Apple was expected to bring ProMotion technology to the entire iPhone 17 lineup, but based on recent information obtained by a tipster, the company will keep the 'Pro' and standard models apart in terms of functionality. There now appears to be a dispute among different claims that would put the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air a bit behind the 'Pro' models in terms of functionality.
The iPhone 17 and 17 Air displays might not have adaptive ProMotion, which could affect battery life and overall user experience
Apple introduced the ProMotion technology on the iPhone with the launch of the iPhone 13 Pro models, which allows the refresh rate to vary depending on the type of content you are consuming and when the device is left idle. The variable refresh rate could go as low as 1Hz on the latest models, but this might not be true with the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air. It was previously noted by various sources that this year's iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air will feature ProMotion technology, but it remains to be seen which direction the company goes.
Leaker Fixed Focus Digital claims in a post on Weibo that this year's iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air will feature a 120Hz display but will lack ProMotion support. The leaker's sources state that the iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17 Air, which will replace the 'Plus' model, will use "just a standard 120Hz screen, not ProMotion with adaptive refresh rate." If the news has any heft to it, it could mean that the company will use an LTPS or low-temperature polycrystalline silicon panel for the base models.
However, the low-cost models will feature a fixed 120Hz display, which means that they will not be able to adjust or vary the refresh rate based on the content. While it is still an upgrade over the current 60Hz LTPS panels on the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, it could consume more battery life since it is refreshing all the time, even when the content on the screen is static. Users will particularly notice the improvements in animations, scrolling, and UI transitions.
The lack of ProMotion technology on the iPhone 17 and Air means that the devices will lack Always-On capabilities that show the Lock Screen clock, widgets, notifications, and wallpaper. On the contrary, prominent display analyst Ross Young stated that this year's entire iPhone 17 lineup will get ProMotion technology, so the case in favor remains strong. He suggested that Apple suppliers are ramping up production of LTPO panels, which are necessary for the ProMotion technology.
There are various other sources suggesting that the ProMotion will finally be coming to the iPhone 17, so there is something to be hopeful about. We will keep you posted with the latest details, so do stick around for more updates.
About the author: Ali Salman is a technology reporter for Wccftech mobile section with a specialized focus on Apple and the intellectual property that drives mobile innovation. He has cultivated a unique expertise in analyzing and deconstructing complex technology patents, translating dense legal and technical documents into clear, insightful reports on future products.
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