The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max have introduced an array of features designed to enhance user experience, one of them being the ProMotion display which boasts refresh rates from 1Hz to 120Hz. It’s an innovative functionality, allowing for ultra-smooth scrolling and fantastic gameplay. However, for those who are vigilant about battery longevity, a question arises: Can you extend your battery life by disabling this feature, and if so, is the trade-off worth it?
The journey to this answer begins with Macworld’s Jason Cross, who embarked on a quest to demystify the battery implications of the ProMotion display. For users seeking to tamper down their display’s thirst for power, iPhones come with an option within the Accessibility settings to limit the screen’s refresh rate to 60Hz, thereby reducing the potential strain on the battery.
Jason’s investigative tech journey employed Geekbench 4 battery tests, which provided a modest revelation: limiting the ProMotion display to 60Hz eked out an approximately 5% improvement in battery life. This seems marginal, but for tech enthusiasts seeking to optimize every aspect of their device’s performance, every percentage counts.
However, Cross noted a significant caveat to this discovery. The more palpable battery saving occurs when playing games that support 120fps, such as “Call of Duty: Mobile,” “PUBG Mobile,” “Brawl Stars,” and “Genshin Impact.” These titles require delving into the in-game options and selecting a high frame rate mode, which, unsurprisingly, places an added demand on the battery through increased GPU activity and rapid frame rates. With ProMotion deactivated, he observed that battery usage could virtually be halved, a notable consideration for the mobile gaming aficionado.
We at Halfofthe are well aware that every user interacts with their device uniquely, and preferences vary considerably. It’s clear that if you’re not a heavy gamer, the benefits of ProMotion likely outweigh the minor gains in battery life. The immersive and responsive experience offered by the 120Hz functionality represents one of the key reasons users opt for the Pro end of Apple’s lineup.
If toggling on a smoother display robs you of the last juice needed to get through the day, then by all means, consider flipping ProMotion off. But for the typical user, the 5% battery savings might not justify forfeiting that superior visual fluidity.
Gamers, on the other hand, face a different calculus. For those gaming sessions away from the comfort of a power source, steering clear of the high frame rate option may be the ticket to prolonged battles and quests.
In the end, our relationship with our tech is deeply personal, and how we balance performance with functionality is a subjective path. Whether you’re a power user, a casual scroller, or a gaming guru, the choice between battery conservation and peak display capabilities rests in your hands.
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