Affiliate Disclosure
If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Read our ethics policy.

'iPhone 12 Pro' lineup predicted to have 120Hz ProMotion display

"iPhone 12" renders from a combination of leaked CAD designs and allegedly leaked information

Last updated

A prolific Android leaker has chimed in on the "iPhone 12 Pro" and is expecting at least some of the new models to have a 120Hz ProMotion display.

Previous rumors about the fall 2020 iPhone refresh have pointed to Apple offering up to four models, spread across standard "iPhone 12" and higher-level "iPhone 12 Pro" tiers, with differing display sizes and other features. What has varied, is if the device will have a ProMotion display refreshing at 120Hz, or not.

A new rumor, published on Friday, suggests that the technology will be included in the fall in the "Pro" level phones.

Apple is expected to offer two "iPhone 12" models and two "Pro" versions, with one of each being a larger "Max" variant. The standard tier is said to have 5.4-inch and 6.1-inch OLED displays made by BOE, while the Pro models reportedly have 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch screens made by Samsung and will feature a 10-bit color depth.

iPhone 12
iPhone 12 MaxiPhone 12 ProiPhone 12 Pro Max
Display5.4-inch BOE OLED Super Retina6.1-inch BOE OLED Super Retina6.1-inch Samsung OLED Super Retina XDR
with ProMotion and 10-bit Color Depth
6.7-inch Samsung OLED Super Retina XDR
with ProMotion and 10-bit Color Depth
Memory4GB4GB6GB6GB
Storage128GB, 256GB128GB, 256GB128GB, 256GB, 512GB128GB, 256GB, 512GB
BodyAluminumAluminumStainless SteelStainless Steel
Rear CamerasDual cameraDual cameraTriple camera + LiDARTriple camera + LiDAR
Pricing$649, $749$749, $849$999, $1,099, $1,299$1,099, $1,199, $1,399

The Pro models are expected to have 6GB of application RAM, versus the non-Pro models having 4GB. The Pro versions allegedly have a stainless steel body versus an aluminum body, while the usual triple camera setup on the Pro will also have LiDAR, whereas the non-Pro will have a dual-camera arrangement.

The "iPhone 12" is predicted to cost $649 for the 128GB-capacity version, rising to $749 for 256GB, and the Max version is said to cost $749 and $849 for each respective capacity.

For reference, the current iPhone 11 range starts from $699, indicating the "iPhone 12" will be cheaper at launch by $50. The iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max start from $999 and $1,099, so there seems to be little movement on price for the higher-specification 2020 models.

Previous reports have postulated that the "iPhone 12" would have the 120Hz ProMotion display. There is reportedly internal conflict over inclusion, and it is likely to ship with the feature supported, but whether it will be enabled will depend on battery life.

Friday's report comes from a source with a long track record on Android devices, including within Samsung's supply chain, which notably. supplies the OLED iPhones for Apple. This appears to be the first Apple-related leak from the source.



21 Comments

red oak 13 Years · 1104 comments

My guess:  iPhone  11 stays in the lineup at $549.  XR also at $449.   SE gets lowered to $349 

These price points could really drive UNIT share, which Apple has been reluctant to do so far 

Could be a real game changer vs Android 

wood1208 10 Years · 2938 comments

iPhone 11 will continue champion among Phone buyers. iPhone 12 line is well thought through with price vs features. Customers will reward with purchases.

GeorgeBMac 8 Years · 11421 comments

So, what does 120Hz refresh do for you?   Is it only for gaming?
Likewise:
What is "10 bit color depth" and what does that do for you?   (actually, sounds suspiciously like "a two-bit frill").

Should I be excited about either of these?  Do they justify the 2/3's markup over the base iPhone 12?   (Yeh, I know there are other sifferences, but they don't interest me)

rattlhed 13 Years · 153 comments

So, what does 120Hz refresh do for you?   Is it only for gaming?
Likewise:
What is "10 bit color depth" and what does that do for you?   (actually, sounds suspiciously like "a two-bit frill").

Should I be excited about either of these?  Do they justify the 2/3's markup over the base iPhone 12?   (Yeh, I know there are other sifferences, but they don't interest me)

Faster refresh rate means less screen blur when scrolling, display is sharper.  I have witnessed this when upgrading to a 144hz gaming monitor from my old standard 60hz. Even in Windows when moving windows around the screen and scrolling web pages the display is so much easier on the eyes.  Motion blur is almost non-existent and it's more like reading a page in a book vs. a digital screen.  You have to see it to understand but it's a big upgrade.  How this translates to a smaller form factor like a phone I can't say, but it sure sounds promising.
Faster refresh also means better registering of physical input.  Taps, pinch to zoom, etc. all respond better since the screen is taking faster inputs.  Should create a better interface feeling with the phone.  
As for whether the price increase is justified we'll just have to wait until we get our hands on it.  I have an 11 Pro and I'm still not sure I'll be upgrading this year or waiting until next year.  A lot depends on what Lydar has to offer and if the camera upgrades are significant enough.  My 11 Pro is still a workhorse, battery is going strong after 9 months and it's snappier as always, so it's going to have to impress a lot to get me to pay for the next version.

aderutter 17 Years · 625 comments

So, what does 120Hz refresh do for you?   Is it only for gaming?
Likewise:
What is "10 bit color depth" and what does that do for you?   (actually, sounds suspiciously like "a two-bit frill").

Should I be excited about either of these?  Do they justify the 2/3's markup over the base iPhone 12?   (Yeh, I know there are other sifferences, but they don't interest me)

Personally I’m more excited by 10bit color than the 120Hz refresh.
I think at times color depth is even more important than resolution.
Going from 8 bit to 10 bit is not a small jump. 

This means a 10-bit image can display up to 1.07 billion colors, while an 8-bit photo can only display 16.7 million.”

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/video/tips-and-solutions/8-bit-10-bit-what-does-it-all-mean-for-your-videos