iPhone 17 and 'iPhone 17 Air' Rumored to Feature 120Hz ProMotion Displays

[satchmo]

Instant buy if it looks like in the render

Isn’t that render just like a 16 Pro max?

 

[macduke]

Something feels off about this iPhone 17 "Air" model. I think one of three things are happening:

• Apple is replacing the Plus with the Air
• Both iPhone 17 models will be thinner, and that will be a differentiating factor between that model in the Pro: reduced battery life but a sleeker aesthetic, kinda like the difference now between the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro
• Both the iPhone 17 models will be thinner, like above, but will both be branded to the iPhone Air, and there will eventually be another tier of iPhone below that, which is more basic and cheaper

I think the last item makes the most sense because Apple already kinda does that with the SE, they would just retire the SE branding, and it would be like the iPad line where you have iPad (cheap), iPad Air (mid price, balanced) or iPad Pro (high price, best). Even the Mac does that to an extent. You have things like the Mac Pro, Mac Studio, and Mac mini. Doing this would also enable them to potentially introduce an iPhone that is a bit smaller, but still larger than the old Mini. I could see it ending up like this:

• iPhone Pro:
  • 6.9" Max
  • 6.3" Standard
• iPhone Air:
  • 6.9" Plus
  • 6.3" Standard
• iPhone:
  • 6.3" Standard
  • 5.7" mini

 

[anshuvorty]

Both the iPhone 17 models will be thinner, like above, but will both be branded to the iPhone Air, and there will eventually be another tier of iPhone below that, which is more basic and cheaper

Ummm....the iPhone SE already fulfills the cheaper and basic iPhone SKU....there is no way Apple is adding another basic and cheaper SKU in addition to the SE. This doesn't make any sense.

 

[uacd]

Isn’t that render just like a 16 Pro max?

I mean this. Tiny camera bump and finally a single camera and not the usual “rocket launcher” design, it would have been a perfect phone for me. But I have heard it would be monstrous sized, something like 6.7 inches. Thats huge dealbreaker tbh

 

[subjonas]

This means Apple should release Ultra ProMotion with 240Hz refresh. Only fair as 120Hz is no longer “Pro” anymore.

Then I'm sure we'll get some people complaining the regular iPhone should 240hz too. These people want the regular iPhone to be the exact same as the Pro but cheaper lol.

 

[Chuckeee]

Something feels off about this iPhone 17 "Air" model. I think one of three things are happening:

• Apple is replacing the Plus with the Air
• Both iPhone 17 models will be thinner, and that will be a differentiating factor between that model in the Pro: reduced battery life but a sleeker aesthetic, kinda like the difference now between the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro
• Both the iPhone 17 models will be thinner, like above, but will both be branded to the iPhone Air, and there will eventually be another tier of iPhone below that, which is more basic and cheaper

It is just guess work but I think it is the first option:

• Apple is replacing the Plus with the Air

Seems the simplest.

The last option with a new mini is tempting it is overly complex and as much as favored by a vocal minority, just need to accept the mini is dead.

A more interesting proposition is the iPhone Air/thin is a precursor to an iPhone Air Plus/Pro/Max/Ultra that would be a foldable in the 2026 timeframe

 

[Chiwiwismmkay]

This will be a nice and long awaited update if true. Only reason I buy the pro version is for the high refresh rate. Reason I’m holding off on the iPad mini too. Won’t hold my breath though🙈

 

[Cwoods]

The air is probably gonna end up being the new pro. I could see them making the 17 pro as slim as the M4 iPad and that being the newest feature “slimmest iPhone ever” kinda marketing. Unless the 17pro finally folds, slimness has always been apples thing so that not being a pro feature is very un-apple.

 

[ThomasJL]

Why are so many Apple fans happy about 120Hz displays? Aren't they the same fans who defend Tim Cook allowing USB 2.0 (instead of USB 4) on the non-Pro iPhone 16, even though USB 2.0 was on the very first iPhone from 2007? They defend Cook's decision because Apple is saving money and making bigger profits by including older tech in new products. Apple makes more profits by including 60Hz (instead of 120Hz) displays in new iPhones. So why do Cook supporters praise him for likely including 120Hz displays in upcoming iPhones?

Those same Cook supporters would not be criticizing him if upcoming iPhones still had 60Hz displays.

Cook supporters lack objectivity when it comes to him. They support nearly everything he does.

As for me, I want 120Hz displays in iPhones, just like I want a bare minimum of USB 4 (but preferably Thunderbolt 5) in iPhones.

See the following thread to see how Cook supporters defend his descion to use USB 2.0 in current iPhones and use as their justification that Cook is doing a great job because Apple makes enourmous profits:

Will iPhone 14 be USB 2.0? Probably, since Cook is mediocre.

Apple computers have had USB 3.0 since mid-2012. That is 10 years ago. Despite that, Tim Cook, being the mediocre beancounter MBA suit that he is, has still not done anything to upgrade the connectivity on the latest iPhones. The latest iPhones use the same USB 2.0 connectivity that shipped with...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[SSDGUY]

Had a couple Pro models and I'm now more interested in something lighter. Also, IMO the iPhone square sides look it getting dated. Besides they get dinged up much easier. The leather case on my 14Pro is in much worse shape than the leather case on my 11Pro case ever got.

