If this iPhone 17 Air rumor is true, Apple is making an enormous mistake

For the previous few months, the rumor mill has been in full swing relating to the iPhone 17 Air, the supposed ultra-thin iPhone that Apple is predicted to launch later this yr alongside the remainder of the iPhone 17 lineup.

It is rumored to be the thinnest iPhone ever, with numerous leaks suggesting it may measure wherever between 5mm and 6mm thick. That will make it the thinnest iPhone because the iPhone 6, which was comparatively skinny for its time however notoriously recognized for bending. I will admit that the prospect of Apple lastly altering the iPhone’s design after 5 years of stagnation excites me probably the most concerning the iPhone 17 Air. Nonetheless, after studying this newest rumor, I am afraid Apple may be susceptible to ruining the telephone.

In response to Fixed Focus Digital, a widely known leaker on the Chinese language social media platform Weibo, the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air can have only a “a traditional 120hz display screen, however not ProMotion adaptive refresh price” (through 9to5Mac).

Once I learn this, I used to be greatly surprised instantly. If this leak seems to be true, and the iPhone 17 Air has a 120Hz show with out ProMotion, it might simply be one of many dumbest issues Apple has ever achieved.

It dynamically adjusts the show’s refresh price to save lots of battery

For those who’re unfamiliar with ProMotion, it is an adaptive refresh price know-how that dynamically adjusts the show’s refresh price based mostly in your actions. While you’re taking part in a sport or scrolling, ProMotion will increase the refresh price to 120Hz, giving the picture a clean, fluid look. Nonetheless, if a better refresh price is not essential, it might cut back it to assist preserve battery life.

As an example, for those who’re viewing a static picture in your iPhone, ProMotion can decrease the refresh price to as little as 1Hz, since there’s no movement on the display screen to warrant boosting the refresh price to 120Hz, thus saving battery. Moreover, ProMotion permits the Professional mannequin iPhones to help All the time On Show (AOD), as that mode will depend on an adaptive refresh price to function with out considerably draining battery life.

ProMotion first appeared on the second-generation iPad Professional in 2017. It wasn’t till 2021 that it made its solution to the iPhone, beginning with the iPhone 13 Professional. This know-how has been included in each Professional mannequin since then.

Final yr, when the iPhone 16 was launched, I used to be shocked that Apple had not but added ProMotion to the usual iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Plus. So, once I learn the rumor that ProMotion can be included in all iPhone 17 fashions, I felt optimistic that Apple was lastly going by with it. Nonetheless, based mostly on this most up-to-date leak stating that the iPhone 17 Air will not embrace ProMotion, it appears Apple could possibly be reducing corners.

Associated

I finally found the PC that made me give up console gaming

I’ve gone over to the fidelity-filled darkish facet, and do not suppose I can return.

Battery life might be a serious concern for the iPhone 17 Air

Do not get me unsuitable; it is nice that the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air might have 120Hz refresh price shows. This can be a vital enchancment over 60Hz, and it’ll make utilizing them so a lot better. Nonetheless, with out ProMotion know-how bundled with that 120Hz show, it looks as if a half-baked effort.

If the iPhone 17 Air does not have a ProMotion show, it theoretically implies that the telephone will not be capable to dynamically alter the refresh price. As I discussed earlier, one of many largest benefits ProMotion provides is the flexibility to scale down the refresh price to save lots of battery. And on slim smartphones, which do not have massive batteries resulting from measurement constraints, that is fairly vital.

Whereas it is unclear precisely how massive the battery within the iPhone 17 Air might be, it possible will not be as large because the one discovered within the iPhone 17 Professional or the iPhone 17, naturally because of the slim design of the telephone. Because of this I imagine that if Apple decides to not embrace ProMotion on the iPhone 17 Air, it may be one of many stupidest issues it is ever achieved.

The iPhone 17 Air goes to be a cutting-edge telephone; there isn’t any doubt about it. Whereas its distinctive slim design is certain to draw a variety of consideration, one of many largest issues individuals can have is battery life. The S25 Edge proves this might be a problem. Eradicating a battery life characteristic like ProMotion does not assist alleviate any of these issues and is simply plain weird.

After all, I need to be very clear that every one my issues are based mostly on Mounted Focus Digital’s leak. Whereas they have been right previously about some issues, reminiscent of confirming the identify of the iPhone 16e, they’ve been incorrect about others, together with the variety of coloration choices out there for the iPhone 16. So it is doable this leak might not be true.

Personally, I hope this leak seems to be false as a result of I’d like to see ProMotion on the iPhone 17 Air. However then additionally, realizing Apple, which likes to do silly issues, I can simply see them eradicating it to economize, and to create a transparent distinction between the iPhone 17 Air and the Professional fashions.

Please, Apple, I urge you, put ProMotion on the iPhone 17 Air.

Associated

Apple’s next MagSafe charger might bring 45W speeds and Qi2.2 support

A regulatory leak reveals two new Apple MagSafe chargers within the works that help 45W of wi-fi charging.