Apple recently announced some new iPhones — perhaps you’ve already heard? The iPhone 16 family is upon us, and it’s an interesting mix of expected and surprise upgrades. The regular iPhone 16 has a fresh new design, the Camera Control button is fascinating, and there’s a welcome spec bump with Apple’s latest A18 chip.
However, one aspect of the iPhone 16 didn’t change at all — and it’s an important one. For all of the upgrades and new features on the iPhone 16, the display remains nearly identical to the one on the iPhone 15. Unfortunately, that means another year of a 60Hz refresh rate.
Another year, another 60Hz display
The first iPhone with a 120Hz display was the iPhone 13 Pro, released in 2021. At the time, we had already had years of Android phones with 90Hz and 120Hz screens, so Apple was already trailing behind. Still, it was nice to finally have an iPhone without a 60Hz display.
Unfortunately, while 120Hz screens have continued to be on all of the new Pro iPhones each year, the baseline iPhone has yet to see the feature. That means the
When your smartphone has a faster refresh rate, it means that the screen is refreshing whatever is on the display at a faster pace. A
This is most noticeable when scrolling through an app or playing a game, or with other animations/movements happening on your screen. The faster your refresh rate, the smoother and more fluid everything looks. It’s a significant difference that’s difficult to explain or show on video, but is very noticeable in person. A phone with a 120Hz refresh rate looks buttery smooth, while a 60Hz refresh rate looks slow and choppy. It’s not unusable, but it’s a noticeably worse user experience — and a pretty significant one at that.
A fast refresh rate is not a Pro feature
If it were an industry standard that only $1,000-plus smartphones got 120Hz displays, I’d be happy to give Apple a pass and not have this conversation. But the problem is that things couldn’t be further from the truth.
Take a look at the
These are just a few examples, but this is largely the case across the board for
Yet, for whatever reason, Apple hasn’t gotten the memo that 120Hz displays are a table stakes
If Samsung, Google, or any other
This needs to change
Does an outdated 60Hz display mean you shouldn’t consider buying the iPhone 16 or 16 Plus? For most people, probably not. The 60Hz screens on the
I am looking forward to spending more time with the iPhone 16, particularly with its Camera Control button and new design. I just wish it had the modern screen it deserves — and you should, too. A 60Hz screen may not be the end of the world, but it is an unreasonable spec for a phone of this caliber in 2024. You deserve better, and Apple should do better.
