The standard iPhone 15 may lack two of the iPhone 14 Pro’s biggest features

iPhone 14 Pro Max in a woman's hand
(Image credit: Shutterstock / mokjc)

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are rumored to inherit a handful of high-end features from the iPhone 14 Pro, but the latter’s ProMotion technology and always-on display functionality are unlikely to be among that number. 

While Apple’s Dynamic Island is set to trickle down to the standard iPhone 15 and its larger sibling, a new leak (H/T MacRumors) suggests that the two handsets will stick with the traditional 60Hz display panel sported by their predecessors-to-be, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus.

For those not in the know, both the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max boast adaptive 1-120Hz refresh rate technology (dubbed ProMotion) that automatically adjusts the smoothness of their displays to suit whatever’s happening on-screen. Apple’s always-on display functionality relies on ProMotion to function, so it looks like both of those high-end features will again be reserved for the iPhone 15 Pro, Pro Max and much-rumored iPhone 15 Ultra

Suffice to say, this is disappointing news for Apple fans. Always-on display technology has been available on many of the best Android phones for several years now, and it’s frustrating to see that Apple will remain committed to maintaining such a large technological gap between its standard and Pro iPhones with the iPhone 15 line. 

A closeup on the iPhone 14 Pro series' triple camera system, the device depicted is the Deep Purple colorways

The iPhone 15 is rumored to inherit the iPhone 14 Pro's 48MP camera (Image credit: Apple)

In fairness to Apple, the Dynamic Island isn’t the only Pro-level feature that's expected to come to the company’s new ‘affordable’ iPhones in September – rumor has it that the iPhone 14 Prо’s high-res 48MP camera will likewise become a universal feature of the iPhone 15 range.

However, for every once premium feature heading to the vanilla iPhone 15, there seem to be two more Pro-grade features heading to the iPhone 15 Pro, Pro Max and Ultra. For instance, a top-of-the-line chip upgrade – likely in the form of an A17 Bionic – will inevitably be made exclusive to Apple’s most expensive iPhones, while a titanium frame and periscope camera have also been touted as arriving with the iPhone 15 Ultra.

In other words, Apple’s Pro-level iPhones are set to get even Pro-er, while its more affordable all-rounders continue to play catch-up. And while there’s nothing inherently wrong with that strategy, the company’s standard iPhones are rapidly losing their shine in the presence of more accomplished (and affordable) Android alternatives. 

We’ll be staying abreast of all the latest iPhone 15 news, rumors and leaks as and when they surface, so stay tuned to TechRadar for the most up-to-date info on what's likely to be 2023’s hottest smartphone launch. 

Axel Metz
Senior Staff Writer

Axel is a London-based Senior Staff Writer at TechRadar, reporting on everything from the latest Apple developments to newest movies as part of the site's daily news output. Having previously written for publications including Esquire and FourFourTwo, Axel is well-versed in the applications of technology beyond the desktop, and his coverage extends from general reporting and analysis to in-depth interviews and opinion. 


Axel studied for a degree in English Literature at the University of Warwick before joining TechRadar in 2020, where he then earned an NCTJ qualification as part of the company’s inaugural digital training scheme.