ProMotion is Apple’s name for an adaptive refresh rate display. Instead of refreshing at one fixed speed all the time, the screen can move between low and high refresh rates depending on what you are doing.
ProMotion began on Pro iPhones with iPhone 13 Pro models and later expanded in newer lineups. Check Apple’s current specs for your exact model because availability changes by generation.
Does This Affect You?
Use this if you are comparing iPhones and want to know why some screens feel smoother when scrolling or gaming. ProMotion affects motion smoothness, not screen resolution.
What ProMotion Does
- A typical non-ProMotion iPhone display refreshes at 60 Hz, or 60 times per second.
- A ProMotion display can refresh up to 120 Hz for smoother scrolling, swiping, and animations.
- The refresh rate is adaptive, so it can drop low when the screen is mostly static to save power.
- Low refresh capability also helps features such as Always-On Display on supported models.
There is no app to open and no ProMotion switch to enable. If the hardware supports it, iOS manages it automatically across the system and apps.
Where You Notice It
- Fast scrolling in Safari, Messages, Settings, and long lists.
- Swiping between Home Screens and opening animations.
- Games and apps that support higher frame rates.
- Lock Screen and Always-On behavior on models that include that display feature.
If you are unsure whether your iPhone has ProMotion, open Settings > General > About and compare the Model Name with Apple’s specifications.
Settings That Affect It
Low Power Mode
Low Power Mode can reduce the maximum refresh rate to save battery, which makes motion look more like a standard 60 Hz display until Low Power Mode is off.
Reduce Motion
Settings > Accessibility > Motion > Reduce Motion changes iOS animations, but it is separate from the ProMotion hardware.
Battery Impact
Because ProMotion is adaptive, it is not running at maximum refresh every second. The extra battery use mostly comes during scrolling, gaming, or other active motion.
Sources
- Apple: iPhone display technology
- Apple Support: About Low Power Mode on iPhone
- Apple Support: Use StandBy on iPhone