Apple’s standard iPhone has finally beaten Samsung to the 120Hz finish line. On the iPhone 16, the company gives its mainstream model an adaptive high‑refresh display, catching up to a trend started by Android phones as far back as 2017 and embraced by Apple’s premium phones since 2021.
The new 6.3‑inch LTPO OLED panel ramps between 1Hz and 120Hz so everything looks more fluid – from scrolling, to gaming, to your always‑on display, which sips power. It comes alongside improved resilience and brightness, correcting the key criticism of recent base iPhones — a flagship price shacked to a 60Hz screen while budget Android handsets have moved further on.
Apple brings 120Hz to the regular iPhone
On paper, the Display Package sets the right tone. The LTPO (low‑temperature polycrystalline oxide) backplane permits a genuine 1–120Hz spectrum, dynamically dialing down refresh for static content on the screen to save battery, and then spiking back up to 120Hz when you’re flicking through feeds, scrolling maps or firing up a 120fps title. The contrast is easily evident in fluidity of UI and touch response.
Hardware refinements extend beyond refresh. Apple claims “Ceramic Shield 2” helps make the front glass more durable and adds an anti‑reflective coating designed to reduce screen glare in bright light. Peak outdoor brightness raises, too, to a claimed 3,000 nits, vs. 2,000 nits on the prior generation—a level of maximum iPhone readability in bright sun that now stands comparison with the brightest screens that are being advertised today. Real‑world luminance will vary based on thermal limits and content, but the spec bump is significant.
Seven years late: what took so long?
Apple’s timing isn’t just stubbornness. The high refresh had been an intentional Pro‑line distinguishing feature for a few cycles, and there were practical obstacles. Analysts at Display Supply Chain Consultants have long said that LTPO presents complications and expense in the manufacturing process; scaling it up to the massive volumes a base iPhone would need demands mature yield rates and a diversified supplier base. Patience also makes it easier for Apple to meet strict battery life goals, without letting the devices become too large.
There’s a business angle, too. By delaying 120Hz, Apple kept a compelling reason to upsell customers to high-end models. Bringing it to the standard model at this point means that the supply chain, cost structure, and power efficiency are now finally in line… without having to make a price move that detunes the move to the flagship range.
Android blazes the high‑refresh trail
The milestone mirrors a much‑documented trajectory on Android. 2017’s gamer‑centric Razer Phone hit the headlines with a 120Hz LCD. By 2019, the likes of the OnePlus 7 Pro and the Pixel 4 had popularised 90Hz, while Samsung’s Galaxy S20 family bet the farm on 120Hz in 2020. Within a year or two, the tech trickled down further: The likes of the Poco X3 and the Galaxy A52 delivered 120Hz to midrange budgets, even if that was usually LCD or narrow-adaptive-range OLED screens.
Flagships then layered in LTPO. Devices such as the Galaxy S21 Ultra and other high‑end models from vendors have since taken on 1–120Hz (or thereabouts) behavior, making it possible to have always‑on displays with almost no standby drain. Family iPhone 13 Pro became members of that club in 2021, but regular non‑Pro iPhone buyers continued to be “stuck” at 60Hz when they were paying premium dollar.
What buyers should expect
Day to day, a 120Hz screen feels faster, even though it does not alter CPU performance. Text scrolls can still remain readable even when moving at speed, animations can appear more natural, and competitive games that support 120fps will be able to feel even more responsive due to perceived latency being reduced. The LTPO backplane is so important because it reins in the power penalty, to a paltry 1Hz for static widgets, or always‑on lock screen.
The brighter, less reflective panel should improve outdoor usability, which has been a pain point for many a mobile photographer, commuter, or just someone staring at maps on the sidewalk under the midday sun, and paired with tougher front glass, the total display experience finally matches what buyers would expect picking up devices in this price tier on either ecosystem.
Bottom line
High‑refresh displays ceased to be an Android novelty a long time ago. The iPhone 17 is Apple finally bringing the standard iPhone up to speed—here’s 120Hz, adaptive LTPO tech, a brighter panel, as well as tougher glass all in one go. It’s late, but meaningful. But for many shoppers who skipped past the Pro line just to get a smoother screen, that last big reason to step up has finally vanished.
