iPhone 13 Pro The ProMotion display is pretty underwhelming

[saber32au]

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.

Agree 100%.

I haven't had a chance to use it extensively on the 13 pro yet, but I suspect it'll be similar to my experience with the iPad pro; you notice the scrolling fluidity initially, but after a while you get used to it. When you switch to a standard 60Hz device, you notice the difference, but again after a few hours of using the 60Hz device the effect wears off.

The battery savings (when the screen ramps down) are nice, but alongside the other improvements the iPhone 13 brings, is it worth paying a grand (if not more) for the iPhone 13? For some people it is. For my use case (I'm currently using an XR), I suspect not.

 

[anotherjeremyirons]

... shouldn't an appropriate refresh rate increase also kick in when I scroll through a long page fast enough?

The phone reaches 120Hz even when scrolling relatively slowly. The math for scrolling is straightforward: the screen density is 460 pixels per inch, which means that something scrolling one inch per second will move in jumps of about 8 pixels at 60Hz, and 4 pixels at 120Hz. That is roughly the size of the blur that it causes.

The simplest test (if you don't have another phone handy) is to go to Accessibility settings and turn the 60Hz limit on or off, then back out and scroll up and down gently. It's actually most noticeable at lower speeds, since things get blurry above a certain speed no matter what.

It is totally fine if you don't notice, or if you notice but don't care. Different people are more or less sensitive to refresh rates, and if you are happy limiting it to 60Hz, then go for it. Your battery might last a bit longer because your GPU won't be doing as much work.

 

[Chargr]

I noticed the difference initially. Now when I use it don’t even notice it anymore. I am sure if I bring up my old phone though I will notice it again.

my wife couldn’t even tell the differences when comparing. I guess it depends on the person who cares about things like that such as in gaming

 

[EastHillWill]

I have a Pixel 4 with a 90 Hz display, and that seems smoother to me—and more noticeable—than the 120 on my new iPhone. I think this is just a tricky thing for the brain to perceive for a lot of folks. It’s the same deal on my iPad Pro.

 

[an_apple.a.day]

the phones been out a week OP. chill. as someone who has exclusively used high refresh monitors since before 9/11 happened in diamondtron and trinitron CRTs; you can absolutely see the difference once you stop using high refresh rate displays.

i couldn’t even touch LCDs until samsung released the first true 120hz LCD in 2009

give it time. you’ll get used to it without noticing. like a subconscious latent activation, one day it’ll click and you will not like going back. it’ll take a year or two, then look again.

welcome to the future.

 

[redheeler]

I noticed the difference initially. Now when I use it don’t even notice it anymore. I am sure if I bring up my old phone though I will notice it again.

my wife couldn’t even tell the differences when comparing. I guess it depends on the person who cares about things like that such as in gaming

Seems like 120 Hz is one of those things like the switch to Retina or OLED that you notice at first, then kind of get used to until you dig out the old phone and realize how outdated it seems.

 

[Devyn89]

I notice it right away. I played around with the 13 Pro and could see the difference right away. I also have an iPad Pro so maybe that has something to do with it.

 

[Knowlege Bomb]

I noticed it right away and have enjoyed every minute of it. I was under the impression that the difference would be minimal since it's on such a small screen but I notice it in every function I use on my phone where it can make a difference: swiping between home screens, bringing down Control Center, scrolling through conversations in Messages, etc.

 

[gorkt]

As a former 2018 iPad Pro user, I felt that way initially, when I first got it. I didn't really see the big deal. But I did feel less eye strain. I broke my iPad Pro in 2020 and decided to get the 2020 air, and the "old" display seemed really jarring at first, but then I got used to it.

I like it, it reduces eye fatigue for me, but it's not a "must have".

 

[BradWI]

I noticed it right away. Pretty much all my displays (iPad Pro, PC monitor, OLED TVs) are capable of 120Hz or higher so it’s easy to spot lower rates.

