iOS 18 Limits iPhone Refresh Rate to 80Hz, Video Evidence Emerges

 

Apple's ProMotion technology, introduced with the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max, enabled displays to operate at a smooth 120Hz. However, following the release of iOS 18 last week, users are reporting a significant limitation: their iPhones now appear capped at a refresh rate of 80Hz. This change, noted by tipster Ice Universe, was not communicated to users during the update.

In a video shared on X, it’s shown that even during rapid scrolling, the display rarely reaches 120Hz, casting doubt on the update’s promised fluidity. The refresh rate counter, likely enabled by a third-party app, confirms this restriction. While it’s speculated that Apple implemented this limit to enhance battery life, many users feel blindsided and argue for transparency regarding such significant changes.

Moreover, tests with Geekbench 6 indicate that devices running iOS 18 show lower performance scores, as the update introduces delays that prevent performance cores from quickly reaching their turbo frequencies. Although Apple aims to balance performance and battery life, the lack of user communication raises concerns. As users experience these limitations, they are encouraged to share their observations about iOS 18’s performance.

Related Story It Appears That The Tables Have Turned, As OxygenOS Takes Major Design Cues From iOS 18 Apple may have introduced this limitation to preserve battery life on iOS 18, but once again, without informing users One of the first individuals to notice this ‘downgrade’ was Ice Universe, who notes that iOS 18 users should not be fooled by the latest software update’s elegance or animation fluency. Instead, he reports that there is a limitation set in place that prevents an iPhone’s refresh rate from going above 80Hz. He has posted video evidence below on X, showing that during a brief rapid scrolling session, a device that appears to be one of Apple’s latest iPhone 16 models does not go beyond 80Hz, and there are only minor faints showing that the screen touches 120hrz,

. The refresh rate counter is visible, which may have appeared thanks to the installation of a 3rd-party application, showing the limitation introduced in iOS 18. It is possible that during rapid scrolling, Apple reduces the refresh rate to 80Hz to conserve battery life, but assuming that this is what is actually happening, users deserve to be informed before they proceed to update their devices. We are confident that some prefer a smoother scrolling experience over battery life.