While Apple has been slow to pick up technology powering previous-generation Android devices, they always pull a rabbit out of the hat year-on-year. Opting for doing things its way, Apple introduces new iPhone tech with its own spin on it with the latest iPhone 17 display rumors. This time, it’s rolling out its ProMotion tech across more devices instead of being a flagship Pro feature. Yes, we know the iPhone 16 isn’t out yet, but rumors will be rumors.
According to The Elec, the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Plus are slated to feature OLED displays equipped with low-power backplane technology. This means Apple is finally bringing ProMotion to all current-gen iPhones when they release in 2025. ProMotion, synonymous with seamless scrolling and dynamic refresh rate adjustments, promises to enhance the user experience significantly. It allows the display to operate anywhere between 1Hz for power efficiency and 120Hz for buttery smooth interactions, much like the adaptive frame rates seen in many Android devices. See what we mean?
Apple has reserved the more advanced low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) panels for its Pro models, specifically the iPhone 15 Pro. These panels enable ProMotion, adjusting the dynamic refresh rate based on the displayed content. In contrast (Get it?), the current iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus utilize low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) panels, making these ProMotion adjustments impossible.
iPhone 16 models, bar Pro and Pro Max, will again miss out on ProMotion, making it a marketing gimmick for their flagship handsets. iPhone 17 series will offer the tech on all their devices, making us wonder why it’s not coming this year. It’s a different technology, but adaptive frame rate technology isn’t new. Is this the typical Apple gatekeeping we see year after year?
Integrating LTPO technology into the iPhone 17 models promises an enhanced visual experience. It represents a significant leap towards more power-efficient displays. The always-on feature, in particular, allows users to glance at notifications, the clock, and other widgets without fully waking the device.
Chinese manufacturer BOE has managed to keep up with Apple’s stringent quality controls and production capacity, so it’ll likely be manufacturing the LTPO tech. Industry giants Samsung and LG Display are likely to fill the gap should BOE fall behind manufacturing, ensuring that Apple’s ambitious plans for its standard iPhone models come to fruition.
Display analyst Ross Young suggests that the iPhone 17 models will benefit from advanced display technology and see a size increase, moving to 6.27-inch and 6.86-inch. This adjustment further enhances the viewing experience, making the iPhone 17 series a compelling option for those pursuing both performance and size.
Of course, it’s very early, but Apple must bring the technology to other iPhones at some point; the iPhone 17 would be as good a time as any. Thanks to the other iPhone 16 leaks, we know this isn’t a reality for this year. As usual, take this with a grain of salt until Apple officially confirms this in September 2025.
If you want to be in the know about the latest devices, make sure you check out our best Samsung phones, best OnePlus phones, and best Google Pixel phones guides.