Report: 'iPhone 13 Pro' Models to Feature Low-Power LPTO Display Technology

[himanshumodi]

This is exciting if the rumour is true. Only 2 models for 2021 though. I would have thought that like the original OLED roll-out Apple would start with the top Pro models for 2021 but there is no guarantee of that. If Apple is nervous about yields on bigger screens then maybe not the Pros but it would be so odd for a smaller phone to have a premium feature (ProMotion) and the Pro models not to have it that if that were the case I would think that Apple would delay the whole roll out for a year to make sure it could deliver LPTO for the biggest Pro screens.

Does anyone have any numbers on this LPTO stuff? When they say more efficient what sort of reduction in power consumption are they talking about vs OLED at the same brightness for various screen states (e.g. worst case all white and maybe 25% and 50% white pixels against black background). I guess this stuff is a bit difficult to compare given how both OLED and LPTO power consumption varies based on screen content.

As someone who spends many hours reading ebooks on my phone the talk of refresh rates as low as 1Hz sounds interesting. I really hope that regular apps that display mostly static content are able to drop down to really low refresh rates because that would be ideal for my Kindle reading. I already have it set to white text on black background to get maximum power savings from the OLED screen but if it could also drop to a really low refresh rate for everything except when I turn a page I would hope that would get me many more hours of ebook screen-on time from a single charge.

I think I also read somewhere that LPTO backplanes are thinner than regular OLED ones so the display panel gets a bit thinner. Is that correct? If so then as long as Apple doesn't use that to make the phones even thinner next year (please no, the camera bump is already getting more and more prominent as the body gets thinner) that could also allow slightly bigger battery capacities next year. And it looks pretty definite that Apple will move to the Qualcomm 5nm X60 modem which should be another significant power saving.

Yes, 2021 will almost certainly be a sort of "s" upgrade since it will probably be improved components in an identical form factor but with some of these rumours the 2021 phones actually look to be shaping up to be pretty worthwhile upgrades.

As a fairly heavy ebook consumer myself - I have never been able to move away from the kindle paperwhite. The device comes with the clunkiness of the touch technology on the screen, but the reading experience itself is unbeatable. White text on black screen feels too unnatural. White background is always too intense even at dimmest settings. But I do have to whip out the trusty iPad for technical books. Kindle's no good for that.

Anyways, I always have wondered who would LTPO benefit? Most of the phone content is pretty fast moving - videos, social media feeds, other apps, etc. And if the benefit is actually to put 120 hz refresh rate, how does that square off against benefit that can be gained by reducing the refresh rate? It's not as if phones need always-on display of a watch face. Or any low refresh content - except reading which surely is not the only usecase they can be targetting.

 

[daanodinot]

That’s it, I’m selling my iPhone 12.

 

[The Game 161]

Have you guys tried using a 120Hz phone? It was fun in the beginning, but I set it back to 60Hz. It's nice, but doesn't improve general experience that much for me.

I have no reason toy switch it off, 60hz is fine but if you have a faster refesh rate no reason to go back.

 

[The Game 161]

Apple Watch Series 5 and 6 battery life sucks despite LTPO.

But can you imagine without it?

ltpo on my fold 2 i can get a good 7 hours screen time easily.

 

[David1964]

Apple Watch Series 5 and 6 battery life sucks despite LTPO.

I am getting 2 days from my Series 6, sometimes a bit more.

 

[DinkThifferent]

LPTO means they can be able to place promotion without a big hit for battery
So , i guess we all knew this already, iphone 13 will have promotion, at least those 2 Pro models

And that is the reason why Apple didn't put it on the iPhone 12 (pro). Current 120hz displays are battery drainers, combine that with thirsty 5G antenna's and no bigger batteries and you could predict the headlines: "iPhone 12, great phone with terrible battery life".

I predict the iPhone 13's headlines will be "Great phone, amazing new display and still a very good battery life"

 

[steve09090]

And whatever camera the "13 Pro Superior Max Grande" comes with.

