Hz and ProMotion on iPhone: understanding fluidity before choosing your screen

When you see in a product sheet 60 Hz, , 90 Hz or 120 Hz, is the refresh rate of the screen. It's a technical term... but it has a direct impact on what you see and feel on your screen IPhone screen the fluidity.

This article will help you understand the purpose of Hz on an iPhone screen, what technology is changing ProMotion 120 Hz, and which models are affected.

In this article, we will :

• simply explain what Hz,
• see how Apple manages this with its technology ProMotion 120 Hz,
• and specify which iPhone models have a 120 Hz ProMotion screen.

1. What exactly is Hz on a screen ?

1.1. Simple definition

The Hz (hertz) indicate the number of times per second the image on the screen is updated:

• 60 Hz → the screen refreshes the image 60 times per second
• 90 Hz → the image is updated 90 times per second
• 120 Hz → the image is updated 120 times per second

The higher the number, the more the display appears fluid to the eye.

1.2. Where do you feel the difference ?

You can feel the difference in frequency in :

• the scroll menus, social networks, websites,
• the entertainment opening/closing applications, transitions,
• the games camera movements, fast movements, action scenes.

In practice:

• 60 Hz
  → is the 'standard' fluidity we've known for years on most smartphones, TVs and computers.
• 90 / 100 / 120 Hz
  → the image is smoother, jerks are reduced and movements are sharper. The difference is most noticeable when you switch from 60 Hz to 120 Hz.

"I couldn't see the difference... until the day I tried a 120 Hz screen. When I go back to 60 Hz, I get the impression that it sticks a little

2. What Hz doesn't change

The Hz play on the fluidity, but they don't do everything. They don't change:

• the resolution (number of pixels: 720p, 1080p, 2K, etc.),
• the type of tile (LCD, OLED, AMOLED...),
• the colour quality (This depends on the tile and its setting),
• the contrast (deep blacks, bright whites, etc.).

So we have :

• a 60 Hz LCD screen or LCD 120 Hz,
• a 60 Hz OLED screen or OLED 120 Hz.

Two different parameters are combined:

• Panel type (LCD / OLED) → image quality,
• Frequency (Hz: 60 / 90 / 120) → fluidity of display.

For example, a LCD 120 Hz will be fluid but with shallower blacks than a OLED 60 Hz. A OLED 120 Hz combines a beautiful image with excellent fluidity.

3. The advantages and limitations of a high-frequency screen

3.1. The advantages of a 120 Hz screen

A screen that goes up to 120 Hz brings :

• a much smoother scrolling (menus, social networks, websites),
• from cleaner entertainment, less jerkiness,
• a better feeling of responsiveness, particularly in games,
• less than motion blur when moving fast.

On a recent iPhone, you can feel it as soon as you first unlock it: everything seems smoother and more premium.

3.2. Things to bear in mind

A screen that refreshes the image more often works more, so :

• it can consume a little more battery,
• it can sometimes heat a little more depending on usage.

To avoid running at 120 Hz all the time, manufacturers - including Apple - have developed systems that automatically adapt the frequency depending on what you do on the screen.

At Apple, this intelligent management of120 Hz iPhone screen has a name: ProMotion.

4. ProMotion: the intelligent 120 Hz way Apple

4.1. What is ProMotion ?

ProMotion, is the name of the technology Apple for screens with high and variable refresh rate.

In concrete terms, with ProMotion :

• the screen can be up to 120 Hz when necessary:
  • fast scrolling,
  • animations,
  • video games, etc.
• but it can also go much lower when the image is almost fixed (playback, photo display, screen always on / Always-On), in order to preserve the battery.

To do this, Apple uses :

• a advanced slab (LTPO technology on recent models),
• a specific display controller,
• and iOS, which adjusts the frequency in real time according to what you're doing.

Result: you benefit from 120 Hz fluidity when you need it, without the screen running at 120 Hz all the time, so you can keep an eye on the screen good autonomy.

5. Which iPhones have a 120 Hz ProMotion screen ?

Not all iPhones have ProMotion. If you're wondering which iPhone models have a 120 Hz ProMotion screen, here's a summary.

5.1. iPhone WITHOUT ProMotion (60 Hz)

The following models still use a screen 60 Hz classic :

• iPhone 13 and 13 mini,
• iPhone 14 and 14 More,
• iPhone 15 and 15 More,
• iPhone 16 and 16 more,
• as well as all older models: iPhone 12, 11, XR, X, 8, SE, etc.

On these iPhones, the maximum frequency is 60 Hz. When it comes to changing screens, the most important thing will be the type of tile (LCD, OLED, INCELL, etc.), more than the advertised "Hz".

5.2. iPhone with ProMotion (120 Hz adaptive)

The first iPhones to feature ProMotion arrived with the 13 Pro. Today, models equipped with a 120 Hz ProMotion iPhone screen are :

• iPhone 13 Pro
• iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 14 Pro
• iPhone 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 15 Pro
• iPhone 15 Pro Max
• iPhone 16 Pro
• iPhone 16 Pro Max
• And for the generation iPhone 17, proMotion is being rolled out across the entire range (standard and Pro models).

👉 If you have one of these models, your iPhone can display up to 120 Hz and automatically adapt this frequency thanks to ProMotion.

6. FAQ - Frequently asked questions about Hz and ProMotion

What's the difference between 60 Hz and 120 Hz on an iPhone screen ?

An iPhone screen in 60 Hz refreshes the image 60 times per second, giving standard fluidity. One screen 120 Hz refreshes the image 120 times per second, giving you a feeling of much higher fluidity, particularly in terms of scrolling and animations.

Which iPhones have a 120 Hz ProMotion screen ?

ProMotion is present on 13 Pro / 13 Pro Max, , 14 Pro / 14 Pro Max, , 15 Pro / 15 Pro Max, , 16 Pro / 16 Pro Max and on the entire range iPhone 17. The "classic" iPhones (13, 14, 15, 16, SE, etc.) remain at 60 Hz.

Does 120 Hz consume more battery power on iPhone ?

A 120 Hz screen can consume more power if it is running at high frequency all the time. On the iPhone, the ProMotion automatically adapts the frequency: the screen goes up to 120 Hz when necessary and goes back down when the image is stable, allowing you to limit the impact on autonomy.

Do I really need a 120 Hz screen ?

No, it's not compulsory. A 60 Hz screen is still perfectly usable and comfortable for normal use. The 120 Hz provides added visual comfort, especially if you're sensitive to fluidity or if you use your iPhone a lot for networking, gaming or multimedia.

7. How can I sum it all up to make my choice easier ?

To put it simply:

• Hz = fluidity
  60 Hz = standard fluidity
  120 Hz = very fluid display, especially pleasant on recent iPhones.
• ProMotion = intelligent 120 Hz at Apple
  The iPhone monte the frequency when it moves,
  and the automatically decreases to save battery power when the image is almost fixed.
• Do you have a 'classic' iPhone (13, 14, 15, 16, SE, etc.) ?
  → Your screen is 60 Hz. The most important thing will be the choice of screen quality (LCD / OLED, compatible / original).
• Do you have a Pro model with ProMotion (13 Pro, 14 Pro, 15 Pro, 16 Pro, iPhone 17...) ?
  → Your iPhone is capable of up to 120 Hz.
  → The choice of screen (LCD vs OLED, compatible vs original) will have an impact on:
  • the fluidity felt,
  • and the picture quality (contrast, blacks, colours).

If you need to replace your screen, you can consult our selection ofScreens for iPhone or contact us for advice on the best choice for your business model and your budget.