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 varied leaks suggesting it might measure wherever 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 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 in regards to the iPhone 17 Air. Nonetheless, after studying this newest rumor, I am afraid Apple is perhaps susceptible to ruining the cellphone.

In response to Fixed Focus Digital, a well 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, however not ProMotion adaptive refresh charge” (through 9to5Mac).

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

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

For those who’re unfamiliar with ProMotion, it is an adaptive refresh charge expertise that dynamically adjusts the show’s refresh charge based mostly in your actions. If you’re enjoying a sport or scrolling, ProMotion will increase the refresh charge to 120Hz, giving the picture a clean, fluid look. Nonetheless, if a better refresh charge is not obligatory, it might probably scale back it to assist preserve battery life.

As an illustration, in case you’re viewing a static picture in your iPhone, ProMotion can decrease the refresh charge to as little as 1Hz, since there’s no movement on the display to warrant boosting the refresh charge to 120Hz, thus saving battery. Moreover, ProMotion permits the Professional mannequin iPhones to help All the time On Show (AOD), as that mode depends upon an adaptive refresh charge 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 expertise 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, after 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 embrace ProMotion, it appears Apple may very well be chopping corners.

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

Do not get me mistaken; it is nice that the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air could have 120Hz refresh charge shows. It is a important enchancment over 60Hz, and it’ll make utilizing them so significantly better. Nonetheless, with out ProMotion expertise bundled with that 120Hz show, it looks like a half-baked effort.

If the iPhone 17 Air would not have a ProMotion show, it theoretically signifies that the cellphone will not have the ability to dynamically regulate the refresh charge. As I discussed earlier, one of many greatest benefits ProMotion gives is the power to scale down the refresh charge to save lots of battery. And on slim smartphones, which do not have giant batteries as a result of measurement constraints, that is fairly essential.

Whereas it is unclear precisely how giant the battery within the iPhone 17 Air might be, it seemingly will not be as large because the one discovered within the iPhone 17 Professional or the iPhone 17, naturally as a result of slim design of the cellphone. That is why I consider that if Apple decides to not embrace ProMotion on the iPhone 17 Air, it is perhaps one of many stupidest issues it is ever accomplished.

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

After all, I wish to be very clear that each one my considerations are based mostly on Fastened Focus Digital’s leak. Whereas they have been appropriate previously about some issues, similar to confirming the title 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 potential this leak will 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 save cash, and to create a transparent distinction between the iPhone 17 Air and the Professional fashions.

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

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