The new iPad mini has made the jump to an OLED display, but there’s one detail many people didn’t like: it’s still 60Hz, with no ProMotion. On a device at this price, it’s one of the most common complaints. Apple wanted to respond, and it did so through Dave Pakula, vice president of hardware engineering, in interviews with Chris Lawley and Katarina Mogus.
Apple’s argument: 60Hz OLED isn’t 60Hz LCD
Pakula’s explanation focuses on pixel response time. According to him, in the iPad mini’s OLED panel the pixels change “more than an order of magnitude faster” than in the previous model’s LCD. And that has a direct effect on what you see when you scroll or move windows: “motion blur is significantly reduced compared to LCD.”
His summary is a very Apple line: “The experience of a display is more than a single spec.” In other words, we shouldn’t judge the display by its refresh rate alone, but by the whole package: contrast, true blacks, brightness and that pixel response.
A display that also makes sound
Pakula also shared details about the iPad mini’s other curious feature: its acoustic display. Apple uses the panel’s own resonant frequency so it works as part of the speaker system, and complements it with tweeters for the highs. That way it gets good sound without taking up internal space in such a small device.
Availability
The first OLED iPad mini units start arriving on November 6.
My take
The technical argument is true: a 60Hz OLED looks sharper in motion than a 60Hz LCD. But it’s not the same as 120Hz, and anyone coming from an iPhone Pro or an iPad Pro will notice when scrolling. I understand Apple wants to protect battery life and set the Pro lineup apart, but at this price I would have expected ProMotion. My advice: try it in a store before you buy it. If you’ve never used 120Hz, you’ll probably love it; if you’re used to it, you’ll miss it.
Sources: MacRumors, 9to5Mac, Applesfera.
