Which iPhones Have OLED Screens? Here’s The 2026 Low-Down…
All modern iPhones use OLED displays but not all OLED is equal. Apple’s Pro and Pro Max models include ProMotion OLED with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate.
Standard models are capped at 60Hz.
If you’re shopping for a quality refurbished iPhone, the OLED tier you land on has a direct impact on daily experience, and the price gap in the used market makes going Pro more achievable than buying new.
Pro Tip: The iPhone 13 Pro is the most underpriced phone in the current refurbished market. It’s the first iPhone with ProMotion OLED, it still runs the latest iOS, and it’s available at a fraction of what the 15 Pro or 16 Pro command.
If 120Hz matters to you but you’re not shooting ProRes video or need USB-C, the 13 Pro gets you the display upgrade without the premium price tag. Need more performance and Apple Intelligence, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the one to go for – it costs more but it’ll last much, much longer.
OLED vs ProMotion OLED: Key Differences At A Glance
| Feature | ProMotion OLED | Standard OLED |
|---|---|---|
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz (adaptive) | 60Hz |
| Dynamic Adjustment | Yes — drops to 10Hz for static content | No |
| Always-On Display | Yes (iPhone 14 Pro onwards) | No |
| Best For | Gaming, video, content creation | Everyday use, calls, social media |
| Battery Impact | Slightly higher (offset by adaptive rate) | Lower |
| iPhone Models | Pro and Pro Max only | All non-Pro iPhones from iPhone 12 |
Every iPhone With An OLED Display
Standard OLED Models
These models deliver excellent image quality — deep blacks, vibrant colour, strong outdoor visibility — but are capped at 60Hz. For most everyday users, this is plenty.
| Model | Year | Resolution | Brightness |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone X | 2017 | 2436 × 1125 | 625 nits typical |
| iPhone XS / XS Max | 2018 | 2436 × 1125 / 2688 × 1242 | 625 nits typical |
| iPhone 11 Pro / Pro Max | 2019 | 2436 × 1125 / 2688 × 1242 | 800 nits / 1200 nits HDR |
| iPhone 12 / 12 Mini | 2020 | 2532 × 1170 / 2340 × 1080 | 625 nits / 1200 nits HDR |
| iPhone 12 Pro / Pro Max | 2020 | 2532 × 1170 / 2778 × 1284 | 800 nits / 1200 nits HDR |
| iPhone 13 / 13 Mini | 2021 | 2532 × 1170 / 2340 × 1080 | 800 nits / 1200 nits HDR |
| iPhone 14 / 14 Plus | 2022 | 2532 × 1170 / 2778 × 1284 | 800 nits / 1200 nits HDR |
| iPhone 15 / 15 Plus | 2023 | 2556 × 1179 / 2796 × 1290 | 1000 nits / 2000 nits peak |
| iPhone 16 / 16 Plus | 2024 | 2556 × 1179 / 2796 × 1290 | 1000 nits / 2000 nits peak |
| iPhone 16e | 2025 | 2532 × 1170 | 800 nits / 1200 nits HDR |
ProMotion OLED Models (120Hz)
These models add Apple’s adaptive ProMotion tech — the display scales between 1Hz and 120Hz depending on what’s on screen, giving you silky-smooth scrolling without wrecking battery life.
| Model | Year | Resolution | Brightness |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 13 Pro / Pro Max | 2021 | 2532 × 1170 / 2778 × 1284 | 1000 nits / 1200 nits HDR |
| iPhone 14 Pro / Pro Max | 2022 | 2556 × 1179 / 2796 × 1290 | 1000 nits / 2000 nits peak |
| iPhone 15 Pro / Pro Max | 2023 | 2556 × 1179 / 2796 × 1290 | 1000 nits / 2000 nits peak |
| iPhone 16 Pro / Pro Max | 2024 | 2622 × 1206 / 2868 × 1320 | 1000 nits / 2000 nits peak |
| iPhone 17 Pro / Pro Max | 2025 | 2622 × 1206 / 2868 × 1320 | 1000 nits / 2000 nits peak |
Which iPhones Have OLED vs ProMotion OLED?
| iPhone Model | OLED | ProMotion (120Hz) |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone X | ✅ | ❌ |
| iPhone XS / XS Max | ✅ | ❌ |
| iPhone 11 Pro / Pro Max | ✅ | ❌ |
| iPhone 12 / 12 Mini | ✅ | ❌ |
| iPhone 12 Pro / Pro Max | ✅ | ❌ |
| iPhone 13 / 13 Mini | ✅ | ❌ |
| iPhone 13 Pro / Pro Max | ✅ | ✅ |
| iPhone 14 / 14 Plus | ✅ | ❌ |
| iPhone 14 Pro / Pro Max | ✅ | ✅ |
| iPhone 15 / 15 Plus | ✅ | ❌ |
| iPhone 15 Pro / Pro Max | ✅ | ✅ |
| iPhone 16 / 16 Plus | ✅ | ❌ |
| iPhone 16 Pro / Pro Max | ✅ | ✅ |
| iPhone 16e | ✅ | ❌ |
| iPhone 17 / 17 Air | ✅ | ❌ |
| iPhone 17 Pro / Pro Max | ✅ | ✅ |
ProMotion OLED: Who Actually Needs It?
