Apple iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air Could Miss This Feature—Only For iPhone 17 Pro Models

The Apple iPhone 17 series launch is still months away, but it’s already whipped up an incredible buzz with its anticipated advanced features and the surfacing of the brand-new, ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air. However, a latest leak brings not so good news for iPhone lovers.

A Chinese leaker with a mixed record of predictions has apparently denied rumours that ProMotion screens will be included in the base iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17 Air. 

According to sources cited by Weibo leaker Fixed Focus Digital, the panel used in the entry-level iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air is “just a standard 120Hz screen, not ProMotion with adaptive refresh rate.”

This means that while the 120Hz refresh rate will be an upgrade from the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, which use 60Hz low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) panels, Apple will continue to use LTPS panels for its lower-priced iPhones.

While a fixed 120Hz screen without ProMotion would be smooth—let’s say when a user scrolls down fast—it would probably use up more power because it always refreshes quickly. On the other hand, ProMotion helps conserve battery life by automatically modifying the refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz based on user engagement and content.

Since its debut on the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max in 2021, ProMotion has only been available on the Pro models. But according to earlier reports, Apple was planning to incorporate the 120Hz variable refresh rate into the base iPhone 17 and the new iPhone 17 Air.

However, if the new Fixed Focus Digital report is true, it appears that ProMotion technology will continue to be reserved for the Pro models: iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.