Apple's ProMotion Technology Explained in Simple Terms
When Apple launches new iPhones, iPads, or MacBooks, it often highlights a feature called "ProMotion." While it sounds like a fancy marketing term, ProMotion is a real, tangible technology that significantly improves the user experience. But what is it, and what does it actually do? This guide will explain ProMotion in simple, easy-to-understand terms.
The Problem: The Trade-Off Between Smoothness and Battery Life
The screen on your phone, tablet, or computer doesn't display a static image. It's constantly refreshing itself multiple times per second. The speed at which it refreshes is called the "refresh rate," measured in Hertz (Hz).
- A standard screen (like on a base model iPhone) has a 60Hz refresh rate. This means the screen redraws itself 60 times every second.
- A higher refresh rate screen (e.g., 120Hz) redraws itself 120 times per second. This makes everything on the screen—scrolling, animations, games—look incredibly smooth and fluid.
The problem is that a high refresh rate uses a lot of battery power. For years, manufacturers had to choose: give users a super-smooth 120Hz screen and sacrifice battery life, or stick with a 60Hz screen to make the battery last all day.
The Solution: ProMotion's Adaptive Refresh Rate
ProMotion is Apple's elegant solution to this problem. Instead of being locked at one refresh rate, a ProMotion display is adaptive . It can intelligently and dynamically change its refresh rate on the fly, anywhere from a super-low 10Hz all the way up to a buttery-smooth 120Hz.
How ProMotion Works in Practice
The device's operating system automatically adjusts the refresh rate based on what you are doing:
- Scrolling through social media or a webpage: The screen will ramp up to 120Hz . This is where you'll notice the biggest difference. The text and images will glide under your finger with a smoothness that a 60Hz screen can't match.
- Watching a movie or video: Most films are shot at 24 frames per second (fps). ProMotion will match this, dropping the refresh rate to 24Hz or 48Hz . Running at 120Hz would be a waste of power, and ProMotion is smart enough to know this.
- Playing a high-performance game: For games that support it, the screen will lock in at 120Hz for the most responsive and fluid gameplay possible.
- Reading a static webpage or an e-book: If nothing on the screen is moving, ProMotion will drop the refresh rate all the way down to 10Hz . The screen only needs to refresh 10 times per second to show a static page. This dramatically saves battery life.
The Two Key Benefits of ProMotion
- Incredible Smoothness: The 120Hz capability makes everyday interactions with the device feel faster, more responsive, and more premium. Once you get used to a ProMotion display, a standard 60Hz screen can feel sluggish or "jittery" by comparison. It's a true "quality of life" improvement that you feel every time you touch the screen.
- Improved Battery Life: This is the unsung hero of the technology. By intelligently lowering the refresh rate when high speeds aren't needed, ProMotion saves a significant amount of power. It allows Apple to provide the "best of both worlds": the fluidity of 120Hz when you want it, and the power savings of a low refresh rate when you don't. An iPhone with ProMotion can have a smoother display and still have better battery life than a competing phone with a locked 120Hz screen.
Which Apple Devices Have ProMotion?
ProMotion is a premium feature that Apple reserves for its "Pro" level devices. As of early 2025, you can find ProMotion on:
- iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max (and later Pro models)
- iPad Pro (2nd generation and later)
- MacBook Pro 14-inch and 16-inch (with Apple Silicon)
The standard iPhone models (e.g., iPhone 15, iPhone 16) and the iPad Air still use standard 60Hz displays.
Conclusion: More Than Just a Marketing Term
Apple's ProMotion technology is not just a gimmick. It's a sophisticated hardware and software solution that fundamentally improves the experience of using a device. It delivers a noticeably smoother and more responsive feel to every scroll and swipe while simultaneously conserving battery life. It's one of the key features that differentiates Apple's "Pro" devices from their standard counterparts and is a perfect example of Apple's focus on creating a seamless and premium user experience.
Community Discussion
Have questions or insights about this guide? Join the conversation below using your GitHub account.