In today’s cutting-edge technology world, display quality has become the USP for smartphones. Apple introduced the ProMotion display feature a few years ago. This feature has raised the bar by providing smoother and more responsive screen interactions. However, recent speculation shows Apple will not include the ProMotion display in the iPhone 16 series. One question will pop into your mind: What is ProMotion Display, and why is it missing on the iPhone 16?
Also Read: iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16 Plus vs iPhone 16 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro Max: The Ultimate Comparison
What Should You Know About ProMotion Display?
Before we talk about Promotion, let’s first understand ‘Refresh Rate’ that we measure with ‘Hertz’.
What Is Hertz?
Hertz or Hz is the frequency unit named after Heinrich Hertz. Hertz = One Cycle/Event per second. Generally, audio frequencies, CPU clock rate, radio frequencies, and display refresh rate are measured in Hertz. Amongst all these things measured in Hertz, display refresh rate is the most relevant to this article.
Display Refresh Rate = Total number of times the screen can display a new image per second. In simple terms, One Hertz = One new image per second.
Now, you must wonder why the refresh rate is important to smartphones. The answer is simple – Higher refresh rate = smoother screen interactions.
In 2017, Apple introduced the ProMotion display to iPad Pro. After that, it was included in iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. Here, the question is how it differs from other displays.
Also check: Is iPhone 16 Worth Buying? Should You Buy Now Or Wait For A Sale?
What Is ProMotion Display?
ProMotion display is a type of display that can adjust its refresh rate dynamically. Most smartphones have a display refresh rate of 60 times per second – 60Hz. However, with the introduction of ProMotion, it is 120 times per second – 120Hz. It offers improved responsiveness, smoother scroll experience, and overall enhanced user experience. The refresh rate will be high whenever you are playing any game, scrolling through the website, or navigating through the user interface. However, it drops the refresh rate when not required and conserves battery life, like reading the static text.
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What Benefits ProMotion Display Offers?
Here are a few benefits that you will get with the ProMotion display.
Smooth Screen Interactions
ProMotion offers smooth swiping, scrolling, and zooming in on pictures. You will experience less motion blur, which will make everything look sharper.
Enhanced Responsiveness
A higher refresh rate = less lag (between your finger and the action you have performed on the screen). It makes everything feel more responsive and fast.
Improved Gaming Experience
With the ProMotion display, gamers can enjoy a higher refresh rate, offering faster and more precise game reactions.
Save Battery Life
With ProMotion, you will not only get an increased refresh rate, but it is smart enough to drop the refresh rate when it is not required. Therefore, when you read any static text, the refresh rate drops to save battery life.
The question is, although ProMotion offers too many benefits, why is it missing from the iPhone 16? Let’s find out in the next section.
Better Video Playback Experience
ProMotion has a big role to play in improving Video playback quality. It perfectly matches the usual frame rate of the video. It eliminates the lags and tearing one might face when playing high-resolution and high-frame-rate video content. The viewing experience improves to a large extent, especially when watching action scenes.
Why Is ProMotion Display Missing On iPhone 16?
I believe there could be a few reasons why Apple has decided not to include the ProMotion feature in the iPhone 16 series.
As per Apple’s logic, only Pro iPhone users get ProMotion. Why? The reason is simple: they usually upgrade to Pro iPhones.
I am not trying to defend Apple’s decision, but Apple is not introducing it in iPhone 16 because the user won’t miss anything if he never had it. In simple words, generally, iPhone 15 users upgrade to Apple iPhone 16. Users who already have Pro iPhone models won’t downgrade themselves. So, iPhone 15/iPhone 16 users will not miss the 120Hz display because they have never experienced it.
Another reason is if they want to experience ProMotion display, they will upgrade to a Pro model. When they get used to the Pro model, they will upgrade to the latest Pro model in the future rather than downgrading. In short, it is a win-win situation for Apple.
Besides, there are the following reasons why ProMotion might not be included on iPhone 16.
Also read: iPhone 16 All New Features and Upgrades!
Battery Life
Although ProMotion has energy-saving capabilities, it consumes more power than 60Hz. Therefore, Apple might have decided not to include ProMotion in its base models to maintain the right balance between performance and battery life. Whereas in the Pro models, Apple has integrated the A18 Pro chip that will manage better heat dissipation. So there, a good battery life can possibly be maintained despite having this feature.
Cost
ProMotion is an advanced technology that requires cutting-edge hardware to support its dynamic refresh rate. So, to keep the iPhone 16 at an affordable price, Apple might have decided to reserve this premium feature for its Pro models. Therefore, a broader audience can afford this base model.
Clear Market Segmentation
Apple generally keeps certain features limited to its higher-end models. By doing this, it can create a clear market segmentation between its pro and regular models. This clear distinction encourages people to buy higher-end models who want the best features. For that, they will be ready to pay a premium price.
Customer Preferences
Of course, ProMotion is an impressive feature, but not all customers care about having the 120Hz display. Generally, the difference between 60Hz and 120Hz is unimportant for the average user. Apple understands its audience well, so it knows that camera quality, software optimization, and battery life are not as important as the high refresh rate for most users. Therefore, Apple can still deliver an impressive product that meets major users’ needs by focusing on the other major aspects, even if the ProMotion feature is not included.
Also read: 7 Reasons to Upgrade to iPhone 16/16 Pro
To Wrap Up
In summary, the absence of the ProMotion display on iPhone 16 won’t act as a dealbreaker for most users. Undoubtedly, it is a good feature that improves the user experience, but without it, the iPhone 16 will also provide many impressive features. The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are good options if you love smoother screen interaction. However, if you are on a tight budget, the iPhone 16 will be the perfect smartphone for you; that offers the right balance of display quality + battery life + performance without spending too much.
In short, whether or not ProMotion is included, Apple will continue its tradition of offering top-quality, highly reliable smartphones that will satisfy a wide range of users’ needs. Therefore, whether you are planning to upgrade for the camera or display quality, rest assured that the iPhone 16 series will be a fantastic option.
Also read: iPhone 16 Design: What’s New In Terms of Aesthetics And Build Quality
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