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One of the most noticeable changes with the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models is the display. Apple uses mini-LED backlight technology and brings "ProMotion" to the Mac for the first time with these new MacBook Pros. This is an image refresh that can go up to 120 Hz, or 120 times per second.
Why 120Hz can help the battery of the new MacBook Pros
Besides that 120Hz figure that would delight future customers, one important detail that went under the radar during the presentation is that the new variable refresh rate of the new MacBook Pro can also go down to 24 Hz, the same value as the ProMotion screen of the iPad Pro M1 that we tested in the spring.
During the “Unleashed” conference, Apple showed that the TFT panel – wedged between the miniLED and LCD layers – of MacBook Pros can vary from 24 Hz to 120 Hz. This is in line with the ProMotion technology that Apple uses in the iPad Pro range since 2017. On the other hand, it is different from the implementation of ProMotion made in the iPhone 13 Pro, which goes up to 10 Hz.
Although a large portion of users tend to focus on the 120Hz peak, the lower rate is equally so. Macs - but also iPads and iPhones - without ProMotion support stay at a constant 60Hz refresh rate no matter what's on screen. On the other hand, ProMotion compatible devices can vary their refresh rates depending on what is happening on the screen.
For example, if you're rapidly scrolling a web page, your Mac will take full advantage of the 120Hz refresh rate. But if you're reading a web page without scrolling, the refresh rate may drop. Same with videos, games and a whole bunch of usage. The interest? Reduce power consumption and thus save battery power.
Apple claims this leads to the 14-inch model getting up to 17 hours of video playback, 7 hours more than its predecessor, while the 16-inch model gets up to 21 hours of video playback, that's an additional 10 hours and "the longest battery life ever on a Mac laptop."
Apple also notes that video editors can lock in an optimal refresh rate for their footage. Supported fixed refresh rates are: 47.95Hz, 48.00Hz, 50.00Hz, 59.94Hz, 60.00Hz. That's what makes the latest MacBook Pro ultra-full.
Recent supply chain reports have suggested that future iPad Pro models may add ProMotion support down to 10Hz in 2023 or 2024, so the Mac may also eventually adopt this technology afterwards.
What do you think is the best selling point of the new MacBook Pros: the miniLED screen, 120 Hz, the M1 Pro / Max chip, the return of HDMI and MagSafe ports, the new keyboard without Touch Bar, the notch or the revised design?