iPhone 18e Won't Get ProMotion Display, Says Leaker

[MacRumors]

Apple's upcoming iPhone 18e will have the same display refresh rate as the existing iPhone 17e, according to a prominent Chinese leaker.

Discussing Apple's product plans for 2027 in a Weibo post, Digital Chat Station claimed that the next generation of Apple's low-cost iPhone will feature the same 60Hz low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) TFT panel as the current model.

It means the device will lack the ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate and Always-On display technology that is expected to feature across the rest of the iPhone 18 lineup, similar to the iPhone 17 series.

That's despite the fact that you can find 120Hz screens on competing Android phones at similar price points as the iPhone 17e.

The claim is substantiated by a report out of Korea earlier this year that said Apple would not use a low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) panel until the fourth-generation model, which is expected to arrive in early 2028. Adoption of LPTO would make the display technically capable of dynamically adjusting its refresh rate between 1Hz and 120Hz.

The shift in 2028 is said to depend in part on Apple's development of a next-generation "LTPO+" display technology, which incorporates oxide semiconductors in both switching and drive transistors, and is said to use a lot less battery power.

Apple reportedly plans to reserve LTPO+ for its higher-end models in 2028, including new versions of the iPhone Air and its upcoming foldable iPhone, which would free up standard LTPO panels for the rest of the lineup. But if the new technology isn't ready in time, it could delay the trickle-down of LPTO panels to the 19e, so nothing's for certain yet.

Article Link: iPhone 18e Won't Get ProMotion Display, Says Leaker

 

[Reverend Benny]

Sounds like a sound choice if that means they can keep prices down.
At the same time I don't see why they keep releasing a new SE model every year, just stick to releasing a new one every 2nd or 3rd year and keep prices low.

 

[WilliApple]

literally fine lol
especially if the ram shortage is not ironed out by then

 

[Tripps9000]

Very interesting I use a 16e myself and do plan to upgrade eventually I’m just going to wait till next year to see exactly what they come out with

 

[whateverest]

Truely a joke, considering the vast amount of cheap Android phones with 120Hz support. This is a purely marketing driven decision, if true.

 

[podycust]

Tim's gotta save them pennies!!

 

[Seanm87]

Considering iPad Air and MacBook Air still don’t have 120hz, it would be very unusual for the iPhone SE to get it before them.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

60hz in 2027 is beyond shameful. Thank god I'm not a dragonfly, but still, it's really not that comfortable

 

[PsykX]

At some point you gotta keep some differences between this and other models.

For example, if every iPad supported 120 Hz, I'd buy the cheapest model instead of the Pro. Some would do the same for iPhone.

 

[Ctrlos]

Honestly with how good the tweaks in iOS27 are coming along you probably don’t need it.

 

[MaaK]

If this plan is true, it also says, that there will be an iPhone Air 3. This would be amazing. Love the Air and looking forward to the second one. But will never go back to a thicker iPhone.

 

[ItsASpider]

On one hand; "thank you captain obvious", on the other hand, it is just pathetic that a phone in this price range is still stuck with 60 Hz.

 

[HazeAndHahmahneez]

Eh 120 hz overrated, I can use it or not use it …turning it off saves some battery I think and it also makes it look like you’re on psychedelics,what with the trails and all!

🫪🤪🤯🫨🫥🫩😵😵‍💫

 

[winxmac]

Back in 2016, iPhone SE was introduced in 16GB and 64GB storage capacities. In 2017, the storage was doubled to 32GB and 128GB while keeping the selling price the same.

Now, ever since the e model was introduced, not only it replaced the SE but it is becoming a yearly release unlike the 4 year gap between the iPhone SE 2016 and iPhone SE 2020.

 

[Reverend Benny]

Eh 120 hz overrated, I can use it or not use it …turning it off saves some battery I think and it also makes it look like you’re on psychedelics,what with the trails and all!

🫪🤪🤯🫨🫥🫩😵😵‍💫

How does turning it off save you battery? Since its variable rate it can go down to 1Hz if its a static image for a few seconds (at least that's how I understand the technology). That means it would in theory consume less battery since it doesn't have to refresh the screen as often as a 60hz screen does or sometimes consume more if you are using the full 120Hz. Guess its all down to how we use our devices 🤔

 

[svish]

Will be good to have 120Hz display but if it helps to keep the price of the phone same as it is today then it should be ok.

 

[iPay]

Aw, can I have the price hike tho?

 

[DanneP]

Who cares if their most budget oriented phone has 60 or 120Hz. It's a nice to have feature but nothing more than that.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

Truely a joke, considering the vast amount of cheap Android phones with 120Hz support. This is a purely marketing driven decision, if true.

Don't forget the Nokia Lumia 820 that had an always on display back in 2012.

 

[Obry]

literally fine lol
especially if the ram shortage is not ironed out by then

At the current rate, it doesn't look like it will be getting ironed out even for the 19e

 

[SBlue1]

Sounds like a sound choice if that means they can keep prices down.
At the same time I don't see why they keep releasing a new SE model every year, just stick to releasing a new one every 2nd or 3rd year and keep prices low.

Because people don't upgrade every year. I upgrade roughly every four years. So if I buy a three year old design in four years it will be seven years old and way underpowered.

 

[Zwhaler]

At some point you gotta keep some differences between this and other models.

For example, if every iPad supported 120 Hz, I'd buy the cheapest model instead of the Pro. Some would do the same for iPhone.

I suspect this is why the regular 17 has done so well this year. It’s a genuinely all-around fantastic device with no major compromises. Turns out Apple taking a profit hit doing what was purely best for consumers in the short term wasn’t bad for business. Unfortunately that chapter just closed.

 

[triumvirate]

Disappointing, but it is a budget phone, so not earth shattering. Although I do think 120hz is important for movement-based touchscreens like iPhone & iPad. Mac, not so much.

 

[uacd]

Why would anyone even think it is supposed to have one?

The fact that cheap Android phones have it doesn’t mean they actually use quality OLED panels. They often don’t even come with 100% sRGB rating, I am not even talking about P3. And all Apple’s phones are very different in that sense, you will see proper color reproduction on any modern iPhone.

Same goes for the critique that it only has 1 camera. Competitors for that price also have 2 or even 3 cameras, but the quality looks so bad that they won’t even be able to compete with iPhone 6s, not even talking about much newer devices.

17e unlike ALL cheapo Samsungs and Chinese phones at least has a PWM switch. Apple so far is the only company that realized that OLED can be tough on eyes

 

[PsykX]

I suspect this is why the regular 17 has done so well this year. It’s a genuinely all-around fantastic device with no major compromises. Turns out Apple taking a profit hit doing what was purely best for consumers in the short term wasn’t bad for business. Unfortunately that chapter just closed.

Agreed. If I wasn't a camera fanatic, I'd take the 17 in a heartbeat instead of the Pro. And even then, then telephoto lens isn't really all that important.