The iPhone 12 screen would still be 60 Hz

While a majority of smartphone manufacturers have switched to 120Hz screens.

There were many rumors about Apple’s new flagship. While most of them turned out to be correct, especially in terms of 5G compatibility and design, this was not the case for all. Indeed, the prediction according to which Apple would offer iPhone equipped with 120 Hz screen has proved to be false. The Cupertino company has, it seems, once again opted for a refresh rate of 60 Hz.

Apple did not specify the display frequency of its iPhones. A lack of communication which suggests that there has been no improvement at this level. If the industry standard is 60 Hz, we could have imagined a higher refresh rate from the American premium company.

Other more humble smartphone makers have already switched to higher rates. This is particularly the case of OnePlus which switched to 90 Hz screens last year and 120 Hz screens this year. So why has Apple not taken the step of high refresh rate screens?

A question of autonomy?

The explanation for this would be that Apple had to choose between 5G and 120 Hz screens to preserve the battery. As you know, Apple finally went for 5G compatibility. The iPhone 12 is therefore the brand’s first smartphone to be compatible with this new telecommunications standard, somewhat catching up with the firm’s delay on this point.

However, the 5G connection places a heavy demand on the handset battery, as does a display at 120 images per second. To preserve the battery of its iPhones, Apple therefore had to make a choice and the company turned to 5G.

It must be said that it is easier to sell a smartphone by highlighting its 5G compatibility rather than its refresh rate. The general public does not necessarily know what this is. However, this element plays an important role in the user experience since the refresh rate of a smartphone screen corresponds to the number of frames per second that it can display. The higher this number, the more fluid and pleasing to the eye the display. But it is quite difficult to realize this when you take a phone in your hands. It takes several days of use to get used to and adhere to it.

And why not 90Hz?

If 120Hz screens are primarily aimed at fans of mobile games, Apple could still have opted for a refresh rate of 90Hz. This would have allowed the Cupertino company to offer a smoother experience to its users, but also to highlight its subscription gaming service, Apple Arcade.

So certainly, in this case, the choice of 60Hz is justified, but for a company as prestigious as Apple, one is entitled to wonder why it has not managed to reconcile the two. Others have done it before them. This is all the more surprising when we know that Apple offers 120Hz screens on the iPad Pro, the ProMotion.

In the end, it’s rather unfortunate to see that Apple has still not brought up to date at this level. According to Jon Prosser, this could happen next year, with the iPhone 13, but nothing is less certain.