Apple said to be “considering” adding 120Hz displays to its iPhones from 2020
It is expected next year's iPhone will use a 60Hz refresh rate for static images and ramp this rate up to 120Hz when gaming
Apple hasn’t even released this year’s iPhone yet – rumoured to unimaginatively be called the iPhone 11 – but that hasn’t stopped analysts and experts predicting what technology we’ll see on next year’s range.
According to a tweet from renowned Apple tipster Ice Universe, the display on the 2020 iPhone could come with a switchable 60Hz/120Hz refresh rate. The tweet adds that Apple is “discussing” working on the tech with leading screen experts at Samsung and LG.
It is expected that next year’s iPhone, which we’d hazard a guess at being called the iPhone 12, will use a 60Hz refresh rate for static images to preserve battery, but ramp this rate up to 120Hz when gaming.
This technology is already in use in dedicated gaming devices, such as the Razer Phone, and with Apple’s recent push into the industry with the unveiling of Apple Arcade, it’s not a huge leap to make.
What’s more, Apple introduced 120Hz refresh rates on its 2017 iPad Pro models in the form of what the company calls its ProMotion Reina display. At the time of launch, Apple said this display uses “new technology that delivers refresh rates of up to 120Hz for fluid scrolling, greater responsiveness and smoother motion content.” It also improves the quality of images on the display and reduces battery usage by automatically adjusting the rate to match the content.
With hardware sales falling, or maybe not climbing in the ways they once were, Apple relies heavily on the money it makes from services. These include selling apps on the App Store, iTunes and Apple Music. Apple Arcade will work on a similar premise, offering more than 100 new and exclusive games as part of a monthly or yearly subscription. This subscription can then be shared by family members.
These games will be playable on iPhone and iPad, as well as Apple TV and Mac. It’s a similar offering to Google’s Stadia, yet with Apple Arcade, all games will be available to download and play offline.
It’s not clear how much Apple Arcade will cost – rumours put it at around the £9.99 a month mark – but by upping the display ante with a future iPhone, it could at least make the service and Apple devices more appealing to hardcore gamers.