Apple plans to continue to use the same display refresh rate configuration as the existing iPhone 17e on the entry-level iPhone 18e, which will be launched in 2027. This means that the machine will continue to use the current 60Hz low-temperature polysilicon (LTPS) TFT panel solution and will not be equipped with the 120Hz ProMotion adaptive refresh rate and the always-on display function used in high-end models.
The above news comes from the breaking account "Digital Chat Station" on the Chinese social platform Weibo. When discussing Apple's 2027 product plan, it mentioned that the next-generation "low-price iPhone" will use the 60Hz LTPS screen of the current model. In the context that other models in the iPhone 18 series are expected to fully use LTPO panels that support ProMotion and edge-to-edge displays, the 18e will maintain a clear distinction from the high-end products in the series in terms of display specifications.
It is worth noting that in a price range similar to the iPhone 17e, there are already many models in the Android camp equipped with 120Hz high refresh rate screens as standard. The configuration choices exposed this time mean that Apple still maintains differentiation and price gradients between product lines by controlling display specifications.
Related rumors were also supported by an earlier report from South Korea. The report states that Apple is not expected to introduce low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) panels on entry-level models until the fourth-generation model, which is widely believed to be the iPhone 19e launched in early 2028. LTPO technology allows the display to dynamically adjust the refresh rate between 1Hz and 120Hz, enabling ProMotion and more efficient always-on display.
It is said that Apple is planning a new generation of "LTPO+" display technology for models after 2028. This technology uses oxide semiconductor materials in both switching transistors and driving transistors, which is expected to significantly reduce panel power consumption, thereby providing a better energy efficiency basis for high refresh rates and always-on display functions.
According to reports, Apple plans to prioritize using LTPO+ technology on high-end models in 2028, including the new generation iPhone Air and the upcoming folding screen iPhone series. Once high-end models switch to LTPO+, existing standard LTPO production capacity will have the opportunity to be "decentralized" to lower-priced product lines. This is regarded as one of the prerequisites for models such as iPhone 19e to obtain 120Hz ProMotion displays in the future.
However, sources also emphasized that there is still uncertainty about this timetable. If Apple encounters delays in the development or mass production of LTPO+ technology, the demand cycle for LTPO panels for high-end products may be forced to extend, thereby delaying the devolution of standard LTPO panels to entry-level models, which in turn affects whether the iPhone 19e can obtain a high refresh rate display as planned.