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iPhone 19e Could Feature 120Hz ProMotion Display

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Apple's iPhone 19e could come with an LTPO OLED display that would bring 120Hz ProMotion technology to its most affordable iPhone for the first time, based on a new report out of Asia.

iphone-17e-rear-camera.jpg

According to ZDNet Korea, the fourth-generation model in Apple's entry-level e-series – expected to arrive in early 2028 – could adopt a low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) panel, making the display technically capable of dynamically adjusting its refresh rate between 1Hz and 120Hz. It's the same underlying panel technology used across the current iPhone 17 lineup and the iPhone Air.

The recently launched iPhone 17e uses a 60Hz low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) TFT panel, and the report suggests next year's iPhone 18e will use the same technology. That's despite the fact that you can find 120Hz screens on competing Android phones at similar price points.

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.

Apple first adopted LPTO+ (also known as LPTO3) in the Apple Watch Series 10 in 2024, with panels supplied by LG Display. This likely gave Apple the confidence to scale the technology to iPhone-sized displays, and the company has a track record of testing new display technologies in the Apple Watch before bringing them to the iPhone.

A previous report suggested Apple was considering adopting the new display architecture for at least one model in its 2027 iPhone lineup, but the ZDNet Korea report suggests Apple has moved away from the idea because the technology is not quite ready for mass production.

Article Link: iPhone 19e Could Feature 120Hz ProMotion Display
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/03/17/iphone-19e-120hz-promotion-display/
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At this stage, what is pushing Apple to move the iPhone e to LTPO of any kind? Presumably the sales numbers are good enough and LTPS is still cheaper than LTPO? Not quite sure what the article means when it says "which would free up standard LTPO panels for the rest of the lineup": presumably Apple would just move to the LTPO+ backplanes and stop the LTPO backplane supply?

At best I can see a future iPhone e getting LTPO and a 1-60Hz or 1-90 Hz display to enable Apple to market the nightstand mode (which requires 1 Hz-capable screens) and try to sell a few more Magsafe accessories.
 
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Entilzha said:
Once you’ve used a device at 120hz regularly, you will.
Click to expand...
At least when they use 60Hz and 120Hz devices interchangeably. I personally came to dread using screens with different refresh rates since my iPhone 15 Pro and M1 Pro. They feel like early iPhones felt before we knew any better, proper.
 
Entilzha said:
Once you’ve used a device at 120hz regularly, you will.
Click to expand...
I go back and forth between an iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 phones regularly. It really doesn't make much of a difference for me using the Promotion display and the 60 Hz ones. I'm not buying a phone just because of the Hz of the screen (60 versus 120). I like the Promotion display, but I don't care enough about the frequency of refresh rate to make that anything close to a main reason I buy a phone.

I know others feel and care differently, but I just wanted to offer my experience that it doesn't really matter that much to me. I'd rather have accurate colors on a screen than a higher refresh rate (which is what Apple prioritizes). Would I take a 120 Hz screen over a 60 Hz one with the same color accuracy and battery life? Of course I would, but it's not a make or break feature for me.
 
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6.1” screen, 4,000 Mh battery and Promotion 120 hz display for £599 is a very good deal especially if you prefer smaller phones.
 
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So when will Apple fix the eye strain caused by low-frequency PWM dimming on its OLED screens?
 
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MacRumors said:


Apple's iPhone 19e could come with an LTPO OLED display that would bring 120Hz ProMotion technology to its most affordable iPhone for the first time, based on a new report out of Asia.

iphone-17e-rear-camera.jpg

According to ZDNet Korea, the fourth-generation model in Apple's entry-level e-series – expected to arrive in early 2028 – could adopt a low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) panel, making the display technically capable of dynamically adjusting its refresh rate between 1Hz and 120Hz. It's the same underlying panel technology used across the current iPhone 17 lineup and the iPhone Air.

The recently launched iPhone 17e uses a 60Hz low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) TFT panel, and the report suggests next year's iPhone 18e will use the same technology. That's despite the fact that you can find 120Hz screens on competing Android phones at similar price points.

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.

Apple first adopted LPTO+ (also known as LPTO3) in the Apple Watch Series 10 in 2024, with panels supplied by LG Display. This likely gave Apple the confidence to scale the technology to iPhone-sized displays, and the company has a track record of testing new display technologies in the Apple Watch before bringing them to the iPhone.

A previous report suggested Apple was considering adopting the new display architecture for at least one model in its 2027 iPhone lineup, but the ZDNet Korea report suggests Apple has moved away from the idea because the technology is not quite ready for mass production.

Article Link: iPhone 19e Could Feature 120Hz ProMotion Display
Click to expand...
What about the 18e?

The slightest whisper and an article is being published then contradicted a week later.

At this point I could become a leaker.

“This just in, the iPhone 28 will feature a 10th camera lens that can open black holes”
 
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Apple's iPhone 19e could come with an LTPO OLED display that would bring 120Hz ProMotion technology to its most affordable iPhone for the first time
Click to expand...
If it gets 120Hz, I'm thinking it'll also get the Dynamic Island.
 
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I don't know why people feel the need to say they don't care about it. There are a ton of features that you don't even notice are there. It does not mean something is "useless" just because it makes no difference to you.
 
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