For two years, Apple has reserved its LTPO displays for its high-end iPhone lineup, and according to earlier reports, there will be no change in the launch strategy for the iPhone 15 family. Fortunately, consumers will not have to wait long to see LTPO technology on the less expensive models, as the company is said to bring it to the entire iPhone 17 series.
With LTPO support, the less expensive iPhone 17 versions will gain ProMotion, a feature that has been exclusive to Apple’s ‘Pro’ range of products
For 2023, Apple’s strategy would be to retain ProMotion support for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. For 2025, Display Supply Chain Consultants founder and CEO Ross Young believes that Apple will introduce a shift in strategy, bringing LTPO technology to the less expensive iPhone models, which we will refer to as iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Plus for now. This feature will give these versions improved battery life and the much-coveted ProMotion support, bringing a high refresh rate option to these handsets.
Unfortunately, as much as we can rejoice that Apple is reportedly bringing this technology to the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Plus, keep in mind that LTPO panels are an expensive component, which is why it is currently reserved for the MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro family. This means that if the cheaper models finally start touting these displays, Apple will have an excuse to charge its customers more. The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are also rumored to get a price bike, and two years from now, the situation could be entirely different for the entire series.
Apple to go all LTPO in 2025, even base models to get 120Hz refresh, finally. https://t.co/n0ivg08pde pic.twitter.com/dwjGiHwn8u
— Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) April 3, 2023
There are a few unanswered questions that we have. Firstly, will Apple use the exact same LTPO panels as it will for the ‘Pro’ versions of the iPhone 17 lineup, which will include a higher resolution, improved touch sample rate, better color accuracy, and other attributes? Apple could save on component costs by procuring LTPO panels with a lower resolution and slightly downgraded specifications, as the majority of consumers will likely only care about getting that buttery-smooth high refresh experience.
We still think that Apple will continue to keep other specifications, such as the upgraded chipset and additional cameras exclusive to the ‘Pro’ iPhone models, unless Apple believes these changes to be a part of its future strategy too. Only time will tell, and though Young is a reliable source of information, he is not responsible for Apple’s final decisions, so we recommend that our readers treat this report with a pinch of salt.
News Source: Ross Young
