iPhone 14 Pro Screen Refresh Rate Upgrade Could Allow for Always-On Display

[snak-atak]

Really praying the 14’s PWM is bearable! This 11 is getting pretty sluggish. Cmon Apple, just give us another LCD or mLED iPhone with updated specs.

I was just thinking the same thing. It’s especially noticeable when I flip a video from portrait to landscape and now have to wait and second or two for the video to resume. It never did that before, and I don’t have a lot of other apps up and running.

 

[antiprotest]

I want an always on display, yes.

 

[TheWatchfulOne]

Existential question: If an iphone's display is on, and there’s no one around to see it, does it display an image?

Yes.

 

[jav6454]

No thanks. I don’t want mine on all the time. Same with the watch.

Agreed. There is a reason why the proximity sensor exists and why I love my phone screen off.

 

[jav6454]

This has to happen eventually.

No it doesn't.

 

[slplss]

I turned the Apple Watch 6 Always On off, did the same with my previous OLED Galaxy phones… but why not? Having an option is never a bad thing, especially with Apple.

 

[anthogag]

I like the 120Hz screen on my 13 Pro Max. Smooth scrolling.

It would be great to have some screen elements always on. For example, when I am driving the speed limit for the road I am on could be displayed.

 

[Le0M]

Even if the refresh rate is 1Hz, the pixels still need to be lit, and that uses a lot of energy.

 

[dysamoria]

I love when people act as if they're being forced to use this feature... you can literally turn it off

Unless Apple make it so that we can’t.

 

[incoherent_1]

Best part is everyone wins. Even if you turn it off, you’ll likely see a nice battery life improvement compared to the previous model (judging by the Apple Watch battery life figures when this rolled out).

 

[GuruZac]

Don't tell me AoD relies on refresh rates as low as 1Hz. There is no reason this could not be added to the 13 Pro via software. Samsung and others have had AoD well before they had variable refresh rates screens.

 

[slplss]

Even if the refresh rate is 1Hz, the pixels still need to be lit, and that uses a lot of energy.

A lot of energy? My wall mounted LED night light lasted 2 years on two AA batteries before it went off.

 

[Le0M]

A lot of energy? My wall mounted LED night light lasted 2 years on two AA batteries before it went off.

I stand behind what I said. Nowadays, with a normal usage of a portable device (be it a laptop or a phone) the most of the energy goes into the display's brightness.
You want proof?
If I surf the web with my M1 MBP at, say, 1/3 of the brightness, it'll last for something like 12-15h. If I set the brightness to max, then it'll last for half the time, if not less.

 

[MayaUser]

All this does is cap the refresh rate to 60. It still goes lower...or does it?

until promotion we got static 60hz
now you can cap it at 60hz..so between 10-60hz

 

[slplss]

I stand behind what I said. Nowadays, with a normal usage of a portable device (be it a laptop or a phone) the most of the energy goes into the display's brightness.
You want proof?
If I surf the web with my M1 MBP at, say, 1/3 of the brightness, it'll last for something like 12-15h. If I set the brightness to max, then it'll last for half the time, if not less.

On my Galaxy phones I didn’t notice any difference. OLED lighting few pixels to show digital clock probably won’t make one. But still I turned it off, there’s psychological effect to it that make you feel you’re wasting energy and I felt I didn’t really need the feature. Apple Watch is different story, I don’t know if it’s due to its battery size, the minimum brightness but turning off Always On really helped to extend the battery life.

 

[MayaUser]

I stand behind what I said. Nowadays, with a normal usage of a portable device (be it a laptop or a phone) the most of the energy goes into the display's brightness.
You want proof?
If I surf the web with my M1 MBP at, say, 1/3 of the brightness, it'll last for something like 12-15h. If I set the brightness to max, then it'll last for half the time, if not less.

just half true...brightness does affect the battery but also the apps..
even at 1/3 brightness if i use Maya at full potential i get 4 hours
So there are many factors not just brightness

 

[Seanm87]

No thanks. I don’t want mine on all the time. Same with the watch.

Turn it off then. Other people that want it can have it on. Win win for everyone.

 

[g75d3]

I really hope there is breakthrough in screen technology as I can’t use all new iPhones with OLED screens because of eye strain and tension headaches.

 

[Oscar_440]

Don't tell me AoD relies on refresh rates as low as 1Hz. There is no reason this could not be added to the 13 Pro via software. Samsung and others have had AoD well before they had variable refresh rates screens.

In fact, apple watch series 4 has AoD capacity (hardware). But apple didn’t want to implement it (for x reasons I suppose)

 

[Jim Lahey]

Unless Apple make it so that we can’t.

Unlikely but nothing should surprise us with Apple. It’s still impossible to disable lock screen camera or flashlight ?

In any case I’m not sure I’d ever want an always-on OLED unless the static image moves around a fair bit. Otherwise it’ll probably literally be always on ?

 

[Admiral Fart]

The screens on iPhones already turn on automatically when you look at them, what is the point of this?

 

[Jason2000]

The screens on iPhones already turn on automatically when you look at them, what is the point of this?

No it does not. You have to pickup/move or tap the screen to get the screen to come one. Just looking at it does nothing which is why an always on screen would be nice.

 

[nutmac]

No thanks. I don’t want mine on all the time. Same with the watch.

I personally love Always On Display (AOD). Getting a useful glanceable information is very useful.

If Apple brings over watchOS's complications to iPhone 14, I would be very tempted to upgrade.

Having said that, watchOS's AOD isn't optimally implemented. On scenarios such as, AOD should disengage:

• Screen is covered (e.g., long sleeve shirt, jacket)
• In Focus mode with Dim Lock Screen option
• Sleeping with it or Bedtime schedule
• Battery life is below certain threshold

 

[dk001]

Don't tell me AoD relies on refresh rates as low as 1Hz. There is no reason this could not be added to the 13 Pro via software. Samsung and others have had AoD well before they had variable refresh rates screens.

The current display panels in the 13 pro support only as low as 10. Apple needs to use the current gen of panels to get down to 1 like some Android phones. But yeah, if they wanted AoD the current screens could handle it.

 

[Le0M]

And that's why I mentioned "normal usage". What I meant is exactly that: unless you make an intense use of the processors, then the brightness will most definitely have a great impact on battery life.

just half true...brightness does affect the battery but also the apps..
even at 1/3 brightness if i use Maya at full potential i get 4 hours
So there are many factors not just brightness