iPhone 13 Pro The ProMotion display is pretty underwhelming

[alexe]

I've had my iPhone 13 Pro for about a week now and have to say: I don't feel any difference between the new ProMotion display and the display of my old iPhone XS.

I was expecting scrolling to be buttery smooth, but it's more or less as smooth as before the up-to-120-Hertz variable refresh rate. It was acceptably smooth before on my XS and is not noticeably smoother now on my 13 Pro.

A bunch of people here on the forums claimed that the jump from 60 to 120 Hertz would be one of those things that sound insignificant until you experience it yourself for the first time, and once you have it, you don't ever wanna go back. I have to say, my experience is not that at all. There was no big wow-effect when I first experienced the new display and it doesn't feel any different when I go back to using the XS now.

I was wondering how other customers feel about the feature. Maybe my ProMotion is just broken 😂

 

[alexe]

Just as a supplement to my original post: The display's ability to go down to 10 Hz probably saves a bunch of battery and I'm not questioning the usefulness of that at all. I'm talking solely about the other direction of going up to 120 Hz. That seems a bit useless to me so far.

 

[EddieKeyton1]

One of the best ways I’ve found to see the difference in the refresh rate is putting two devices side by side and record it. Then slow the video down and you’ll see the difference.

Saying that, with it being a variable refresh rate. You won’t experience 120 unless it’s required. Like gaming or something intensive like that. You won’t really experience it with texting, Facebook, web searches etc etc. do you play any games?

 

[sneeks]

I definitely notice the difference. When fast scrolling with my 12 Pro there was a slight stutter effect which is gone with my 13 PM.

 

[alexe]

Saying that, with it being a variable refresh rate. You won’t experience 120 unless it’s required. Like gaming or something intensive like that. You won’t really experience it with texting, Facebook, web searches etc etc. do you play any games?

I don't play games, but shouldn't an appropriate refresh rate increase also kick in when I scroll through a long page fast enough? That's what I've been experimenting with, and there I couldn't feel any difference to my old iPhone XS in a side-by-side comparison.

 

[EddieKeyton1]

I don't play games, but shouldn't an appropriate refresh rate increase also kick in when I scroll through a long page fast enough? That's what I've been experimenting with, and there I couldn't feel any difference to my old iPhone XS in a side-by-side comparison.

Use your finger on an older device and your other finger on your new device on the same page. Scroll up and down really fast on both devices and you may notice it. The biggest improvement would be in things like gaming. I don’t expect many people will be able to notice much of a difference in normal usage. Like on your browser. You may notice it swiping back and forth quickly on your home screen.

 

[EddieKeyton1]

It’s a change that happens instantly in only 1 second. To the untrained eye you may never actually notice it.

 

[EddieKeyton1]

Check accessibility and make sure you have the refresh rate turn on as well. I just searched it and it looks like there is a setting in accessibility to enable and disable it. Although I’m sure it came enabled. You may want to check it to be sure. I only have the base model 13. So I only get 60.

 

[alexe]

To the untrained eye you may never actually notice it.

But if you need a trained eye or to conduct any sophisticated experiments (like recording and slowing down the recording) to notice a feature, then that makes it kind of useless, doesn't it?

If it's an improvement that I don't notice in normal use, it feels like a bit of a waste to me.

 

[GoodGuy313]

I agree that ProMotion/higher refresh rate is not a feature for everyone. With that being said, iPhones have great optimization and a fluid user interface so that’s why a 60hz display still feels smooth. In my case, as an owner of a gaming monitor, I’m enjoying this new feature.

 

[EddieKeyton1]

But if you need a trained eye or to conduct some sophisticated experiments (like recording and slowing down the recording) to notice a feature, then that makes it kind of useless, doesn't it?

If it's an improvement that I don't notice in normal use, it feels like a bit of a waste to me.

I’m talking under normal usage. The change will be more noticeable with gaming and stuff like that. Sorry I’m not the greatest at explaining things. I just saw that nobody had replied yet and tried to explain it the best I could. I’m sure somebody will see this and explain it way better than I can lol

 

[achappy]

I compared my 12PM to a 13PM for about 10 minutes and although I could see there was a difference, it wasn't a "game changer" that so many are hyping about. No way I would upgrade just for that. The 12PM is still really smooth to me.

Now on the iPad it's a different story. I tried out an Air for a week and after coming from a Pro the lack of ProMotion was noticeable on the larger screen. Ended up going with a refurbished 2018 11".

 

[pmac99]

A higher refresh rate screen, once you're used to it becomes the new norm, which is why those of us with high refresh rate gaming monitors, for instance, can (relatively) easily tell the difference.

Once you're used to it, it's easier to notice the lower 60Hz refresh rate if you were to go back, than to notice 120Hz for the first time. It seems our minds naturally accept something better, but we only recognize the value of something when we lose it.

 

[ReliableSource]

Do you have Low Power Mode turned on by any chance? Activating LPM limits the display to 60hz

 

[aok75]

After reading this post I went to safari to test it out. It’s definitely different from my SE. very nice.

