Samsung Expected to Supply 120Hz Displays for iPhone 13 Pro Models

Apple's upcoming iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max models are widely rumored to feature OLED displays with up to a 120Hz refresh rate, resulting in smoother content and scrolling, and additional reports continue to surface.

120 hz 13 joe blue
Korean website The Elec today reported that Samsung will be the exclusive supplier of 120Hz displays for iPhone 13 Pro models:

Meanwhile, the two higher tier iPhones this year that will use RFPCB will have low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) thin-film transistor (TFT) OLED panels.

LTPO OLED is needed for a 120Hz refresh rate screen. These panels will be supplied exclusively by Samsung Display.

Many sources have claimed that iPhone 13 Pro models will finally support a 120Hz refresh rate after years of rumors, including Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, display industry analyst Ross Young, leakers Jon Prosser and Max Weinbach, and others.

120Hz support will be made possible by Apple adopting low-power LTPO display technology, according to reports. LTPO technology would result in a more power efficient backplane, which is responsible for turning individual pixels on and off on the display, allowing for a 120Hz refresh rate without a significant impact on battery life.

Similar to recent Apple Watch models, LTPO could also enable iPhone 13 Pro models to have an always-on display with the clock visible.

iPad Pro models have supported up to a 120Hz refresh rate since 2017 as part of a feature called ProMotion, which automatically adjusts the refresh rate depending on the content. A wide variety of Android smartphones now have 120Hz displays as well, so support for the higher refresh rate on the iPhone is more than due.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

Apple Wallet ID Illinois

Apple Plans to Expand iPhone Driver's Licenses to These 7 U.S. States

Wednesday December 24, 2025 8:40 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future. To set up the...
iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Next Year With These 12 New Features

Tuesday December 23, 2025 8:36 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another nine months, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models. The same overall design is expected, with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes, and a "plateau" housing three rear cameras Under-screen Face ID Front camera in...
maxresdefault

Where's the New Apple TV?

Monday December 22, 2025 11:30 am PST by
Apple hasn't updated the Apple TV 4K since 2022, and 2025 was supposed to be the year that we got a refresh. There were rumors suggesting Apple would release the new Apple TV before the end of 2025, but it looks like that's not going to happen now. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said several times across 2024 and 2025 that Apple would...
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Adds These 8 New Features to Your iPhone

Monday December 22, 2025 8:47 am PST by
Earlier this month, Apple released iOS 26.2, following more than a month of beta testing. It is a big update, with many new features and changes for iPhones. iOS 26.2 adds a Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics in Apple Music, and more. Below, we have highlighted a total of eight new features. Liquid Glass Slider on Lock Screen A new slider in the Lock...
maxresdefault

10 Mac Apps Worth Trying in 2026

Wednesday December 24, 2025 9:27 am PST by
2026 is almost upon us, and a new year is a good time to try out some new apps. We've rounded up 10 excellent Mac apps that are worth checking out. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Alt-Tab (Free) - Alt-Tab brings a Windows-style alt + tab thumbnail preview option to the Mac. You can see a full window preview of open apps and app windows. One Thing (Free) -...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Iridescent Search

Samsung Developing 'Wide Fold' With iPhone Fold-Like Design Ahead of Apple's 2026 Launch

Tuesday December 23, 2025 11:55 am PST by
Samsung is working on a new foldable smartphone that's wider and shorter than the models that it's released before, according to Korean news site ETNews. The "Wide Fold" will compete with Apple's iPhone Fold that's set to launch in September 2026. Samsung's existing Galaxy Z Fold7 display is 6.5 inches when closed, and 8 inches when open, with a 21:9 aspect ratio when folded and a 20:18...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 Brings AirPods-Like Pairing to Third-Party Devices in EU Under DMA

Monday December 22, 2025 3:20 pm PST by
The European Commission today praised the interoperability changes that Apple is introducing in iOS 26.3, once again crediting the Digital Markets Act (DMA) with bringing "new opportunities" to European users and developers. The Digital Markets Act requires Apple to provide third-party accessories with the same capabilities and access to device features that Apple's own products get. In iOS...
iPhone Fold Vertical Feature

