Hi, this is Technologytodaynow. Many people are hoping that the iPhone 17 basic lineup, which will be released next fall, will feature a 120Hz display. I’d like to share some news regarding this.
The iPhone 17 may have a 90Hz display instead of a 120Hz display.
iPhone 17 General Model 120Hz Display Expected
Apple has received great complaints from consumers because all of its product lines, including the iPhone series, only feature 120Hz high refresh rate displays in the Pro model. Although a high refresh rate display is not a required feature, it has excellent visual effects, and the smooth experience of screen transitions and animations greatly increases user satisfaction.
Therefore, expectations continue for the basic iPhone 17 model released every year to be equipped with a 120Hz display. However, there is talk of the possibility that the iPhone 17 regular model and iPhone 17 slim model, which will be released next year, will have a 90Hz display rather than a 120Hz refresh rate.
News about 90Hz display to be applied to iPad Air and iMac
Apple is working on a new display, according to news from ‘Upgrade’, a podcast hosted by Jason Snell, former editor-in-chief of Macworld magazine for 10 years, and Myke Hurley, founder of RELAY FM.
According to a story from an anonymous source who participated in the podcast, Apple is developing a 90Hz display that will be installed not only in the iPhone but also in the iPad Air, 24-inch iMac, and Studio Display. The 90Hz display is expected to be applied first to the M3 iPad Air, which is expected to be released in early 2025, and is likely to be expanded to the 24-inch iMac and Studio Display later.
The necessity and effectiveness of 120Hz refresh rate displays
The 120Hz display provides a smoother screen when scrolling or switching apps, so you can feel the difference especially when playing games or watching videos. If such a high refresh rate display is applied to the iPhone 17, it is expected that the user experience will be greatly improved. However, recently, the possibility of upgrading from the existing 60Hz to 90Hz has also been mentioned, raising mixed expectations and concerns.
Introduction of 90Hz display and controversy over classification
Looking at this news positively, the 90Hz refresh rate will be supported on the high-resolution iMac and Studio Display, and if the iPad Air, which will be released in early 2025, will be equipped with a 90Hz display, the M4 MacBook Air, which will be released around the same time, will also be equipped with a 90Hz LCD display. I think it might be possible to try the happiness circuit.
However, what is worrisome is that if Apple is determined to make a class division , a 90Hz refresh rate may be applied to the basic iPhone 17 lineup instead of 120Hz. In particular, unlike LCD displays such as the iPad Air or iMac, the iPhone 17 uses LTPO OLED, so it is easy to implement a higher refresh rate. However, if it is limited to 90Hz, it is likely to be heavily criticized by users.
Apple’s Display Strategy And Future Changes Outlook
The introduction of a 120Hz display in the basic iPhone 17 lineup is one of the changes that many users are looking forward to. However, Apple, which prefers a class division strategy, may apply 90Hz instead of 120Hz, so it remains to be seen what specifications the actual released model will have. Of course, the products mentioned this time are LCD and the iPhone 17 series is LTPO OLED, so it may need to be viewed differently, but it is noteworthy whether Apple, which blatantly likes a class division strategy, will maintain this strategy in the iPhone 17.