It's been almost ten years since the introduction of the first 120Hz ProMotion, one of the cutting-edge features of the 2017 iPad Pro. However, Apple still treats it as a luxury feature, which seems to be holding it back.
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Apple finally added 120Hz to the base iPhone 17, four years after introducing it in the iPhone 13 Pro. This was a great change.
Many argue that 120Hz displays are not noticeable to the “average consumer” unless it is pointed out to them. Even if that is true, a 120Hz display offers an overall smoother experience. The device feels faster and more responsive, even if the end user is not aware of what is causing it.
Apple doesn't make cheap products, with a few exceptions like the base iPad and possibly the upcoming budget MacBook. Why would the $599-799 come with a 60Hz display when the $649 offered 120Hz almost a decade ago?
That's a price difference so big that very few people actually compare the two. If there's one feature of the iPad Pro that you know you need, like the Tandem OLED display or the latest Apple Silicon, you'll probably buy an iPad Pro.
For most people, they know their budget and even if they appreciate 120Hz, it's unlikely they'll choose to spend more on the iPad Pro just for that reason. An extra $400 isn't exactly a small amount.
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When there were much smaller price differences, keeping small features exclusive to the Pro models made sense. For example, in 2022, the 11-inch iPad Pro cost $799, compared to $599 for the iPad Air.
There needs to be some level of feature differentiation between product tiers. Apple will always want to push you to the higher-end product whenever possible. However, when it’s been almost ten years since Apple produced its first 120Hz LCD panel, it’s hard to understand why it would skimp on a feature that makes its products look smoother, especially when those products aren’t the cheapest.
Products like the basic iPad and the upcoming "budget" A18 MacBook will likely always have 60Hz displays, which is fine as they serve as cheaper options.
In the industry, most $999 laptops include 120Hz displays. While most people who buy a MacBook Air aren't going to switch to Windows, should that be Apple's standard?
For a company that prides itself on doing small things that make a big difference to the user experience, it's puzzling why it would neglect display responsiveness when it probably wouldn't cost much to integrate a 120Hz LCD into products like the MacBook Air and iPad Air. It wouldn't drastically change the way people view Apple's overall product lineup.
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Even if Apple wants to further diversify its product range, why not at least 90Hz? Overall, 60Hz is starting to look a bit outdated for mid-range products.