 

[maka344]

I personally think Apple has been over aggressive with the algorithm to get a balance re battery and smoothness. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is much smoother throughout the OS and they are pretty much the same screens.

Even the OnePlus is smoother.

 

[kstewart61]

Side by side with my 12 mini and 13 pro the difference is night and day! Anyone can see the difference just look!

 

[cardfan]

I hear it’s only available with apples apps. 3rd party apps have to update which means games as well. Even Apple Arcade has nothing that I’m aware of.

It’s really pretty insignificant to update to 13 pro just for this. It’s all about cameras and battery life. Can’t say I’ve noticed any difference with camera besides macro feature coming from 13 max.

 

[ProMaximus]

I honestly don’t know how people aren’t noticing the difference! It’s night and day. Just for an experiment, I went and turned off 120hz and I noticed it immediately. For example, when swiping to go to the Home Screen while in Safari, you can see the choppiness of the effect. Also, scrolling in Safari is noticeably choppier.

I’ve had my iPhone 13 PM since Monday. So I’ve used it nonstop for 3 days now. Going back to 60hz is instantaneously apparent. Maybe some people notice it more than others. IDK?

I would say to the people who don’t notice anything, to continue using your phone on the 10-120hz setting for a couple weeks. Then turn on 60hz and use it for a while to see the difference.

 

[Rob198612]

I've had my iPhone 13 Pro for about a week now and have to say: I don't feel any difference between the new ProMotion display and the display of my old iPhone XS.

I was expecting scrolling to be buttery smooth, but it's more or less as smooth as before the up-to-120-Hertz variable refresh rate. It was acceptably smooth before on my XS and is not noticeably smoother now on my 13 Pro.

A bunch of people here on the forums claimed that the jump from 60 to 120 Hertz would be one of those things that sound insignificant until you experience it yourself for the first time, and once you have it, you don't ever wanna go back. I have to say, my experience is not that at all. There was no big wow-effect when I first experienced the new display and it doesn't feel any different when I go back to using the XS now.

I was wondering how other customers feel about the feature. Maybe my ProMotion is just broken 😂

the minute I unboxed my 13 pro Max first thing I noticed was the buttery smooth screen!

 

[3Rock]

But if you need a trained eye or to conduct any sophisticated experiments (like recording and slowing down the recording) to notice a feature, then that makes it kind of useless, doesn't it?

If it's an improvement that I don't notice in normal use, it feels like a bit of a waste to me.

And this is one of the reasons why I returned my 13. I’ll wait till next year when there’s some new tech that I can actually enjoy. I do not scroll very fast and I did not see a difference and I turned it off for the limited time I had it. Some people see it and others like me do not so it was a waste.

 

[MacCheetah3]

I've had my iPhone 13 Pro for about a week now and have to say: I don't feel any difference between the new ProMotion display and the display of my old iPhone XS.

I was expecting scrolling to be buttery smooth, but it's more or less as smooth as before the up-to-120-Hertz variable refresh rate. It was acceptably smooth before on my XS and is not noticeably smoother now on my 13 Pro.

A bunch of people here on the forums claimed that the jump from 60 to 120 Hertz would be one of those things that sound insignificant until you experience it yourself for the first time, and once you have it, you don't ever wanna go back. I have to say, my experience is not that at all. There was no big wow-effect when I first experienced the new display and it doesn't feel any different when I go back to using the XS now.

I was wondering how other customers feel about the feature. Maybe my ProMotion is just broken 😂

There are sensitivity variations from person-to-person and refresh rate is relevant. However, the significance is primarily at lower frequencies. Don’t be confused or upset if you don’t notice.

But if you need a trained eye or to conduct any sophisticated experiments (like recording and slowing down the recording) to notice a feature, then that makes it kind of useless, doesn't it?

If it's an improvement that I don't notice in normal use, it feels like a bit of a waste to me.

In a different forum someone reminded: the placebo effect does count. Even if it’s just a belief and they’re happy, let them be happy. The comments such as “you’re an idiot not to notice” are obnoxious, nonetheless.

 

[jpallarest]

The higher refresh rate is noticeable mainly when scrolling, but to me it's a thing that is felt rather than seen. The sense of fluidity and smoothness. And I'm very sensitive to it. Despite being a big difference to me, I'm not sure if it's a feature worth paying more for. It's nice to have it, but if you don't, it's no big deal, as iPhones are plenty smooth.

 

[usagora]

I noticed the difference immediately when I unlock the phone and all the app icons "fly" into place. Definitely a whole lot smoother looking than my 12 Pro.

 

[MultiMediaWill]

I agree that it's hard to notice. I have years of experience gaming on 144hz+ displays where it's very easy to notice a difference compared to 60hz, but that difference does not translate as well over to the iPhone. I ended up returning my 13 Pro and going back to the iPhone X due to the excessive weight, and I was able to get used to the 60hz screen within minutes. It feels just as smooth as the 13 Pro did after a few minutes when your brain gets used to it. I was expecting a bigger 'wow' factor like I experienced with my 144hz PC monitor, but it just wasn't there on the iPhone.