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 concerning the iPhone 17 Air, the supposed ultra-thin iPhone that Apple is anticipated 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 might measure anyplace between 5mm and 6mm thick. That might 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 is perhaps vulnerable to ruining the telephone.

In keeping with Fixed Focus Digital, a widely known leaker on the Chinese language social media platform Weibo, the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air may have only a “a traditional 120hz display, however not ProMotion adaptive refresh price” (through 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 will simply be one of many dumbest issues Apple has ever carried out.

It dynamically adjusts the show’s refresh price to avoid wasting battery

For those who’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 enjoying a recreation or scrolling, ProMotion will increase the refresh price to 120Hz, giving the picture a easy, fluid look. Nonetheless, if a better refresh price is not obligatory, it may well scale back it to assist preserve battery life.

As an illustration, when 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 to warrant boosting the refresh price to 120Hz, thus saving battery. Moreover, ProMotion permits the Professional mannequin iPhones to assist 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 method 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 way 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 could possibly be slicing corners.

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

Do not get me flawed; it is nice that the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air could have 120Hz refresh price shows. It is 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 like 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 gives is the flexibility to scale down the refresh price to avoid wasting battery. And on slim smartphones, which do not have massive batteries as a consequence of measurement constraints, that is fairly necessary.

Whereas it is unclear precisely how massive the battery within the iPhone 17 Air will probably be, it doubtless will not be as huge because the one discovered within the iPhone 17 Professional or the iPhone 17, naturally because of the slim design of the telephone. For this reason I consider that if Apple decides to not embody ProMotion on the iPhone 17 Air, it is perhaps one of many stupidest issues it is ever carried out.

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 quite a lot of consideration, one of many largest considerations folks may have is battery life. The S25 Edge proves this will probably be a difficulty. Eradicating a battery life characteristic like ProMotion does not assist alleviate any of these considerations and is simply plain weird.

After all, I need to be very clear that each one my considerations are based mostly on Fastened Focus Digital’s leak. Whereas they have been right prior to now about some issues, akin to confirming the title of the iPhone 16e, they’ve been incorrect about others, together with the variety of colour choices obtainable for the iPhone 16. So it is potential 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, figuring out 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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