All iPhones now run OLED screens. But some models run ProMotion OLED, so what’s the deal? And which is better for you? Let’s find out…



Key Takeaways: Apple’s OLED and ProMotion OLED iPhone Displays

List of iPhones with OLED: All models from iPhone X through iPhone 15 Pro Max, with ProMotion OLED starting from iPhone 13 Pro onwards.

OLED Across the Board: Starting with the iPhone 12 series, all iPhones (except the SE models) feature OLED displays, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks across the lineup.

ProMotion for the Premium: Opting for an iPhone Pro or Pro Max model unlocks Apple’s ProMotion OLED technology, providing a smoother experience with a 120Hz refresh rate, as opposed to the standard OLED’s 60Hz or 90Hz in newer non-Pro models.

Visual Experience: ProMotion enhances scrolling, animations, and video content, making it particularly suitable for gaming and media consumption.

Cost Consideration: The advanced ProMotion technology comes with a higher price tag, exclusive to Apple’s Pro and Pro Max models.


Apple now uses OLED panels inside all of its modern iPhones. From the iPhone 12 series onwards, all iPhones – save for the SE models – use OLED displays.

But not all OLED displays are the same. If you pony up the extra cash for one of Apple’s iPhone Pro or Pro Max models, you’ll get access to Apple’s ProMotion OLED.

And the benefits of ProMotion displays on iPhone? Smoother scrolling and better-looking video content with 120Hz refresh rates. Apple’s standard models (the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, for instance) run OLED, but they lack ProMotion which means no 120Hz refresh rates. Instead, they’re stuck at 90Hz (like its 2013 or something).

📱 iPhones With OLED Displays: A Complete List 📱

✨ iPhone X

📏 Resolution: 2436 x 1125 pixels

🌟 Type: Super Retina HD

🔆 Brightness: 625 nits (typical)

📱 iPhone XS / XS Max

📏 Resolution: 2436 x 1125 (XS) / 2688 x 1242 (XS Max)

🌟 Type: Super Retina HD

🔆 Brightness: 625 nits (typical)

⚡ iPhone 11 Pro / Pro Max

📏 Resolution: 2436 x 1125 (Pro) / 2688 x 1242 (Pro Max)

🌟 Type: Super Retina XDR

🔆 Brightness: 800 nits (typical), 1200 nits (HDR)

💎 iPhone 12 / 12 Mini

📏 Resolution: 2532 x 1170 (12) / 2340 x 1080 (12 Mini)

🌟 Type: Super Retina XDR

🔆 Brightness: 625 nits (typical), 1200 nits (HDR)

✨ iPhone 12 Pro / Pro Max

📏 Resolution: 2532 x 1170 (Pro) / 2778 x 1284 (Pro Max)

🌟 Type: Super Retina XDR

🔆 Brightness: 800 nits (typical), 1200 nits (HDR)

📱 iPhone 13 / 13 Mini

📏 Resolution: 2532 x 1170 (13) / 2340 x 1080 (13 Mini)

🌟 Type: Super Retina XDR

🔆 Brightness: 800 nits (typical), 1200 nits (HDR)

⚡ iPhone 13 Pro / Pro Max

📏 Resolution: 2532 x 1170 (Pro) / 2778 x 1284 (Pro Max)

🌟 Type: Super Retina XDR with ProMotion

🔆 Brightness: 1000 nits (typical), 1200 nits (HDR)

💎 iPhone 14 / 14 Plus

📏 Resolution: 2532 x 1170 (14) / 2778 x 1284 (14 Plus)

🌟 Type: Super Retina XDR

🔆 Brightness: 800 nits (typical), 1200 nits (HDR)

✨ iPhone 14 Pro / Pro Max

📏 Resolution: 2556 x 1179 (Pro) / 2796 x 1290 (Pro Max)

🌟 Type: Super Retina XDR with ProMotion

🔆 Brightness: 1000 nits (typical), 1600 nits (HDR), 2000 nits (outdoor peak)

📱 iPhone 15 / 15 Plus

📏 Resolution: 2556 x 1179 (15) / 2796 x 1290 (15 Plus)

🌟 Type: Super Retina XDR

🔆 Brightness: 1000 nits (typical), 1600 nits (HDR), 2000 nits (outdoor peak)

⚡ iPhone 15 Pro / Pro Max

📏 Resolution: 2556 x 1179 (Pro) / 2796 x 1290 (Pro Max)

🌟 Type: Super Retina XDR with ProMotion

🔆 Brightness: 1000 nits (typical), 1600 nits (HDR), 2000 nits (outdoor peak)

iPhones With OLED vs iPhones With ProMotion OLED

iPhone ModelHas OLED DisplayHas ProMotion OLED Display
iPhone X✔️
iPhone XS✔️
iPhone XS Max✔️
iPhone 11 Pro✔️
iPhone 11 Pro Max✔️
iPhone 12✔️
iPhone 12 Mini✔️
iPhone 12 Pro✔️
iPhone 12 Pro Max✔️
iPhone 13✔️
iPhone 13 Mini✔️
iPhone 13 Pro✔️✔️
iPhone 13 Pro Max✔️✔️
iPhone 14✔️
iPhone 14 Plus✔️
iPhone 14 Pro✔️✔️
iPhone 14 Pro Max✔️✔️
iPhone 15✔️
iPhone 15 Plus✔️
iPhone 15 Pro ✔️✔️
iPhone 15 Pro Max✔️✔️

ProMotion OLED

When you’re choosing a display, consider going for a device with a ProMotion OLED screen if you want the best in smoothness and responsiveness. The ProMotion OLED boasts a 120Hz refresh rate, meaning it refreshes the screen 120 times per second. This high refresh rate makes activities like gaming, watching high-frame-rate videos, and scrolling through social media or webpages incredibly fluid and seamless. For example, when playing a game like “Genshin Impact” or watching a fast-paced action scene in a movie, the motion appears smoother and more natural compared to lower refresh rate displays.

