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 varied leaks suggesting it may measure anyplace between 5mm and 6mm thick. That may make it the thinnest iPhone for the reason that iPhone 6, which was comparatively skinny for its time however notoriously identified for bending. I am going to admit that the prospect of Apple lastly altering the iPhone’s design after 5 years of stagnation excites me probably the most in regards to the iPhone 17 Air. Nonetheless, after studying this newest rumor, I am afraid Apple could be vulnerable to ruining the cellphone.

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

Once I learn this, I used to be stunned 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 accomplished.

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

Should you’re unfamiliar with ProMotion, it is an adaptive refresh price expertise that dynamically adjusts the show’s refresh price based mostly in your actions. Once you’re taking part in a recreation or scrolling, ProMotion will increase the refresh price to 120Hz, giving the picture a easy, fluid look. Nonetheless, if the next refresh price is not needed, it may cut back it to assist preserve battery life.

As an illustration, should you’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 is determined by 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 strategy to the iPhone, beginning with the iPhone 13 Professional. This expertise has been included in each Professional mannequin since then.

Final yr, when the iPhone 16 was launched, I used to be stunned 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 means of with it. Nonetheless, based mostly on this most up-to-date leak stating that the iPhone 17 Air will not embody ProMotion, it appears Apple may very well be chopping corners.

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Battery life will likely be a serious concern for the iPhone 17 Air

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

If the iPhone 17 Air would not have a ProMotion show, it theoretically implies that the cellphone will not be capable to dynamically modify the refresh price. As I discussed earlier, one of many largest benefits ProMotion affords is the power to scale down the refresh price to save lots of battery. And on slim smartphones, which do not have giant batteries as a consequence of dimension constraints, that is fairly vital.

Whereas it is unclear precisely how giant the battery within the iPhone 17 Air will likely be, it doubtless will not be as massive because the one discovered within the iPhone 17 Professional or the iPhone 17, naturally as a result of slim design of the cellphone. Because of this I imagine that if Apple decides to not embody ProMotion on the iPhone 17 Air, it could be one of many stupidest issues it is ever accomplished.

The iPhone 17 Air goes to be a cutting-edge cellphone; there isn’t any doubt about it. Whereas its distinctive slim design is bound to draw numerous consideration, one of many largest considerations individuals could have is battery life. The S25 Edge proves this will likely be a difficulty. Eradicating a battery life characteristic like ProMotion would not assist alleviate any of these considerations and is simply plain weird.

In fact, I wish to be very clear that every one my considerations are based mostly on Mounted Focus Digital’s leak. Whereas they have been right up to now about some issues, corresponding to confirming the identify of the iPhone 16e, they’ve been incorrect about others, together with the variety of colour choices out there for the iPhone 16. So it is doable this leak will not be true.

Personally, I hope this leak seems to be false as a result of I might like to see ProMotion on the iPhone 17 Air. However then additionally, understanding 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.

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