iPhone 18e: Display remains at 60 Hz

Apple is reportedly holding back on the display of its next-generation, most affordable iPhone: The iPhone 18e is expected to stick with a 60Hz panel, while the rest of the lineup already boasts a smoother 120Hz refresh rate. A new piece of information from China corroborates an earlier report – and pushes the anticipated leap far into the future.

The iPhone 18e is expected to retain the same screen refresh rate as the current iPhone 17e. This assessment comes from Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station, who commented on Apple's 2027 product plans on Weibo. According to them, the next entry-level model would use the same 60Hz LTPS panel as its predecessor – meaning it would lack the faster ProMotion display found in the rest of the lineup. The most affordable model of the next iPhone generation is already slated for release in spring 2027, alongside the standard iPhone 18 – this display hint adds another detail to the picture.

60 Hertz instead of ProMotion

Specifically, the iPhone 18e will reportedly still use an LTPS (Low Temperature Polycrystalline Silicon) TFT panel with a fixed refresh rate of 60 Hz. This means the device will lack two features expected for the rest of the iPhone 18 generation: the significantly smoother 120 Hz ProMotion display and the Always-On Display, which continuously shows the time and notifications in standby mode.

This division wouldn't be a break, but rather a continuation of the familiar pattern: Apple already differentiates the higher refresh rate models from the more affordable ones in the iPhone 17 series. The comparison is interesting from an external perspective – competing Android devices have long offered 120Hz displays even in the price range of the iPhone 17e.

An earlier report supports this assessment

The Weibo post isn't an isolated rumor. Earlier this year, sources in Korea reported that Apple wouldn't switch to a more modern LTPO panel in its entry-level model until the fourth generation – presumably the iPhone 19e, expected in early 2028. LTPO stands for Low Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide and describes a display technology that can dynamically adjust the refresh rate between 1 and 120 Hz. This variable refresh rate control is the technical prerequisite for both ProMotion and a power-saving always-on display.

Why the leap depends on a new technology

Whether the switchover will actually succeed in 2028 is said to depend largely on a further development called "LTPO+". This next generation of displays uses oxide semiconductors in both the switching and driver transistors and is considered significantly more energy-efficient. Apple reportedly plans to initially reserve LTPO+ for the higher-end models of 2028 – including a new version of the iPhone Air and the foldable iPhone Ultra. Only then would classic LTPO panels be freed up for the rest of the lineup, including the entry-level model.

However, this is precisely where the catch lies: Should the new technology not be ready for mass production in time, the leaking of LTPO panels could be delayed until the iPhone 19e. The timeline is therefore not guaranteed – as is the case with all indications that lie two generations in the future.

iPhone 18e: Higher frame rate remains a premium feature for now

Should the reports prove true, Apple's most affordable iPhone would have to do without ProMotion for at least another generation. Those hoping for smooth scrolling and an always-on display in the entry-level model will likely have to wait even longer. The gap to the standard iPhone 18, which is expected to receive the higher refresh rate along with the rest of the lineup, would thus remain a key differentiator precisely in the display – even though the two devices have recently become much closer in terms of chip and RAM. (Image: Apple)