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Low-Power LTPO Technology Not Expected on iPhones Until 2021, Possibly Delaying ProMotion

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Multiple sources have indicated that Apple is considering expanding its ProMotion technology to the iPhone, allowing for a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz for smoother motion content and greater responsiveness. The feature debuted on the iPad Pro in 2017.

iphone-11-pro-display-video.jpg

The rumors began in July 2019 when a reputable Samsung leaker known as "Ice Universe" on Twitter said Apple was considering a switchable 60Hz/120Hz refresh rate on at least one iPhone in 2020. This was followed by a DigiTimes Taiwan report in October that claimed Apple would release an iPhone with a 120Hz display this year.

More recently, both Max Weinbach and Jon Prosser have claimed that this year's higher-end iPhone 12 Pro models will in fact support ProMotion, although Prosser said there is a possibility that Apple could disable ProMotion at the software level prior to the devices launching if it decides the feature consumes too much battery life.

On that note, display analyst Ross Young today tweeted that the rumored Samsung Galaxy Note20+ will be the only flagship smartphone in 2020 to feature low-power LTPO display technology, adding that the iPhone will follow in 2021.


Young believes LTPO is essential if Apple plans to support ProMotion on the iPhone, as it would allow for a variable refresh as low as 1Hz when the device is inactive to optimize battery life. As with the Apple Watch Series 5, the technology could also pave the way for iPhones to have an always-on display option next year.

Here is how Apple describes LTPO for the Watch:
The low temperature poly-silicon and oxide display features a reinvented pixel architecture that lets the screen refresh rate dip from 60Hz to a power-sipping 1Hz when the watch is inactive. A new low-power driver, ultra-efficient power management, and a new ambient light sensor work together so the display can stay always on with up to 18 hours of battery life.
Click to expand...
It is worth noting that the iPad Pro supports ProMotion without LTPO, so perhaps the feature really will launch on the iPhone this year, but it sounds like there is a possibility that Apple will simply wait until 2021.


Article Link: Low-Power LTPO Technology Not Expected on iPhones Until 2021, Possibly Delaying ProMotion
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2020/05/11/ltpo-iphone-2021/
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UltimateSyn

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Not sure how much I trust this guy's claim that you 'need LTPO for 120Hz', since, as stated in this article, the iPad Pro supports variable refresh rates up to 120Hz without LTPO....

More inclined to believe Jon Prosser's claim that the hardware will support 120 Hz but it may be nerfed in software.

Edit: I have been corrected and given additional information. Thank you!
 
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GeoStructural

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I don't care, so far it looks like a very worthy upgrade and I am happy for it. I am a tech enthusiast but 5G nor ProMotion are deciding factors for me right now.

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alpi123 said:
I can see how the tech community will go mad if Apple doesn't bring 120Hz display this year... and the rest of the world wouldn't care about that feature.
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I am one of those. I do not care about Pro Motion, I own an iPad Pro and honestly I see no difference with the previous generation I also owned, just more battery consumption.
 
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goobot

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AceFernalld said:
Not sure how much I trust this guy's claim that you 'need LTPO for 120Hz', since, as stated in this article, the iPad Pro supports variable refresh rates up to 120Hz without LTPO....

More inclined to believe Jon Prosser's claim that the hardware will support 120 Hz but it may be nerfed in software.
Click to expand...
iPad Pro uses lcd and iPhone used oled so comparing the two doesn’t mean anything.
 
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69Mustang

69Mustang

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AceFernalld said:
Not sure how much I trust this guy's claim that you 'need LTPO for 120Hz', since, as stated in this article, the iPad Pro supports variable refresh rates up to 120Hz without LTPO....

More inclined to believe Jon Prosser's claim that the hardware will support 120 Hz but it may be nerfed in software.
Click to expand...
But the iPhone and iPad are dealing with vastly different battery capacities. You can use the iPad as a basis for an argument in this case. You are right that LTPO isn't needed for 120Hz displays since several phones already have them. I think what he may have meant is LTPO will help maintain or extend battery life of the devices using the tech.

I don't think the claim is entirely inaccurate regarding LTPO and the iPhone specifically because iPhones traditionally have the smallest battery capacity of modern flagships. Also we generally use our phones differently from iPads. I think iPads would spend more time at lower refresh rates than iPhones just based on mobile use cases.
 
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JPack

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AceFernalld said:
Not sure how much I trust this guy's claim that you 'need LTPO for 120Hz', since, as stated in this article, the iPad Pro supports variable refresh rates up to 120Hz without LTPO....

More inclined to believe Jon Prosser's claim that the hardware will support 120 Hz but it may be nerfed in software.
Click to expand...

Because iPad Pro is an LCD which uses LTPS.
 
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Vanilla35

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AceFernalld said:
Not sure how much I trust this guy's claim that you 'need LTPO for 120Hz', since, as stated in this article, the iPad Pro supports variable refresh rates up to 120Hz without LTPO....

More inclined to believe Jon Prosser's claim that the hardware will support 120 Hz but it may be nerfed in software.
Click to expand...

He means in order to have the product provide a decent battery life for consumers (iPhone and iPad are different product categories).

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GeoStructural said:
I don't care, so far it looks like a very worthy upgrade and I am happy for it. I am a tech enthusiast but 5G nor ProMotion are deciding factors for me right now.

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I am one of those. I do not care about Pro Motion, I own an iPad Pro and honestly I see no difference with the previous generation I also owned, just more battery consumption.
Click to expand...

What are you looking forward to if it doesn't have 5G or ProMotion? I don't see it as a compelling upgrade without those.
 
X

xxray

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Apple will be really late to the 90/120Hz trend if they wait another whole year. I plan on waiting till 2021 to upgrade for 5G carrier aggregation anyways though so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
 
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BlaziCam

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GeoStructural said:
I do not care about Pro Motion, I own an iPad Pro and honestly I see no difference with the previous generation I also owned, just more battery consumption.
Click to expand...

You have to either be blind or in denial to say that you cannot tell the difference. If you merely swipe between home screen pages on that iPad and compare it to any iPhone it would be immediately noticeable.
 
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The Game 161

The Game 161

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Huh?? Why would you say this macrumours? Poor Journalism

This tech would have nothing to do with pro motion not arriving this year

Would just mean a better power efficient version would come next year
 
GeoStructural

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Vanilla35 said:
What are you looking forward to if it doesn't have 5G or ProMotion? I don't see it as a compelling upgrade without those.
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Upgraded cameras, smaller notch, bigger battery, larger screen, 128 GB base storage, faster processor... all those check the list for me.

If ProMotion is added I hope they give the option to toggle it off.
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BlaziCam said:
You have to either be blind or in denial to say that you cannot tell the difference. If you merely swipe between home screen pages on that iPad and compare it to any iPhone it would be immediately noticeable.
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? Not blind nor in denial... I actually prefer my iPhone’s screen to my iPad’s, I feel colors are more intense and images are sharper.

I guess in my typical usage there is no improvement? (Reading PDF, casual browsing, some times media consumption)...
 
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The Game 161

The Game 161

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Rogifan said:
I trust the ones that have made accurate predictions before. Supply chain analysts just throw things at the wall hoping something sticks.
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Not guys who have sources inside Apple. This article is based off assumptions with nothing to back it up with. They are putting two and two together when it’s not connected
 
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