Excitement is already building for the <a href="https://news.quantosei.com/2025/07/04/leaked-apple-roadmap-reveals-every-mac-launching-through-2026/” title=”Apple Mac Roadmap Leak Reveals Every Model Through 2026″>iphone 17, even though its anticipated launch is still months away, likely in September 2025. Among the steady stream of rumors circulating – suggesting changes like a new front camera, faster MagSafe, or even fresh color options – the display stands out as a critical area ripe for significant upgrades. For years, particularly on the standard base model, the screen has been a point of contention, especially when compared to the rapid advancements seen across the rest of the smartphone industry.
The iPhone 16, for instance, debuted retaining a 60Hz display. This is despite its premium price point starting at $829. Meanwhile, many competing smartphones, including those in lower price brackets, widely feature high-refresh-rate screens offering 90Hz or even 120Hz. These smoother displays drastically improve the visual experience, making scrolling through apps, navigating the interface, and playing games feel noticeably more fluid and premium. Given that Apple’s own Pro models have boasted higher refresh rates (branded as ProMotion) since 2021, the continued absence on the base iPhone models has been a source of frustration for many users and reviewers alike.
The upcoming iPhone 17 launch unfolds against a backdrop of considerable pressure for Apple. The company is navigating challenges ranging from a major US Department of Justice antitrust lawsuit and public criticism regarding its pace in the AI race (even after the introduction of Apple Intelligence at WWDC 2025) to potential trade threats. As highlighted by coverage of WWDC 2025, Apple is clearly focusing on significant software evolution with its “Liquid Glass” design language and deeper AI integration. However, delivering impactful hardware changes with the next iPhone is equally pivotal. While leaks point to notable changes for the iPhone 17 Pro models and even a rumored new iPhone Air variant, the base iPhone is long overdue for substantial attention, particularly concerning its display technology.
Fortunately, several compelling rumors suggest the iPhone 17 display could receive some of the most impactful updates seen on a standard iPhone model in recent history. These changes, if they materialize, could finally bring the base iPhone’s screen technology closer to par with, or even surpass, many current competitors. While Apple maintains tight secrecy and has not announced or confirmed any details, these leaks paint an exciting picture of what’s to come.
Key Rumors Hinting at a Major iPhone 17 Display Overhaul
The display is arguably the window into any smartphone experience, and whispers suggest Apple is ready to give the base iPhone 17 screen a serious refresh. Three specific rumors have gained traction, pointing towards significant improvements in size, smoothness, and durability. Let’s explore each in detail.
A Larger 6.3-inch Display Expected
For generations, specifically since the iPhone 12, the standard iPhone model has featured a 6.1-inch screen. This size was maintained even for the iPhone 16, despite its Pro counterpart adopting a slightly larger 6.3-inch display. According to reliable supply-chain analyst Ross Young, this size discrepancy is set to change with the iPhone 17. He suggests the base iPhone 17 will also feature a 6.3-inch display.
While this might disappoint users who favor more compact phones (especially given the history of the smaller 5.4-inch Mini models being discontinued), a larger screen generally enhances media consumption, browsing, and app usage. Interestingly, if Apple achieves this increased screen real estate by further shrinking the bezels around the display, as they did when moving the Pro models to the 6.3-inch size, the physical dimensions of the iPhone 17 might remain largely similar to the iPhone 16. This would provide a bigger screen without necessarily making the phone itself much larger, a design approach Apple has refined over the years since major shifts like the flat-edge design introduced with the iPhone 12 series.
Finally, a High-Refresh-Rate 120Hz Screen
Perhaps the most anticipated and needed upgrade for the base iPhone display is the addition of a high refresh rate. The concept isn’t new; phones like the Razer Phone pioneered high refresh rates back in 2018, offering a significantly smoother visual experience compared to the standard 60Hz screens prevalent at the time. This technology, initially appealing to gamers, quickly demonstrated its value for everyday tasks like scrolling feeds and navigating menus, making the entire user experience feel more responsive and fluid.
Fast forward to 2025, and high refresh rates (90Hz or 120Hz) are now standard on nearly all major smartphones, even many budget-friendly options under $300. Yet, Apple’s non-Pro iPhones have remained anchored at 60Hz. This stands in stark contrast to the iPhone Pro models, which received Apple’s ProMotion adaptive refresh rate technology (up to 120Hz) starting with the iPhone 13 Pro lineup in 2021. Fortunately, a report from 9to5Mac, citing an earlier post from Ross Young, indicates this long wait is nearing its end.
