Apple's "Awe Dropping" iPhone 17 event is Tuesday and we expect to see new models of the iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods. As we inch closer to Tim Cook starting the keynote, rumors and leaks about the iPhone 17 are still coming in. We've seen reports of a new selfie camera, faster MagSafe charging and a new purple (or green) color.
But when the iPhone 16 debuted, there was criticism aimed at its screen. The phone starts at $829 and still has a 60Hz display, despite most phones from competitors having high-refresh-rate screens topping off at 90Hz or 120Hz, which gives a smoother scrolling effect that just looks premium. Given that Pro models have had higher screen refresh rates for years, it's been frustrating to see Apple not bring the feature to lower-end models.
At a time when Apple is under pressure from a US Department of Justice antitrust lawsuit; facing criticism from shareholders and media about being "behind in the AI race" with Apple Intelligence; and dealing with threats from President Donald Trump about adding a tariff to the iPhone if manufacturing isn't relocated to the US, the company's next iPhone launch will be a pivotal moment.
The burden is on Apple to deliver an exciting iPhone 17 lineup that includes big changes to the iPhone Pro models as well as a new iPhone Air version. But the "regular" base iPhone is due for some TLC, especially its display. Fortunately, there are three rumors circulating that point to the iPhone 17's screen coming with a sizable update. Taken together, they suggest the screen on the iPhone 17 could be one of the largest updates to a base iPhone display in a long time.
Apple hasn't announced anything yet or confirmed any of these rumors. And we won't know what's what for certain until the next iPhone is officially released. For more leaks, check out CNET's iPhone 17 rumor roundup.
The iPhone 17's high-refresh-rate display (120Hz)
The Razer Phone had a screen that was ideal for gaming and that ended up being the de facto standard on most phones today. Josh Miller/CNET
In 2018, the Razer Phone debuted with the first-ever high-refresh-rate display. Other phones at the time had screens locked at a static 60Hz. The Razer Phone was aimed at gamers, and having a screen with a high refresh rate made gameplay look more immersive. It also made mundane things, like system animations or scrolling a social or news feed, look smooth and dynamic.
In 2025, nearly every major phone, including cheap ones costing less than $300, has a 90Hz or 120Hz screen -- well, except the iPhone. Apple first added Pro Motion displays (its name for a high-refresh-rate screen) in 2021, to the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max. But non-Pro models still have a static 60Hz display to this day. That should change soon.
The iPhone 17 will have a high-refresh-rate screen, according to a report from 9to5Mac. The story cites an X post from Young that's since been taken down. It's unclear if the screen will be identical to the one on the iPhone 16 Pro or if it'll be something different. But if the iPhone 17 gets an LTPO screen with an adaptive refresh rate (with 1 to 120Hz), that could also mean the "regular" base iPhone 17 will get support for an always-on display. That latter feature debuted on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, and is absent from the base iPhone 15 and iPhone 16.
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