iPhone 14 Pro's Always-On Display Intelligently Turns Off When You Leave the Room With an Apple Watch

[bikrrr]

Proximity data. Presumes as much right in the original post.

So the proximity sensor can detect walls and doors?

I'm guessing it makes the determination by the strength of a signal. But how can it detect the difference between a long, unobstructed distance, versus a short distance with a wall in the way? I'm honestly curious how it would detect the difference between those two scenarios.

 

[EugW]

Hopefully this put to rest the weird claims here by some members that the Apple Watch's alway-on display doesn't use more power than when off.

While the always-on display is one of my favourite features for Apple Watch, I'm not foolish enough to think it doesn't require any additional energy.

So the proximity sensor can detect walls and doors?

I'm guessing it makes the determination by the strength of a signal. But how can it detect the difference between a long, unobstructed distance, versus a short distance with a wall in the way? I'm honestly curious how it would detect the difference between those two scenarios.

Ultimately though, who cares? In both situations, you wouldn't need the screen on.

 

[falkon-engine]

So why this feature isn't available on the 13 Pro and Max? Even if with a warning that battery life might suffer. Did apple make other changes to the 14 Pro/Max displays that reduce the risk of OLED burn in?

 

[falkon-engine]

So the proximity sensor can detect walls and doors?

I'm guessing it makes the determination by the strength of a signal. But how can it detect the difference between a long, unobstructed distance, versus a short distance with a wall in the way? I'm honestly curious how it would detect the difference between those two scenarios.

The time delay can be measured within milliseconds or even microseconds, and the longer the delay, the further the watch is from the phone.

 

[PsykX]

It’s interesting that the always-on display is, in fact, not always on.

If a tree falls in a forest where nobody can hear it. Did the tree really fall?

What I mean is, if the owner's experience is that the display is always ON, it's perfectly OK. Always-On Display is a feature for you, not the others.

 

[bikrrr]

Ultimately though, who cares? In both situations, you wouldn't need the screen on.

I do because I'm a curious person who likes to know how things work.

 

[utsava]

So why this feature isn't available on the 13 Pro and Max? Even if with a warning that battery life might suffer. Did apple make other changes to the 14 Pro/Max displays that reduce the risk of OLED burn in?

Yes, the 14 Pro's screen refresh rate goes down to 1Hz now, instead of 10.

 

[EugW]

If a tree falls in a forest where nobody can hear it. Did the tree really fall?

Yes.

 

[msackey]

Definitely a cool feature…at least to me.

Definitely cool feature to me too. What reason would there be for the iPhone to have the display on when it has detected that its primary user is not in the room?

You could make an argument that using the distance between Watch and iPhone is not a good even to approximate distance between primary user and iPhone, but that is a different argument.

 

[SD449]

Cool feature!

Now can the same person who discovered this confirm if
“When a tree falls in a forest and no one is around, does it make a sound”

 

[tothemoonsands]

If a tree falls in a forest where nobody can hear it. Did the tree really fall?

What I mean is, if the owner's experience is that the display is always ON, it's perfectly OK. Always-On Display is a feature for you, not the others.

Agreed 100%, it really boils down to the experience. As long as the display appears to be always-on, that is all that matters. However, there is no margin for error (i.e. latency), otherwise I feel that the marketing language of "always-on" is deceptive.

If it takes a moment for the display to pop on upon re-entering the room or removing from a purse/pocket, then what is the point? That is how it works now, the moment you touch the screen with your finger it pops on...

So let's see how this plays out. We'll know on Friday!

 

[macsplusmacs]

You know what this is?

PRIVACY.

Another form of Privacy that apple is promoting as part of its DNA.

And one of the main reasons why I love apple for being apple.

 

[DblHelix]

yeah this feels a little sneaky, not really "always on" is it, apple?

wow there seem to be some real interesting takes out there. Somehow apple managed to make my watch battery life good enough for real AOD. But for the phone, they are being sneaky. I want my display glowing always. Like the name says. Is that so hard?

Well to be fair even the android version shuts off when in a pocket or face down

 

[rorschach]

always on? or often on? what if two people (your old grandparents for instance) like to look at their always on display but it keeps turning off every time granddad leaves to take a leak?

I’m sure it’s an incredibly common scenario that two people will be using one iPhone and one of them will want to just stare at the lock screen while the other leaves the room for a minute.

 

[JM]

With this level of thinking, you'd think the watch could end workouts whenever connected to CarPlay or your vehicle's bluetooth.

It gives a “end workout” notification. Isn’t that sufficient?

 

[DMG35]

ok, I was referring to the always-on display being not always-on. But lets play along: can you imagine a scenario where the always on display might be useful to TWO people, where one of them wears an Apple Watch?

Lol, no not really. If someone was really that desperate to see what was on an idle display they could simply tap the screen.

 

[macsplusmacs]

I’m sure it’s an incredibly common scenario that two people will be using one iPhone and one of them will want to just stare at the lock screen while the other leaves the room for a minute.

Grandma gotta snoop!

 

[DMG35]

always on? or often on? what if two people (your old grandparents for instance) like to look at their always on display but it keeps turning off every time granddad leaves to take a leak?

Oh come on...You are seriously reaching here.

 

[macsplusmacs]

Lol, no not really. If someone was really that desperate to see what was on an idle display they could simply tap the screen.

I wonder if tap to wake will not work (as an option) unless the watch is nearby?

 

[msackey]

ok, I was referring to the always-on display being not always-on. But lets play along: can you imagine a scenario where the always on display might be useful to TWO people, where one of them wears an Apple Watch? And then leaves the room, and the display turns off? This did not take huge imagination here. But again, my quip is with the so-called always-on display not being really always-on. Does my always-on apple watch pick sneaky points in the day to not be always-on? NO! no sneaky business there.

It is conceivable that 2 people might want to see the iPhone screen, though I can't actually think of one.

I hope that Apple has an option to turn off the distance detector that would affect if display is on or off. I suspect it does?

 

[EugW]

I suspect it will function similarly to how Apple Watch and Macs interact. If the signal is strong, you can unlock a Mac without typing in your password or using Touch ID. However, if the signal in week, it won't work.

I wonder if tap to wake will not work (as an option) unless the watch is nearby?

I doubt it. People take off their watches.

EDIT:

Confirmed by @DMG35. Tap to wake always works.

 

[DMG35]

I wonder if tap to wake will not work (as an option) unless the watch is nearby?

Tap to wake always works regardless of a watch or not.

 

[JM]

It sounds like that philosophical question:
If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?

But instead:
Does your iPhone’s always on display turn itself off if there’s no one around to see it?

I’ll see myself out….

Make sure to turn your screen off before you leave. Yah never know if it’ll turn itself off or not 🧐

 

[macsplusmacs]

It is conceivable that 2 people might want to see the iPhone screen, though I can't actually think of one.

I hope that Apple has an option to turn off the distance detector that would affect if display is on or off. I suspect it does?

My girlfriend has the annoying habit of reaching for my phone since she always leaves her phone somewhere else in the house.

NOW ALL I HAVE TO DO IS WALK OUT OF THE ROOM!


Won't tell her about this feature, just tell her the phone is haunted..

 

[The Game 161]

rather cool