Last Updated: May 2025 | Reading Time: 5 minutes | Author: First and Geek Editorial Team
Apple introduced its first 120Hz ProMotion display nearly a decade ago with the 2017 iPad Pro, yet the company continues to reserve higher refresh rates for its premium devices. As we move further into 2025, this strategy feels increasingly outdated, especially for mid-range products that carry substantial price tags. This article examines why it’s time for Apple to bring smoother displays to more of its product lineup.
The ProMotion Timeline: A Quick Look Back
When Apple launched the 10.5-inch iPad Pro in 2017 with a 120Hz display, it was genuinely ahead of its time. The technology made scrolling and interactions feel noticeably smoother, setting a new standard for tablets. Fast forward to 2021, and Apple finally brought ProMotion to the iPhone 13 Pro. It took until 2024 for the technology to trickle down to the base iPhone 17, a full four years after its debut on the Pro models.
While it’s understandable that Apple wants to differentiate its product tiers, the nearly decade-long gap between introduction and widespread adoption raises questions about whether the company is being too conservative with a feature that meaningfully improves the user experience.
Why Higher Refresh Rates Matter
There’s a common argument that the average consumer doesn’t consciously notice the difference between 60Hz and 120Hz displays. While that may be technically true in the sense that many users can’t articulate what makes one device feel better than another, the effect is undeniable. Higher refresh rates make every interaction feel more responsive and fluid. Scrolling through web pages, swiping between apps, and even simple animations all benefit from the increased smoothness.
Think of it like this: most people can’t explain why a luxury car feels better to drive than an economy model, but they can definitely feel the difference. The same principle applies to display refresh rates. Once you’ve used a 120Hz device for a while, going back to 60Hz feels noticeably less refined.
The Price Gap Problem
Let’s talk about where Apple’s product pricing currently stands and why keeping 60Hz displays on mid-range devices feels like an unnecessary limitation.
iPad Air vs iPad Pro
The iPad Air starts at $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch version. Meanwhile, the iPad Pro begins at $999 for the 11-inch and $1,199 for the 13-inch. That’s a $400 price difference between comparable sizes.
Here’s the thing: that price gap is large enough that most buyers aren’t really cross-shopping these two models. If you need the Tandem OLED display or the latest Apple Silicon chip, you’re probably buying the iPad Pro regardless. But if you’re working within a budget, an extra $400 isn’t a small ask just to get a smoother display, especially when the iPad Air already costs $599 to $799.
It’s worth noting that Apple successfully sold a 120Hz display in the 2017 iPad Pro at a lower price point than today’s iPad Air. The 10.5-inch iPad Pro launched at $649 with ProMotion technology. Why should a device costing $799 in 2025 offer a less responsive display than a product from eight years ago?
MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro
The situation is similar with Apple’s laptop lineup. The MacBook Air starts at $999, while the entry-level MacBook Pro begins at $1,599. That’s a $600 difference. Very few people are going to make that jump solely for a 120Hz display, yet at $999, the MacBook Air is hardly a budget device.
When you look across the broader laptop market, many Windows laptops in the $999 range now include 120Hz or even higher refresh rate displays as standard. Apple doesn’t need to match every competitor feature, but when the technology has been around for years and adds meaningful value to the user experience, it starts to feel like an arbitrary limitation rather than a strategic differentiator.
Where 60Hz Still Makes Sense
To be clear, not every Apple product needs a high refresh rate display. The base iPad, which starts at a more accessible price point, is designed to be Apple’s entry-level tablet. Similarly, reports suggest Apple is working on a budget-oriented MacBook that could launch with more modest specifications to hit a lower price target.
For these true budget offerings, a 60Hz display is a reasonable compromise. These products serve an important role in making Apple’s ecosystem accessible to more people, and some feature compromises are expected at entry-level pricing.
The frustration comes when devices like the iPad Air and MacBook Air, which sit firmly in the mid-range category with mid-range pricing, still use display technology that feels like it belongs in the previous decade.
A Middle Ground Solution
If Apple remains committed to reserving 120Hz for its Pro devices, there’s still room for compromise. Why not offer 90Hz displays on mid-range products? This approach would provide a noticeable improvement over 60Hz while still maintaining some differentiation from the Pro lineup.
Several Android manufacturers have successfully used this strategy, offering 90Hz displays on mid-range phones while reserving 120Hz or higher for flagships. It’s a sensible middle ground that acknowledges the value of smoother displays without completely eliminating product tier distinctions.
The Cost Question
One of the lingering questions is how much it would actually cost Apple to include higher refresh rate displays in more products. While Apple doesn’t publicly share component costs, LCD panels with 90Hz or 120Hz refresh rates have become increasingly common and affordable as the technology has matured.
Given Apple’s scale and manufacturing expertise, it seems unlikely that incorporating these displays would significantly impact profit margins or require substantial price increases. The company has historically been willing to invest in technologies that improve the user experience, from Retina displays to haptic feedback. Higher refresh rates feel like a natural continuation of that philosophy.
What This Means for Consumers
For people shopping for a new iPad or MacBook in 2025, the current situation creates an unfortunate dilemma. You can either accept a 60Hz display on an otherwise excellent mid-range device, or make a significant financial jump to a Pro model that may include features you don’t actually need.
Most users would probably prefer to have the option of a smoother display without being forced into the most expensive tier of Apple’s product lineup. It’s not about demanding premium features at budget prices. It’s about questioning why a technology that’s been in Apple’s arsenal for nearly a decade remains locked behind increasingly large price premiums.
FAQ
Q: Will Apple ever bring ProMotion to the MacBook Air?
A: While there’s no official confirmation, it seems likely that Apple will eventually expand higher refresh rate displays across more of its product lineup. The timeline remains unclear, but as the technology becomes more common industry-wide, the pressure to include it in mid-range devices will likely increase.
Q: Does a 120Hz display significantly impact battery life?
A: Modern implementation of variable refresh rate technology, like Apple’s ProMotion, can actually be quite efficient. The display can dynamically adjust its refresh rate based on what’s happening on screen, dropping to lower rates when high refresh isn’t needed. This means the battery impact can be minimal during typical usage.
Q: Is there a noticeable difference between 90Hz and 120Hz?
A: The jump from 60Hz to 90Hz is more noticeable than the jump from 90Hz to 120Hz for most users. While 120Hz is smoother, 90Hz provides much of the benefit at potentially lower cost and with less impact on battery life, making it a solid middle-ground option.
First and Geek Verdict
Apple has built its reputation on sweating the small details that collectively create exceptional user experiences. Higher refresh rate displays are exactly the kind of refinement that aligns with that philosophy. After nearly a decade of ProMotion technology, keeping 60Hz displays on devices like the iPad Air and MacBook Air feels increasingly difficult to justify, especially when these products carry price tags that firmly place them in the mid-range to premium category.
The company has shown it can successfully differentiate product lines through processor choice, build materials, display technology like OLED versus LCD, and professional-focused features. Adding 90Hz or 120Hz displays to mid-range devices wouldn’t eliminate the appeal of Pro models for users who need maximum performance or specialized capabilities.
As we move through 2025 and beyond, it’s reasonable to expect that Apple will eventually address this gap. The question is whether they’ll do it proactively or wait until market pressure makes it unavoidable. For consumers, the hope is that smoother displays become a standard feature rather than a luxury add-on sooner rather than later.