 

[victorvictoria]

If there's an iPhone SE in the spring, that's what I'll buy. If not, I'll keep my 2020 SE until support ends.

 

[MacAndMic]

So you’re saying they found another way to cripple the phone to not take away the reason to go pro.

 

[Chuckeee]

Why are so many Apple fans happy about 120Hz displays? Aren't they the same fans who defend Tim Cook allowing USB 2.0 (instead of USB 4) on the non-Pro iPhone 16, even though USB 2.0 was on the very first iPhone from 2007? They defend Cook's decision because Apple is saving money and making bigger profits by including older tech in new products. Apple makes more profits by including 60Hz (instead of 120Hz) displays in new iPhones. So why do Cook supporters praise him for likely including 120Hz displays in upcoming iPhones?

It is about money but I don't think it is about saving a couple tens of dollar on the BOM by using older tech. It seems to me, it is about [artificially] creating greater difference between the baseline iPhone and the Pro iPhone. It is about trying to push customers to the Pro version, where there is a couple of hundred dollar cost difference.

 

[jdawgnoonan]

Finally (Hopefully).

 

[ttyRazor]

Finally! Here’s hoping this comes to pass for the MacBook Air and iPad Air too, and maybe even the iMac or iPad mini. ProMotion has spoiled my eyes and it’s the only thing keeping me from considering some of the perfectly good non-pro devices. I might have a harder time passing up Face ID for my next iPad, but I’d be pretty happy with a 120 Hz MacBook Air.

 

[klky]

I'll believe ProMotion on the regular models when I see it. One thing's for certain though. It won't be the same "ProMotion" experience that we have today on the 15 Pro and 16 Pro. It will be gimped some way or another.

 

[ttyRazor]

Why are so many Apple fans happy about 120Hz displays? Aren't they the same fans who defend Tim Cook allowing USB 2.0 (instead of USB 4) on the non-Pro iPhone 16, even though USB 2.0 was on the very first iPhone from 2007? They defend Cook's decision because Apple is saving money and making bigger profits by including older tech in new products. Apple makes more profits by including 60Hz (instead of 120Hz) displays in new iPhones. So why do Cook supporters praise him for likely including 120Hz displays in upcoming iPhones?

Those same Cook supporters would not be criticizing him if upcoming iPhones still had 60Hz displays.

Cook supporters lack objectivity when it comes to him. They support nearly everything he does.

As for me, I want 120Hz displays in iPhones, just like I want a bare minimum of USB 4 (but preferably Thunderbolt 5) in iPhones.

See the following thread to see how Cook supporters defend his descion to use USB 2.0 in current iPhones and use as their justification that Cook is doing a great job because Apple makes enourmous profits:

Will iPhone 14 be USB 2.0? Probably, since Cook is mediocre.

Apple computers have had USB 3.0 since mid-2012. That is 10 years ago. Despite that, Tim Cook, being the mediocre beancounter MBA suit that he is, has still not done anything to upgrade the connectivity on the latest iPhones. The latest iPhones use the same USB 2.0 connectivity that shipped with...

forums.macrumors.com

I haven’t used USB to transfer anything since iCloud backups were solid enough for device upgrades, and even then it was once a year. ProMotion matters every time I scroll something. I know which one would make me consider a non-pro phone.

 

[ttyRazor]

I'll believe ProMotion on the regular models when I see it. One thing's for certain though. It won't be the same "ProMotion" experience that we have today on the 15 Pro and 16 Pro. It will be gimped some way or another.

Or some other display improvement is coming for Pro models that’ll make the current displays seem quaint.

 

[tipoo]

I notice, and I want it everywhere

When the 200 dollar CMF phone has a 120Hz, segmenting this as a "Pro" feature was beyond silly

 

[Gotword]

Thinner iphone you say so bend gate 2.0 lol
Seriously tho no mini but they can do a thin version

 

[UltimaKilo]

I really hope the Pro phones get 144hz displays.

 

[SKeijmel]

This is good news, because it means Apple has something else new to add to the Pro models to drive Pro sales next year. Apple has been artificially segmenting the product lines by withholding established features from trickling down to mid and lower tier models, simply because they don't have a replacement for them at the top end.

Ohh we are going to get a smaller notch on the 17pro and finally a 48mp zoom camera sensor

 

[Advent0903]

Ah here we go again, i just got my 16pm and i am already waiting for 17 pro max and 18 pro max, i am also considering waiting for the 19 pro max as well . And go all ham on 20 pro max

 

[Radeon85]

Every iPhone since the 15 should have been 120hz or more by now as this is a pretty basic feature these days that can be had on very cheap Android phones. It’s pathetic the 16 still only has 60hz and Apple has the balls to charge a premium price for it.

 

[Spidder]

It’s because the displays are 5k and 6k. Thunderbolt 4 bandwidth isnt enough to run that at 120hz. Thunderbolt 5 will enable that so would expect it with the next refresh.

How about HDMI for the Studio and DisplayPort for the Pro?

Ah here we go again, i just got my 16pm and i am already waiting for 17 pro max and 18 pro max, i am also considering waiting for the 19 pro max as well . And go all ham on 20 pro max

You’re on the wrong website dude.