Last week, I erased my trusty iPhone 16 Pro Max, installed a new screen protector, and bought a new case to make the device feel brand new. Just like last year and the year before that, it was time to complete the annual handover and give my wife an upgrade.
Unlike last year, when I waited until my new iPhone’s arrival, I decided to let go of my flagship device and put my SIM card in an iPhone 13 mini that I had lying around. The tiny iPhone, released in 2021, despite having a vocal following, wasn’t a commercial success, leading Apple to shift its priorities to other devices in the lineup.
Why am I talking about my time with the iPhone 13 mini? I hear you ask. Well, despite owning a unit, it was never a device that I actually used; instead, it was bought for testing purposes and rarely sees the light of day.
In fact, I’ve upgraded my iPhone every year since 2015, and because I always buy a Pro, I’ve not used a base model without ProMotion since the technology launched the same year as the 13 mini as part of the iPhone 13 Pro.
After a week with the mini, I have my thoughts, and to be perfectly honest, the tech feels incredibly outdated. That said, it’s not because of the chip or the software; in fact, it can handle tasks pretty easily. It’s instead because of the display… and that’s all about to change.
60Hz hasn’t been good enough for years
In case you haven’t heard, the iPhone 17 launches tomorrow (September 19), and it’s the first time that all new iPhones, including the base model, have a ProMotion 120Hz display.
What does that mean exactly? Well, a ProMotion display has a refresh rate that is double that of the ones found on the iPhone 16, iPhone 15, iPhone 14, and so on. That means any Apple user upgrading from an older non-Pro iPhone will experience the beauty of silky smooth refresh rates on their smartphone for the first time.
I’ve been an advocate for 120Hz on all iPhones for years; in fact, it was the main reason I would always opt for the Pro models when buying a new device. The majority of Android smartphones have similar LTPO displays, which allow the refresh rate to go from anywhere between 120Hz and 1Hz, unlocking the ability to have an always-on display.
While I thought I knew how vital 120Hz was to me, I don’t think I quite grasped how important it actually is. This week has absolutely emphasized to me that everyone should experience the wonderful world of ProMotion.
Time to move on with our lives
The stark difference in user experience is evident as soon as you move from a faster refresh screen back to 60Hz – it almost feels like you’re doing everything in slow motion.
Even after adapting slightly to the experience, using the iPhone 13 mini feels unbearable, almost as if the brain of the chip is working faster than the display’s ability to showcase what’s on screen.
Anyone who’s tried 120Hz knows they just can’t go back to the lagginess of other displays, and in my time working in Apple Retail, I experienced it firsthand. For many people, as soon as they picked up a ProMotion device, the lightning-fast refresh rate made them fork out the extra cash.
Take a look at even last year’s iPhones, the 16 is significantly slower than the 16 Pro despite having a very powerful chip in its own right. However, with a laggy display in comparison to the ProMotion on offer in the Pro, it just can’t stack up.
Now Apple has decided that 120Hz ProMotion is the future of iPhone, and just like when the company got rid of 64GB storage, I can breathe a sigh of relief that we consumers don’t have to pay more to have a good user experience.
An iPhone is a sheet of glass that you interact with directly via your fingers, and that touch input needs the smoothest experience possible. Now the 17 has that same experience as the more expensive devices in the lineup; not only should most people opt for the base model, but for many, it warrants an upgrade in its own right.
I used an iPhone 13 mini for a week, but this feeling of being stuck in sand would be apparent on any iPhone with a slower refresh rate screen. Not only am I glad that I no longer have to argue that 120Hz shouldn’t be a pro feature, but I’m also so happy I’ll never have to experience 60Hz iPhone technology again.
My iPhone 17 arrives tomorrow, and I cannot wait to get back to the future.
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