iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air display tipped: Expected to come with 120Hz ProMotion displays, A18 chip, and more
According to a recent source, Apple's ProMotion technology, which supports variable refresh rates, is likely to be absent from the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air, even if they feature 120Hz screens. This disproves previous speculation that ProMotion would be available on the whole iPhone 17 lineup.

iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air display tipped: Reports that the conventional iPhone 17 and the new iPhone 17 Air may have 120Hz screens are creating excitement over Apple's impending iPhone 17 series. ProMotion technology, which provides adjustable refresh rates for more fluid performance and improved battery economy, may not be present in some models.
Apple's display strategy may undergo a dramatic change as a result of this discovery, reducing the difference between the regular and Pro versions. Customers are anxious to see how these reported modifications will affect the user experience and whether they represent a shift in Apple's smartphone lineup as excitement mounts for the anticipated September 2025 debut.
iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air expected launch timeline
Apple usually follows a consistent launch schedule, and the iPhone 17 base model is expected to be revealed between September 11-13, 2025. Pre-orders could begin immediately after the official unveiling, and if Apple sticks to its traditional timeline, the iPhone 17 series may go on sale around September 19, 2025.
iPhone 17 and 17 Air display leaks
It is expected to launch in September 2025 | Credit: Macrumors
Chinese source Fixed Focus Digital has revealed that Apple's next iPhone series, the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air, may have improved 120Hz screens without ProMotion technology. This limits the non-Pro models' capacity to dynamically scale screen refresh based on usage because they won't support adaptive refresh rates. Since its introduction with the iPhone 13 Pro series, ProMotion has only been available on iPhone Pro devices.
It gives the display the ability to switch between 1Hz and 120Hz, which improves responsiveness, scrolling speed, and battery life, particularly when reading or using Always-On Display mode. Divergent reports regarding display enhancements Ross Young, an analyst for the display market, has previously predicted that Apple would implement ProMotion for all four iPhone 17 models.
These predictions had been confirmed by a number of sources, suggesting that the regular iPhones would see a significant improvement in display quality. The most recent report, however, suggests that the iPhone 17 and 17 Air would have "normal 120Hz screens," devoid of ProMotion's dynamic features. On the other hand, full ProMotion functionality is still anticipated to be supported by the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max.
The A18 chip may power the regular iPhone 17 series, whereas the more sophisticated A19 chip may power the 17 Air. The A19 Pro chip is expected to power the most expensive Pro versions. If the rumour is accurate, Apple might stick to its long-standing policy of saving ProMotion and other high-end technologies for its Pro devices, making the lower models marginally more reasonably priced while still providing tiny improvements.
Even as it improves the base iPhones to 120Hz panels, Apple might still use display attributes to distinguish between its Pro and non-Pro models if these leaks are accurate. The absence of ProMotion may restrict sophisticated features like variable refresh rate and always-on display, even though the iPhone 17 and 17 Air may have smoother graphics than their predecessors.
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