Why Apple's Foldable iPhone May Be Smaller Than Expected

Tuesday December 23, 2025 5:21 am PST by
Apple's first foldable iPhone, rumored for release next year, may turn out to be smaller than most people imagine, if a recent report is anything to go by. According to The Information, the outer display on the book-style device will measure just 5.3 inches – that's smaller than the 5.4-inch screen on the ‌iPhone‌ mini, a line Apple discontinued in 2022 due to poor sales. The report has led ...
iphone fold 3d print

Have a 3D Printer? You Can Make Your Own iPhone Fold Dummy

Tuesday December 23, 2025 1:31 pm PST by
Apple is working on a foldable iPhone that's set to come out in September 2026, and rumors suggest that it will have a display that's around 5.4 inches when closed and 7.6 inches when open. Exact measurements vary based on rumors, but one 3D designer has created a mockup based on what we've heard so far. On MakerWorld, a user named Subsy has uploaded a 1:1 iPhone Fold replica (via Macworld), ...

Top Rated Comments

kingtj1971 Avatar
61 months ago

switched to iPhone 12 this year back from years on Android

Even with the 12 being purely AMOLED based on all models it's baffling that there's no Always On Display yet.

With no notification LED and no always on display, iOS is severely lacking in this functionality. Feels very "smartphone" from 2011ish in regards to notifications and alerting you.

I can only say that while I love the iPhone 12 hardware and most of the time iOS is fine. It's really REALLY not nearly as feature rich or usable as Android's latest versions and needs a tremendous amount of work
.

IMHO, before Apple starts trying to go down the trend of 120hz screens or other things that are going to be less overall noticable to the users. They fix some of the things they've let languish
I agree that a 120hz fresh screen just isn't too high on my "want list" for my phone. Maybe things are changing and I'm just getting old, but I still feel like my phone is primarily there to serve as a mobile communications tool and NOT a full-blown computer substitute? I see why the pursuit of faster processors and more RAM has value, since those are just "raw resources" that allow developers to do more with the device. It's never possible to predict what cool new things someone will come up with to utilize them, so in that sense, you can "never have too much".

But all in all, these phones just keep getting more and more costly to replace - and I'm not sure I'm getting enough value for the dollar anymore? I have an iPhone XS Max I'm still using, and only upgraded it from an iPhone X because the X developed hardware problems (bad earpiece speaker that the Apple store tried to repair and wound up damaging the whole phone in the process!). I feel like I might be due for a phone upgrade with the next cycle, except even the 13 series isn't exciting me much. An "always on display" showing the time/date and so on? That wouldn't be bad, since at least it's a visual confirmation the phone is powered on and working. But how much money is that worth to me, really? Yeah -- not a lot, ultimately.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ael_MR Avatar
61 months ago
How many days till people start whining for 240hz displays?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Sir_Macs_A_Lot Avatar
61 months ago

How many days till people start whining for 240hz displays?
Exactly 5 seconds after they experience 120hz. Some people are never satisfied.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kalafalas Avatar
61 months ago

120Hz OLED vs XDR MiniLED, who will win?
It’s not even a competition. miniLED is a way to try and bring some of OLED’s benefits to LCD, and in apple’s implementation there’s not even any zone-dimming or extra brightness with SDR content vs their non-XDR lcds. OLED is far superior and will always be, we’re just years away from medium sized OLED panels so miniLED is here to give us some HDR pop until then.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kaycrystal626 Avatar
61 months ago
Meh, I rather have the new iPhone with a 10X optical zoom lens.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LordVic Avatar
61 months ago

I'd be ok with some always-on functionality as an option.
switched to iPhone 12 this year back from years on Android

Even with the 12 being purely AMOLED based on all models it's baffling that there's no Always On Display yet.

With no notification LED and no always on display, iOS is severely lacking in this functionality. Feels very "smartphone" from 2011ish in regards to notifications and alerting you.

I can only say that while I love the iPhone 12 hardware and most of the time iOS is fine. It's really REALLY not nearly as feature rich or usable as Android's latest versions and needs a tremendous amount of work
.

IMHO, before Apple starts trying to go down the trend of 120hz screens or other things that are going to be less overall noticable to the users. They fix some of the things they've let languish
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)