iPhone 17 and 17 Air Could Get 120Hz Displays, But Without Full ProMotion Features

Highlights

• The iPhone 17 and 17 Air are expected to get standard 120Hz screens, but without ProMotion’s adaptive refresh rate.
• The Pro and Pro Max models are likely to retain LTPO technology, keeping Always-On Display (AOD) exclusive to the Pro lineup.
• Apple reportedly may not extend high refresh rates to all devices.

Caption – Latest leaked dummy units of the upcoming iPhone 17 Series. (Image credit – Apple Track on YouTube)

The upcoming iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air might finally get 120Hz displays, but not with all the advanced ProMotion features found on the Pro models. At least, that’s what new leaks are suggesting. Here’s the full story.

iPhone 17 and 17 Air With 120Hz Displays

According to a recent post on Weibo by tipster Fixed Focus Digital (FFD), the displays are just an ordinary 120hz screen without a ProMotion adaptive refresh rate. Fixed Focus Digital post read (translated via Google Translate), “To correct a piece of news, overseas and Aggio shared the problem of the display refresh rate of the iPhone 17 series a few days ago. Latest channel news: It’s just an ordinary 120hz screen, but not a ProMotion adaptive refresh rate.”

Caption – Tipster Fixed Focus Digital’s recent post on Weibo. (Translated via Google Translate)

That means while the iPhone 17 and 17 Air may get smoother scrolling and better visuals in games, they’ll likely miss out on the variable refresh rate tech that helps with battery efficiency.

Now to back on the rumour mill, it was display analyst Ross Young who predicted last year that Apple would bring ProMotion to the entire iPhone 17 lineup, including the base and Air models.

At first, a report from another reliable Weibo leaker named Digital Chat Station (DCS) seemed to support that idea, mentioning high refresh-rate displays for the non-Pro models. However, it now looks like those displays might not be full ProMotion panels after all.

As of now, Apple’s smooth 120Hz ProMotion displays have been exclusive to the Pro iPhones.

What Does Both Display Techs Mean?

ProMotion screens can dynamically adjust their refresh rate, going from 120Hz all the way down to 1Hz, which helps with battery life and enables features like Always-On Display (AOD).

The standard 120Hz panels, like the ones expected on the 17 and 17 Air, usually offer fixed rates like 60Hz, 90Hz, or 120Hz, without the power-saving flexibility.

The iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max, on the other hand, are still expected to feature LTPO panels, which are more advanced and energy-efficient. AOD remains a Pro-only feature for now, and it’s still unclear if that will change with the 17 series.

Interestingly, while LTPO technology has become more affordable, appearing even in some mid-range phones, Apple seems to be holding it back for the Pro models.

Lastly, don’t expect every model to get 120Hz. The iPhone 17e, which is part of Apple’s upcoming yearly release cycle for the “e” series, isn’t guaranteed to join the high-refresh-rate club when it reportedly launches in early 2026.

FAQs

Q1. Will the iPhone 17 and 17 Air have ProMotion displays?

Answer. No, the iPhone 17 and 17 Air will get standard 120Hz screens but without ProMotion’s adaptive refresh rate, meaning smoother visuals but no battery-saving variable refresh technology.

Q2. Which iPhone 17 models will still feature LTPO and ProMotion?

Answer. The iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max are expected to retain LTPO technology, allowing dynamic refresh rates from 1Hz to 120Hz, which improves efficiency and keeps Always-On Display (AOD) exclusive to the Pro lineup.

Q3. Will all iPhone 17 models have 120Hz displays?

Answer. No, not every iPhone 17 model will get 120Hz. The iPhone 17e, set to launch in early 2026, may not join the high-refresh-rate lineup.