When Will the iPad (or iPad Air) Finally Get 120Hz?
Every year, I keep hoping Apple will finally put a 120Hz display on the iPad or iPad Air. And every year, I’m disappointed. Don’t get me wrong—my iPad Air with the M2 chip is still a beast. It’s thin, light, and powerful enough for editing videos, sketching with Apple Pencil, and even light gaming. But when it comes to smoothness? That silky scrolling, buttery animations, and fast response time—you only get it on the iPad Pro, thanks to ProMotion.
And here’s the thing: once you use a 120Hz display, there’s no going back. The difference isn’t just noticeable—it feels fundamental. That’s why it stings when you look at the competition.
Take Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S9 line: all three models—yes, even the base Tab S9—come with 120Hz AMOLED displays. Same goes for Xiaomi’s Pad 6 Pro and OnePlus Pad—both run 120Hz panels at lower price points than the iPad Air. Even mid-range Android phones like the Galaxy A55 and Nothing Phone (2a) are pushing 120Hz refresh rates as a “must-have” feature. Meanwhile, Apple is still shipping a $600+ iPad Air with a 60Hz LCD.
So why hasn’t Apple done it yet? My theory: it’s pure strategy. Apple needs to keep a big enough gap between the iPad Air and the iPad Pro. If the Air had M2 power and 120Hz, why would anyone buy the Pro unless they needed the ultra-bright XDR mini-LED or bigger sizes? Apple’s segmentation game is strong, and 120Hz is one of those invisible dividing lines.
Still, the world is moving on. Even Apple’s own iPhones—the Pro models—have had 120Hz for years. When you hold an iPhone 17 Pro next to an iPad Air, the difference in scrolling smoothness is almost embarrassing.
Do I think Apple will give in? Eventually, yes. But only when they have a new Pro-level display tech to roll out first—maybe OLED at 144Hz, or something with adaptive refresh that’s more energy efficient. My gut says the iPad Air will get 120Hz around 2026–2027, but not before.
Until then, if you want ProMotion on a tablet, you’ve got no choice but to go all-in on the iPad Pro. And honestly, that’s frustrating—because with competitors like Samsung and Xiaomi making 120Hz the default, Apple feels like the odd one out here.
