What Is Apple’s ProMotion Display? Everything You Need to Know

In 2017, Apple introduced the ProMotion display on its iPad Pro. ProMotion refers to adaptive high refresh rate display technology, which Apple has continually developed and improved over the years.

Today, certain MacBook Pro models and even high-end iPhones have ProMotion displays. This article will help you understand what Apple’s ProMotion display is and how it can benefit you.

MAKEUSEOF VIDEO OF THE DAY

SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT

What Is a ProMotion Display?

Simply put, ProMotion is Apple’s fancy way to brand a high refresh rate 120Hz display on its devices. This means that instead of the traditional 60Hz refresh rate, the ProMotion displays refresh 120 times per second, resulting in a significantly smoother visual experience.

Apple first announced the ProMotion technology back in 2017 with the release of the second-generation 10.5-inch iPad Pro, but it wasn’t the first tech company to do so. In fact, just months before the release of the iPad, Razer announced the Razer Phone, the first smartphone to feature a 120Hz display.

Since 2017, many Android smartphones started featuring 120Hz panels, but iPhone users only got to experience it last year with the release of the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max.

How Do ProMotion Displays Work?

Your smartphone’s display panel is not static, so the pixels need to be updated with the latest content to display anything. For instance, if it’s displaying text, it needs to be updated very quickly to immediately display any changes.

The number of times the display is updated is called the refresh rate, and it is measured in hertz (Hz).

Traditionally, most displays refresh 60 times per second, meaning they are 60Hz displays. A 60Hz refresh rate is enough for most users, and lags or stutters aren’t noticeable at all. But, on a 120Hz screen, the refresh rate literally doubles—meaning your screen will refresh each pixel 120 times per second.

The only trade-off that comes with a 120Hz display is that it consumes more battery to refresh twice as fast. However, Apple’s ProMotion display technology is adaptive, meaning it can dynamically adjust the refresh rate based on the on-screen content.

For instance, when you’re reading something on your iPhone 13 Pro, the display doesn’t need to refresh as much. So, the system will automatically tone down the refresh rate to about 10Hz (depending on the device), preventing the ProMotion display feature from consuming a lot of battery.

Similarly, while playing supported games, the display will again ramp up all the way to 120Hz to provide a smoother viewing experience.

What Are the Benefits of ProMotion Displays?

Since ProMotion displays refresh twice as fast as regular displays, the entire user experience becomes more responsive and fluid. So, every time you scroll TikTok, open an app, perform gestures, view animations, or basically do anything, it will feel significantly smoother.

The ProMotion display will also give you an edge in gaming. The quicker refresh rate means the game will feel more responsive, and in turn, you can improve your reaction times to respond quickly.

Additionally, since the ProMotion display is adaptive, it can actually conserve battery life, which is one of the reasons why the iPhone 13 Pro Max delivers class-leading battery performance. That’s because you won’t be gaming on your iPhone all the time, nor will you need the full 120Hz refresh rate. Hence, its ability to tone down the refresh rate will significantly improve the battery timings.

On top of that, the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max can refresh all the way down to 1Hz, which is even better than the 10Hz minimum refresh rate on the iPhone 13 Pro series. And this allowed Apple to introduce the always-on display on the iPhone 14 Pro, which we hate.

Now, you may be wondering if you can even tell the difference between a 60Hz and a 120Hz display. Well, if you put an iPhone 12 Pro next to an iPhone 13 Pro and then swiped across the Home Screen, you are highly likely to tell the difference in fluidity and response almost immediately.

Which Apple Devices Have ProMotion Displays?

Image Credit: Apple

Since devices with ProMotion require a 120Hz display panel, the feature is not available on all Apple devices. In fact, you can only use ProMotion on the following Apple devices:

• iPad Pro (2017 or later)
• MacBook Pro (14 and 16-inch models with M1 Pro and M1 Max chips)
• iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max
• iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max

ProMotion Makes a World of Difference

Apple’s ProMotion displays have a refresh rate of 120Hz, meaning they will refresh twice as fast per second. These displays are significantly smoother, resulting in more fluid and responsive gestures and animations.

Everything you do on your device feels smoother, especially if you’re accustomed to 60Hz screens. The ProMotion displays can also tone down to a lower refresh rate to conserve battery life. However, if you think the 120Hz display is still draining your iPhone’s battery, you can lock the refresh rate to 60Hz.