The iPhone 17 is rumored to finally gain a high-refresh-rate screen. While specifics remain somewhat unclear, there’s speculation it could feature an LTPO panel. LTPO (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide) technology is crucial for adaptive refresh rates, allowing the display to dynamically adjust its refresh rate down to as low as 1Hz. This adaptability is key for power efficiency and is the technology that enables Apple’s Always-On Display feature, first introduced on the iPhone 14 Pro models and currently absent from base iPhones. If the iPhone 17 gets an LTPO screen with a 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate, it’s highly likely the Always-On Display feature would also finally make its way to the standard iPhone model. This move aligns with Apple’s strategy of bringing previously Pro-exclusive display features to lower tiers over time, much like how advanced display tech like LTPO3 enabling faster Always-On refresh has appeared on devices like the Apple Watch Series 10.
Enhanced Durability with New Ceramic Shield
Apple introduced Ceramic Shield, a display cover material incorporating nano-ceramic crystals, with the iPhone 12 lineup, touting it as a significant step up in drop resistance. However, like any screen material, it wasn’t completely impervious to scratches from everyday use. Last year’s iPhone 16 Pro models received an updated version of Ceramic Shield, a change not applied to the base iPhone 16 or 16 Plus. Real-world testing and long-term use have suggested this updated material offers improved scratch resistance.
Now, a rumor shared by Weibo user Instant Digital suggests the iPhone 17 could arrive with an even more robust display. This new coating might potentially differ from the existing Ceramic Shield. Adding to the excitement, there’s also been talk, initially reported by MacRumors (though with a note of caution), that this new screen technology could include an anti-reflective coating, similar to one rumored for other flagship phones like the Galaxy S25 Ultra. While the anti-reflective layer might face manufacturing hurdles that could lead to it being dropped, the prospect of a significantly more scratch-resistant display for the base iPhone 17 remains a strong possibility. Given the investment many users make in their phones, enhanced durability is a practical upgrade that offers considerable value.
Analyzing the Potential Impact of iPhone 17 Display Upgrades
Taken together, these rumored updates – a larger 6.3-inch size, a 120Hz ProMotion adaptive refresh rate, and increased durability – represent a potentially transformative leap for the base iPhone display. While a size increase is a welcome evolution, the addition of a high refresh rate is arguably the most impactful upgrade from a day-to-day user experience perspective. It finally closes a significant gap with competitors and eliminates a major point of criticism that has lingered for years.
Bringing features like LTPO and potentially Always-On Display from the Pro models down to the standard iPhone 17 further blurs the lines between the tiers, offering premium functionality to a wider audience. This strategy aligns with Apple’s pattern of gradually democratizing technology across their lineup, though the pace can sometimes feel slow to users eager for the latest features. Compared to the more incremental improvements seen on other Apple devices like the Apple Watch Series 10, these rumored display changes for the base iPhone 17 feel genuinely substantial, addressing core user desires and market expectations that have been unmet for several generations. If these leaks prove accurate, the iPhone 17 display could indeed stand out as one of the most compelling reasons for users of older base models to finally upgrade.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main rumored display upgrades for the base iPhone 17?
Leaked information suggests the standard iPhone 17 model could receive three key display enhancements. These include an increase in screen size from 6.1 inches to 6.3 inches, matching the size introduced on the iPhone 16 Pro. More significantly, the base iPhone 17 is widely rumored to finally gain a high-refresh-rate 120Hz ProMotion display. Additionally, rumors point towards a more durable screen, potentially featuring a new, more scratch-resistant version of Ceramic Shield or a similar advanced coating.
Why is the high-refresh-rate display on the base iPhone 17 considered a major upgrade?
The addition of a high-refresh-rate display (likely 120Hz ProMotion) is viewed as a major upgrade because base iPhone models have been limited to a standard 60Hz refresh rate for years. This is notable because most competitor smartphones, including many mid-range and budget devices, already offer 90Hz or 120Hz screens. A higher refresh rate provides significantly smoother scrolling, more fluid animations, and a generally more premium visual experience, addressing a key area where the base iPhone has lagged behind the market and Apple’s own Pro models.
Will the iPhone 17 display include features like Always-On Display or improved scratch resistance?
Based on current rumors, there is a strong possibility the iPhone 17 display will gain both Always-On Display functionality and improved scratch resistance. The rumor about the iPhone 17 getting a 120Hz screen often includes speculation that it will utilize LTPO technology, which enables the adaptive refresh rates necessary for an Always-On Display feature (currently exclusive to iPhone Pro models since the 14 Pro). Separately, leaks suggest a new, more durable coating for the display, potentially an updated Ceramic Shield or a different material offering enhanced scratch resistance compared to previous base models.
Looking Ahead
The wait for the iPhone 17 continues, but the rumors surrounding its display suggest Apple might finally be ready to deliver long-awaited upgrades to the base model. A larger size, the introduction of ProMotion 120Hz, and enhanced durability could collectively make the iPhone 17’s screen a highlight feature, addressing past criticisms and bringing the standard model firmly into the modern era of smartphone displays. While we won’t know for certain until Apple’s official unveiling, these leaks build anticipation for what could be a truly pivotal release, especially for users considering a non-Pro iPhone.
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