The ProMotion OLED also adjusts the refresh rate dynamically, depending on what you’re doing. For instance, it might drop to 10Hz when viewing a static image, saving battery life while still delivering the highest refresh rate when needed. This technology, combined with OLED’s deep blacks and vibrant colors, results in an immersive visual experience that’s hard to beat.

Standard OLED

For most users, a Standard OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate is more than adequate. This means the screen refreshes 60 times per second, which is sufficient for everyday tasks like browsing the web, texting, and streaming videos on platforms like Netflix or YouTube. While you won’t get the ultra-smooth motion of a ProMotion display, the Standard OLED still offers excellent image quality with rich colors and deep contrasts. For example, watching a TV show or casually browsing through photos will look great on a Standard OLED screen.

However, the 60Hz refresh rate may feel less fluid when you’re doing something that benefits from faster motion processing, such as competitive gaming or high-speed video editing. This is why the ProMotion OLED display is reserved for Apple’s Pro and Pro Max models, which are designed for users who need or want that extra performance.

Key Differences

FeatureProMotion OLEDStandard OLED
Refresh Rate120Hz (with adaptive adjustment)60Hz
BenefitsSuper smooth scrolling, animations, and responsiveness, ideal for gaming, high-frame-rate video, and dynamic contentAdequate for most tasks with good image quality and performance, suitable for everyday use
Color and ContrastVibrant colors with deep blacks (OLED tech)Vibrant colors with deep blacks (OLED tech)
Dynamic RefreshYes, adapts based on activity to save powerNo

Things To Keep In Mind

  • Battery Life: The 120Hz refresh rate of ProMotion OLED displays can consume more power, potentially affecting battery life, especially during prolonged use of high-refresh-rate activities like gaming or video playback. However, the adaptive refresh rate helps mitigate this by lowering the refresh rate when high-speed motion isn’t necessary.
  • Cost: iPhones equipped with ProMotion OLED displays, such as the Pro and Pro Max models, are more expensive than those with Standard OLED displays. This reflects the advanced technology and improved visual experience they offer, along with other premium features.
  • Visual Perception: While the difference in refresh rates is noticeable during fast-paced activities, not everyone may perceive it during everyday use. If you don’t frequently engage in gaming, video editing, or other activities that require high motion fluidity, the Standard OLED might serve you just as well.

If you’re a power user or content creator that needs the highest visual performance, the ProMotion OLED is worth the investment. For video and photo editing, as well as gaming, it is vastly superior to standard OLED.

For typical day-to-day tasks, or for someone that just needs a rock-solid phone with great all-round performance, Apple’s iPhones with standard OLED displays still provides excellent quality and will be all you ever need.

OLED vs LCD: Which Is Better?

Is The iphone 12 WaterproofPin

Short answer: OLED is better than LCD. Here’s why:

OLED is a newer, far more visually impressive screen technology. LCD was fine back in the day but now the price of OLED has come down, it has quickly gone on to become the norm in smartphones – and not just flagships.

OLED looks better, is easier to view in direct sunlight, is more power efficient, and has less pixelation, so images and whatever else you’re viewing on your screen looks crisper and more detailed.

Need more examples? Here’s why OLED is the better choice:

Contrast and Black Levels: One of the key advantages of OLED displays is their ability to achieve a true black. Unlike TFT LCDs, which use a backlight that shines through a liquid crystal layer, OLEDs generate light directly from each pixel. When an OLED pixel needs to display black, it simply turns off, resulting in a pure, inky black that enhances contrast. This high contrast ratio makes colors pop and images appear more vibrant, even in bright environments.

Performance in Sunlight: Imagine trying to read your phone screen on a sunny day. With a TFT LCD, the backlight has to compete with the sunlight, often leading to a washed-out display that’s hard to see. OLEDs, on the other hand, have an edge here. Because each pixel emits its own light, OLED displays can dynamically adjust brightness at the pixel level, ensuring that images remain sharp and clear, even under harsh sunlight. This means you won’t be squinting at your screen, struggling to see what’s on it.

Vibrancy and Color Accuracy: OLED displays not only excel in sunlight but also in delivering richer, more accurate colors. The precise control over each pixel’s light emission allows for more vibrant hues and a broader color spectrum. Whether you’re viewing photos, watching videos, or playing games, the colors on an OLED screen appear more lifelike and immersive.

Power Efficiency in Black Scenes: Interestingly, because OLEDs don’t need to light up pixels to display black, they can be more power-efficient in scenes with lots of darkness. This means that, in certain scenarios, an OLED display can contribute to longer battery life compared to a constantly backlit LCD.

If you’re looking for a display that excels in bright sunlight, delivers deep blacks, vibrant colors, and performs efficiently, OLED is the clear winner over LCD.

With iPhone, this is no longer even a consideration. All new iPhone models ship with OLED displays and have done since the release of the iPhone 12. All you need to decide is whether you want to pony-up the cash for a Pro or Pro Max model to access Apple’s ProMotion OLED displays…