Apple describes the iPhone 18 Pro display in two phrases that do a lot of work: ProMotion with a refresh rate up to 120Hz, and an Always-On display. Both appear on the 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch sizes, and neither comes with a lower limit, a power figure or a minimum brightness.
That matters because Apple does publish those numbers elsewhere. The Apple Watch Series 12 announced at the same event lists an LTPO3 panel that drops to 1 Hz and a minimum brightness of 1 nit. The iPhone specification stops at the top of the range.
Key facts: what Apple publishes about the iPhone 18 Pro display
| Item | iPhone 18 Pro | iPhone 18 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Size and type | 6.3-inch OLED Super Retina XDR | 6.9-inch OLED Super Retina XDR |
| Resolution | 2622 x 1206 | 2868 x 1320 |
| Pixel density | 460 ppi | 460 ppi |
| Refresh | ProMotion up to 120Hz | ProMotion up to 120Hz |
| Always-On | Yes | Yes |
| Brightness | 1000 nits typical, 1600 peak HDR, 3000 peak outdoor | Same three figures |
| Refresh floor | Not published | Not published |
| Always-On power cost | Not published | Not published |
| Minimum brightness | Not published | Not published |
ProMotion is published as a ceiling, not a range
Up to 120Hz is a maximum, and a variable refresh rate only saves power when it falls. Apple does not say how far the iPhone 18 Pro panel drops when the screen is showing something static, and it does not name the LTPO generation it uses, which it does name on both new watches.
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The phrase also does not separate this year’s Pro from the rest of the lineup. Apple’s comparison page lists ProMotion at 120Hz for the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air and iPhone 16 Pro as well, so refresh rate is not a line where the iPhone 18 Pro pulls ahead.
Always-On is one phrase, and the Dynamic Island does the describing
The specification says Always-On and nothing further. What Apple did describe about the locked screen belongs to the Dynamic Island, which is smaller this year, shows up to three Live Activities at once and keeps Face ID.
Apple has not said whether Always-On behaves differently on the two sizes, and there is no reason from the spec sheet to think it does. The two display listings are identical apart from the diagonal and the pixel count, which is worth knowing if you are choosing between the Pro and the Pro Max.
Apple documents its watch and foldable screens more precisely
| Product | Refresh published | Floor published | Always-On | Display area published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 18 Pro | Up to 120Hz | No | Yes | No |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max | Up to 120Hz | No | Yes | No |
| iPhone Duo, 7.6-inch inner | Up to 120Hz | No | Yes | No |
| iPhone Duo, 5.4-inch outer | 120Hz | No | Not listed | No |
| Apple Watch Series 12 | LTPO3, down to 1 Hz | Yes, 1 Hz | Yes | 970 and 1196 sq mm |
| Apple Watch Ultra 4 | LTPO3, down to 1 Hz | Yes, 1 Hz | Yes | 1245 sq mm |
The pattern is consistent. On the watches Apple publishes a floor, a minimum brightness and even the active area in square millimetres. On iPhone it publishes a ceiling. The iPhone Duo is treated the same way as the Pro, with Always-On listed against the inner display and not against the cover display.
120Hz on the screen is not 120 frames per second in the camera
Two different 120s appear on the same spec sheet. The display refreshes up to 120 times a second, and the rear cameras record 4K Dolby Vision at 24, 25, 30, 60, 100 or 120 frames per second. One is a screen behaviour, the other a capture format, and Apple does not connect them anywhere.
Apple also publishes no measurement conditions for the 1600 nit and 3000 nit peaks, and no statement about how long either can be held. The 1000 nit typical figure is the one that describes ordinary indoor use.
What Apple has not said
Apple has published no minimum refresh rate, no LTPO generation, no Always-On battery cost, no minimum brightness, no sustained brightness figure and no measurement conditions for either peak. It has also published nothing about which content triggers which refresh rate.
Pre-orders for both sizes open on Saturday, September 12 at 5 a.m. Pacific, with availability on Friday, September 18. iOS 27, which ships free on Monday, September 14, is the software these displays will run at launch.
