Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile
  3. Guides

Does the iPhone 14 have a 120Hz display?

Hinshal Sharma
By

Apple’s iPhone 14 lineup is now official, comprising four smartphones: the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max. The phones — especially the Pro models — get nice new upgrades over last year’s iPhone 13 series. The 14 Plus replaces the iPhone 13 Mini with a much larger display, and the Pro variants get the Dynamic Island: a pill-shaped cutout to house the selfie camera and Face ID sensors.

An important feature the non-Pro variants of the iPhone 13 series missed out on was a display with a faster refresh rate. So, you might wonder whether the new iPhone 14 has a 120Hz display or not. Sadly, Apple has again decided to keep higher refresh rate screens exclusive to the more expensive Pro variants only.

Recommended Videos

The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus both pack a 60Hz display

Someone holding an iPhone 14 with the display on, showing the Home Screen.
Joe Maring/Digital Trends

If you’re planning to get the iPhone 14 or the iPhone 14 Plus, you’ll have to make do with a 60Hz display. This is a little annoying, as there are Android smartphones out there offering 120Hz displays, despite costing one-third of the new iPhones.

Related

To experience a faster refresh rate on a new iPhone, you’ll need to spend a little extra and buy one of the Pro variants instead. The iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max both ship with a ProMotion display, which allows for an adaptive refresh rate of 1Hz to 120Hz. The refresh rate goes all the way down to 1Hz, in order to save battery. Moreover, the Pro models get a bunch of other new exclusive features, like Dynamic Island and Always On Display.

Having said that, the iPhone 14’s display should not let you down, even without a 120Hz refresh rate. Apple’s animations are better than its competitors, and thanks to iOS’s optimizations, you’re going to get a more fluid experience compared to other phones with a similar refresh rate. Basically, the 60Hz display on the iPhone 14 feels smoother than the 60Hz panels of most Android smartphones.

However, if you compare the iPhone 14’s display with the Pro variants or with other smartphones rocking a 120Hz panel, there’s going to be a noticeable difference. A phone with a 120Hz display will be more fluid and smooth than one with a 60Hz panel, though it won’t be something you’ll notice until you use a 120Hz display. So stay away from the iPhone 14 Pro, and your iPhone 14 will probably feel just fine.

Apple versus the competition

In the Android world, a lot of midrange phones come with a 120Hz display, and we’ve even seen 144Hz panels on a few premium smartphones. While 60Hz displays on Android are becoming less and less common, Apple is still sticking with a 60Hz panel for the iPhone 14. Hopefully, the next iteration of the iPhones might use ProMotion displays with a higher refresh rate as standard, but for now, you’ll have to stick with 60Hz on the standard iPhone.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Hinshal Sharma
Hinshal Sharma
Mobile Writer
Hinshal is a Tech Journalist covering tech news and feature pieces for over four years. Apart from Digital Trends, he has…
The iPhone’s futuristic satellite tech isn’t coming to Android any time soon
The Google Pixel 8's screen.

It could take a while before Android phones allow satellite connectivity to assist users in emergency scenarios, thanks in no part to Qualcomm canceling its ambitious Snapdragon Satellite plans. Apple introduced satellite SOS support last year with the iPhone 14 series, with the intention of helping people when they are out of cellular or broadband coverage range.

The feature allows you to text emergency responders, share locations, and request roadside assistance. But not long after, hope emerged for Android phones. Earlier this year, Qualcomm announced Snapdragon Satellite, with the goal of aping Apple’s initiative for Android phones.

Read more
iPhone update fixes troublesome bug that broke NFC features for some users
A person holding the Apple iPhone 15 Plus and Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Apple’s latest iPhone update has addressed an irksome bug that caused Apple Pay and other NFC features on iPhone 15 handsets to stop working after charging the device using BMW’s in-car wireless chargers.

Yes, it’s a somewhat peculiar problem, and troublesome, too, especially considering that it could also affect the proper operation of the BMW’s digital car key. But the good news is that Apple’s release of iOS 17.1.1 on Tuesday finally resolves it.

Read more
These 5 iPhone 15 problems are annoying. Here’s how to fix them
Apple iPhone 15 Plus and Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max seen from the back.

Apple iPhone 15 Plus (left) and Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Apple launched the iPhone 15 lineup in September, and it seems to have been a big hit among the public. The standard iPhone 15 is one of the biggest upgrades for the regular model in quite some time, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max now has one of the best camera systems available on a smartphone today.

Read more