 

[VSMacOne]

For me, it's definitely noticeable and makes a difference in the strain I feel on my eyes, especially for longer usage. I've been using this 13 PM for almost a week, and I still notice the smoother/faster transitions and scrolling. It's definitely a plus for me.

 

[DrumApple]

I notice nothing. Only fanatics will notice or give a damn.

 

[profets]

I love 120hz on my iPad Pro and to me its extremely noticeable when I pick up my wife's iPad Air to use.

I didn't think I would notice it much on an iPhone given that I didn't feel a drastic difference between my iPad Pro and iPhone in day to day use.

But when I used the iPhone 13 Pro the first time it blew me away. To me its a significant upgrade in the display of the device. I do appreciate though that many (maybe majority) won't tell the different or realize its there.

 

[M5RahuL]

A friend of mine got the 13 PM, and I played with it for a while.. I didn't see a significant difference, while he did ( he upgraded from a XS Max ) .. so.. I suppose it's just different perceptions!

 

[mach]

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.

A trained eye, you mean like a "Pro?"

Seems to me then, that you are not one, and thus not the target user for this phone.

There is a noticeable difference.

 

[arn]

Relevant video which I thought was well done:

 

[eltoslightfoot]

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.

See I don't think this at all. I have a 165hz dell monitor for gaming, but in my work I use all 60hz and my Surface has 60Hz, my pixel has 60hz. I don't notice any difference in daily usage. 60 is fine for all that. Gaming? Yes the 165 rocks.

 

[PayamFr]

Interesting. I noticed the difference right away. My iPhone 13 Pro is a few weeks away from delivery, but I went to an Apple Store yesterday to check out the Pros and I noticed the 120hz instantly. it was incredibly smooth. I even quickly held up my 11 Pro next to it to compare and there was a noticeable difference in scrolling and swiping through home pages. I agree though that once you get used to it, the novelty wears off. It’s only when you go back to a non-120hz device after a while that you appreciate the refresh rate.

 

[robinium]

I think it’s really interesting that certain people don’t notice a difference. It’s so painfully obvious to me that it is smoother, constantly while using it.

 

[daveathall]

I dont notice the difference. I came from a 11 Pro Max, I put it down to the fact that iPhones have always been buttery smooth and my oldish eyes don't notice it. I am really pleased with my 13 pro, it is the nicest phone I have ever had, it wont be going back. But to me, Pro Motion is not the stand out upgrade it was championed to be.

 

[Hamsterhjulet]

I’ve gone from the iPhone 12 Pro to 13 Pro Max and I noticed the difference immediately. Personally it’s a game changer and I really appreciate it. Can’t really describe the feeling but everything just “feels” snappier.

 

[MhaelK]

I’ve gone from the iPhone 12 Pro to 13 Pro Max and I noticed the difference immediately. Personally it’s a game changer and I really appreciate it. Can’t really describe the feeling but everything just “feels” snappier.

Had you upgraded your previous device to iOS15 before changing? Because on my devices ios15/iPadOS15 have made everything feel snappier and motion more fluid/smooth - even plain old 60hz screens. Just curious.

 

[Hamsterhjulet]

Had you upgraded your previous device to iOS15 before changing? Because on my devices ios15/iPadOS15 have made everything feel snappier and motion more fluid/smooth - even plain old 60hz screens. Just curious.

Yes, I did upgrade my iPhone 12 Pro to iOS 15 before purchase. I could tell the difference at first glance. Just can’t describe it. Apple wasn’t lying in the description: “You’ve never felt anything like it”.

 

[Shreducator]

I think the 120Hz discussion got blown up by tech YouTubers and outlets solely because it was something they could say Apple didn’t have yet. Nice on paper but by no means a game changer. Even with video games I find 60Hz to be great.

 

[LFC2020]

ProMotion is the 🐝🦵 no going back to 60hz for me.