iPhone 18e Rumoured to Not Support ProMotion Display

Apple’s awaited iPhone 18e may not launch with ProMotion display support. According to a Chinese leaker, the company will continue to leverage the current iPhone 17e display technology.

In a recent Weibo post, Digital Chat Station claims that Apple’s entry-level iPhone 18 model will use the same 60Hz display technology as the existing iPhone 17e. Discussing the unannounced device, the leaker states that iPhone 18e may support a low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) TFT panel for its display rather than upgrading to ProMotion.

With this in mind, prospective users looking to adopt the iPhone 18e may be disappointed to learn that the device won’t offer a 120Hz refresh rate or an Always-On display. The lack of ProMotion will stand out as the rest of the iPhone 18 series is expected to offer this display technology. Currently, the iPhone 17 family (sans iPhone 17e) offers ProMotion displays.

As reported by MacRumors earlier this year, Apple isn’t expected to adopt ProMotion displays for its ‘e’ series until 2028. The iPhone 19e is claimed to be the first entry-level iPhone to support 120Hz technology. That said, it’s believed to hinge in part on the development of Apple’s LTPO+ technology. It’s claimed that LTPO+ uses oxide semiconductors in its switching and drive transistors, using less battery. If LTPO+ is ready for use on its high-end models in 2028, Apple is believed to then pivot and use the existing LTPO panels for the base models and iPhone 19e.

There’s still plenty of time before Apple is likely to release its iPhone 18e. According to credible reports, the company is due to launch the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max this September alongside its foldable iPhone Ultra. The iPhone 18e is likely to follow in early 2027 with the base iPhone 18.