The 120Hz difference is most noticeable during fast-paced activities like gaming, scrolling through social media at speed, watching high-frame-rate video, or editing footage on device.
If you use your phone for any of those things regularly, the jump from 60Hz to 120Hz is immediately apparent. It’s not subtle.
For smartphone content creators and mobile filmmakers, ProMotion is effectively non-negotiable.
The iPhone 14 Pro Max and 15 Pro Max both support ProRes video recording — and on a ProMotion display, previewing and editing that footage on-device is a genuinely different experience to a 60Hz screen.
ProMotion also enables the Always-On Display from the iPhone 14 Pro onwards — the panel drops to a near-static 1Hz refresh when showing lock screen information, which is only possible because of the adaptive architecture.
For typical day-to-day use — calls, messaging, streaming, social media — standard OLED at 60Hz is more than adequate. Most people won’t notice the difference during low-intensity tasks.
OLED vs LCD: The Short Version
OLED wins. Every time. The technology generates light at the pixel level rather than using a backlight, which means:
- True black — pixels switch off completely, eliminating the grey-black glow of LCD
- Better outdoor visibility — each pixel controls its own brightness, maintaining clarity in direct sunlight
- More vibrant colour — broader colour spectrum and more precise per-pixel control
- Better power efficiency in dark scenes — no backlight burning power when pixels are off
LCD was the iPhone standard until the iPhone X in 2017. Every iPhone worth buying in 2025 runs OLED. If you have questions about how display tech affects long-term software support on refurbished devices, the distinction is less about the panel and more about whether the model still receives iOS updates — check the refurbished phone FAQ hub for a breakdown.
Which Refurbished iPhone Should You Buy Based On Display?
Standard OLED — Best Value Picks
The iPhone 13 and 14 generations offer OLED quality that holds up comfortably in 2025. If you don’t need ProMotion, these are where the sharpest value sits in the used phone market.
- iPhone 13 128GB Unlocked in Midnight
- iPhone 13 128GB Unlocked in Blue
- iPhone 13 256GB Unlocked in Green
- iPhone 14 128GB Unlocked in Blue
- iPhone 14 Plus 128GB Unlocked in Midnight
- iPhone 15 128GB Unlocked in Black
- iPhone 15 Plus 128GB Unlocked in Yellow
ProMotion OLED — Best Refurbished Pro Picks
The iPhone 13 Pro is the Pro Motion entry point and one of the most underrated refurbished buys available right now.
The 14 Pro Max added the Always-On Display. The 15 Pro added USB-C.
Each generation has a clear selling point.
iPhone 13 Pro — first ProMotion iPhone, strong value:
- iPhone 13 Pro 256GB Unlocked in Alpine Green
- iPhone 13 Pro 256GB Unlocked in Sierra Blue
- iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB Unlocked in Graphite
iPhone 14 Pro — ProMotion + Always-On Display:
- iPhone 14 Pro Max 512GB Unlocked in Space Black
- iPhone 14 Pro Max 512GB Unlocked in Gold
- iPhone 14 Pro Max 256GB Verizon in Deep Purple
iPhone 15 Pro — ProMotion + USB-C + ProRes video:
- iPhone 15 Pro 128GB Unlocked in Natural Titanium
- iPhone 15 Pro 128GB Unlocked in Blue Titanium
- iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB Unlocked in Natural Titanium
- iPhone 15 Pro Max 512GB Unlocked in Black Titanium
iPhone 16 Pro — ProMotion + Apple Intelligence + largest Pro display yet:
- iPhone 16 Pro 256GB Unlocked in Desert Titanium
- iPhone 16 Pro 256GB Unlocked in Natural Titanium
- iPhone 16 Pro Max 512GB Unlocked in White Titanium
- iPhone 16 Pro Max 512GB Unlocked in Natural Titanium
Know Your Mobile Verdict
Pro Tip: The iPhone 13 Pro is the most underpriced phone in the current refurbished market. It’s the first iPhone with ProMotion OLED, it still runs the latest iOS, and it’s available at a fraction of what the 15 Pro or 16 Pro command.
If 120Hz matters to you but you’re not shooting ProRes video or need USB-C, the 13 Pro gets you the display upgrade without the premium price tag. Need more performance and Apple Intelligence, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the one to go for – it costs more but it’ll last much, much longer.
If you’re still weighing up which generation makes sense for your budget, use our handy FIND ME THE PERFECT PHONE Quiz, it takes 20 seconds and it’ll show you all the options that fit your budget and requirements.
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