, French, and Spanish markets next year. From this perspective, the iPhone 17 series will be Apple's first true AI (AppleIntelligence) phone.


Considering Apple's style, it's unlikely that the company will differentiate between standard and Pro models in terms of on-device AI capabilities, especially from an app development perspective. However, it's only natural for Apple to differentiate between standard and Pro models in terms of specific AI features.

AI is also challenging iPhone memory. On the iPhone 16, Apple has standardized 8GB across the entire lineup. However, the latest news suggests that the iPhone 17 Pro series will come with 12GB of memory.

Meanwhile, Apple will also be the first to launch a chip manufactured using TSMC's 2nm process, also TSMC's first adoption of GAA (gate-all-around) technology. Performance and energy efficiency could see significant improvements. However, considering the initial high cost of 2nm chips and Apple's past two years of differentiation between standard and Pro models, it is highly likely that the iPhone 17 Pro will be the exclusive recipient of TSMC's 2nm chips.

In contrast, bringing ProMotion technology down to the standard models is a logical and inevitable trend.


It's not just iPhone users who will enjoy a more consistent display experience; it's also good news for developers. The most direct advantage is a reduction in the difficulty of adapting to different refresh rates, increasing overall development efficiency, driving the iOS app ecosystem to fully adapt to ProMotion, which will in turn improve iPhone user experience and power management.

Additionally,