Does that come in a soy variety?

 

[catracho504]

iPhone 13 mini with no notch, better battery life, touch ID on the side would be the PERFECT phone!

That will be the next iPhone SE

 

[scupking]

I might consider switching to iPhone when the notch is gone, it gets pro motion and an in screen fingerprint scanner.

 

[naturalstar]

I am
Still waiting for my 12 pro max to come and already talking about 13 🤦🏻‍♂️

Exactly. Can we at least get it in our hands and live for a couple of weeks? 😂

 

[Apple_Robert]

So now my 12Pro is almost obsolete.

It is pretty much worthless at this point. Trade it or sell on Swappa.

 

[markiv810]

Apple iPhone 13 should probably have a screen with better refresh rate, and battery with larger capacity and better life expectancy of battery (charge cycles)

 

[mazz0]

LPTO means they can be able to place promotion without a big hit for battery
So , i guess we all knew this already, iphone 13 will have promotion, at least those 2 Pro models

ProMotion on the Pros and a nice battery life boost on the mini sounds about right.

Gotta say, I've used a ProMotion iPad Pro for two years and I really don't see any benefit. Maybe if I did a lot of drawing I would, but I do do a lot of scrolling and I can't say it's particularly impressive.

 

[EvilEvil]

surprised they’re not doing an S year

Odd-numbered iterations of the iPhone mind as well be the S versions.

 

[Howyalikdemapls]

The article interchanges LTPO with LPTO a couple of times. Multiple typos? Or are these acronyms interchangeable? It seems like it should just be LTPO.

 

[x-evil-x]

So now my 12Pro is almost obsolete.

it already is when the max comes out Friday

 

[twistedpixel8]

Can anybody explain what has happened to R+D in batteries? We seem to be making leaps in screen tech, camera tech, 5G, manufacturing et al. But batteries are still a shocking mess.

In my naive world after a decade of the iphone and the mass adoption of the smart phone in general, I would expect this tech to give at least a 3 day battery life with use.

I swear nearly a decade ago it was like every week there was a new article along the lines of “researchers have developed a battery capable of powering a phone for a month on a single charge” and then nothing was ever said about it again lol. And here I am 10 years later still furious that my iPhone is nearly dead by 6pm.

 

[diego.caraballo]

Can anybody explain what has happened to R+D in batteries? We seem to be making leaps in screen tech, camera tech, 5G, manufacturing et al. But batteries are still a shocking mess.

In my naive world after a decade of the iphone and the mass adoption of the smart phone in general, I would expect this tech to give at least a 3 day battery life with use.

They need to sell those fast chargers!

 

[HarryWild]

The iPhone 13 Pro Mini needs the LTPO technology, not the iPhone 13 Pro Max!

 

[patent10021]

notchless == instant buy

 

[Abstract]

Apple is aware of the rumors of battery life benefits from the introduction of LPTO LEDs in future iPhones, and are already prepared to reduce battery size, as necessary.

 

[Calle68]

Any news regarding iPhone 14? Do I have to wait for iPhone 15 or better stay with iPhone 16?

 

[Infiniti_Z]

I hope this will allow apps to show video and game content at their native refresh rate. But that's a bit optimistic...

 

[guzhogi]

The technology could pave the way for longer battery life and/or new features like ProMotion or always-on display elements.

Or make smaller batteries, leading to thinner phones.

 

[Denzo]

Jobs was very good at holding leaks. Not only did it make it fun, it stopped people like me returning their iPhone Pros they just paid $2k for.

I am annoyed. Maybe I’ll keep the mini and just get the pro next year.

I will say with all the new tech... imagine an iphone that is stainless steel or aluminium etc, is a slider with two 3.5mm thick, 3 inch~ pieces, that slid out and click into place to have a flush screen with all the above tech.. my dream phone!