In recent discussions within the tech community a surprising revelation has come to light regarding the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max display refresh rate which appears to be fixed at 80Hz in most situations, challenging some long standing assumptions about Apple’s flagship devices.
Ice Universe a prominent source for smartphone leaks and insights brought this issue to the forefront. It turns out that the iPhone 15 Pro’s display primarily operates at 80Hz in typical scenarios only ramping up to 120Hz when specific applications demand the higher refresh rate. This unexpected behavior has left many users puzzled and has raised questions about the true performance capabilities of Apple’s latest flagship models.
This phenomenon is not unique to the iPhone 15 Pro as it has been observed in other iPhones featuring ProMotion displays. To visually illustrate this behavior a YouTuber conducted a simple experiment on an iPhone 13 Pro Max. While navigating the device’s settings menu, they noticed a noticeable drop in the frame rate. However when switching to watching a video on YouTube the display consistently maintained a 60fps frame rate.
Another user conducted a side by side comparison between an Android device with a 120Hz screen and the iPhone 14 Pro Max. The difference in scrolling performance was stark, with the Android phone delivering a smooth experience while the iPhone exhibited a jittery and inconsistent feel, seemingly running at a lower refresh rate of 80-90Hz. Users also reported that even the iPhone’s system UI felt less smooth than expected.
Before concluding that this is a bug affecting the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, it’s crucial to understand that Apple’s approach to refresh rates differs from some Android counterparts. iPhones equipped with ProMotion displays intentionally cap the refresh rate at 80Hz for most tasks which might be a strategic optimization by Apple.
The reason behind this optimization lies in Apple’s commitment to delivering a seamless user experience while being mindful of power consumption. By limiting the refresh rate to 80Hz in everyday scenarios Apple strikes a balance between fluidity and efficiency.
Apple’s ProMotion displays offer a range of refresh rates and timings, including 120Hz, 80Hz, 60Hz and more down to as low as 10Hz. Tasks like scrolling through system apps or using standard third party applications do not necessitate the full 120Hz refresh rate. Hence, the device defaults to 80Hz to conserve energy.
However when an app explicitly demands a 120Hz refresh rate, the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max and later models can effortlessly deliver it. This dynamic approach to refresh rates allows the device to adapt to various use cases optimizing the user experience while prolonging battery life when high refresh rates are unnecessary.
The iPhone 15 Pro’s adaptive display refresh rate of 80Hz in most cases is not a bug but a deliberate design choice by Apple. It showcases Apple’s dedication to delivering an efficient and seamless user experience while maintaining control over power consumption. This unique approach ensures that users enjoy the benefits of high refresh rates when needed, without compromising on battery life during everyday tasks.
