Samsung Expected to Supply 120Hz Displays for iPhone 13 Pro Models

[MacRumors]

Apple's upcoming iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max models are widely rumored to feature OLED displays with up to a 120Hz refresh rate, resulting in smoother content and scrolling, and additional reports continue to surface.

Korean website The Elec today reported that Samsung will be the exclusive supplier of 120Hz displays for iPhone 13 Pro models:

Meanwhile, the two higher tier iPhones this year that will use RFPCB will have low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) thin-film transistor (TFT) OLED panels.

LTPO OLED is needed for a 120Hz refresh rate screen. These panels will be supplied exclusively by Samsung Display.

Many sources have claimed that iPhone 13 Pro models will finally support a 120Hz refresh rate after years of rumors, including Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, display industry analyst Ross Young, leakers Jon Prosser and Max Weinbach, and others.

120Hz support will be made possible by Apple adopting low-power LTPO display technology, according to reports. LTPO technology would result in a more power efficient backplane, which is responsible for turning individual pixels on and off on the display, allowing for a 120Hz refresh rate without a significant impact on battery life.

Similar to recent Apple Watch models, LTPO could also enable iPhone 13 Pro models to have an always-on display with the clock visible.

iPad Pro models have supported up to a 120Hz refresh rate since 2017 as part of a feature called ProMotion, which automatically adjusts the refresh rate depending on the content. A wide variety of Android smartphones now have 120Hz displays as well, so support for the higher refresh rate on the iPhone is more than due.

Article Link: Samsung Expected to Supply 120Hz Displays for iPhone 13 Pro Models

 

[lazyrighteye]

I'd be ok with some always-on functionality as an option.

 

[kk200]

120Hz OLED vs XDR MiniLED, who will win?

 

[_Spinn_]

Looks like 2021 is finally going to be the year for 120Hz!

 

[Populus]

“Similar to recent Apple Watch models, LTPO could also enable iPhone 13 models to have an always-on display with the clock visible”

No: if the LTPO displays are aimed only at Pro models, the regular iPhone 13 lineup won’t have always-on displays. Something strange, because that seems like a generational feature, more than a Pro feature, but we’ll see in four months.

 

[warpdrive]

Certainly, that's how they get your money. Offer a new feature as "Pro" feature for a generation or two, to entice people to pay more. And then make it standard across all models later.

Personally, I'm not the type who cares that much about 120Hz, it doesn't make a difference to the user experience for me. So it's really a "Pro" feature in that Pros are the only ones that care about it, but having Always On could be interesting.

These days.....Pro is the most abuse term in Appleland. It just means "top of the line" and if you approach Apple's offerings with that in mind, there is no confusion about why it's called "Pro"

 

[ddarko]

I have an iPad with ProMotion and it goes without saying the display is excellent but at least to me, it's not noticeably smoother or more fluid the display on my iPhone 11 Pro Max. Maybe the ProMotion on the iPhone will be better than the version that's been on the iPads for the last few years but if ProMotion is the big headline feature on the iPhone 13, then I will probably stick with my 11. On the other hand, I'd definitely update if TouchID came back with 13 - that is a feature that would get daily use and would immediately ease a hassle.

 

[dannyyankou]

No: if the LTPO displays are aimed only at Pro models, the regular iPhone 13 lineup won’t have always-on displays. Something strange, because that seems like a generational feature, more than a Pro feature, but we’ll see in four months.

To be fair, the article doesn’t say “all iPhone 13 models”

 

[ksec]

Name me a single manufacturer other than Samsung that has the ability to make LTPO 120hz OLED with colours accuracy and brightness as the current Super Retina XDR on iPhone Pro.

It is precisely why I am often pissed when people just flat out making some false rumours in all previous reporting.

 

[that be me]

Hasn't this article been written before? It seems every week or so there's a story about 120hz refresh rates coming to the next iPhones.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Probably going to be one of the best upgraded features besides the camera.

 

[Infinite Vortex]

Its about time!!! And then there was an Always On Display.

 

[Hayden_]

This is what will bring me to switch from my current Android phone to an iPhone. This alongside the smaller notch will be a very nice change. Also hoping that we get the fingerprint reader under the display too like my current OnePlus 7 Pro. Glad to see that it's likely to be featured in the iPhone 13 Pro & Pro Max. 120Hz makes a huge difference to the end user and anyone who says it doesn't really matter to them should really try an iPad Pro and compare the two.

 

[kalafalas]

120Hz OLED vs XDR MiniLED, who will win?

It’s not even a competition. miniLED is a way to try and bring some of OLED’s benefits to LCD, and in apple’s implementation there’s not even any zone-dimming or extra brightness with SDR content vs their non-XDR lcds. OLED is far superior and will always be, we’re just years away from medium sized OLED panels so miniLED is here to give us some HDR pop until then.

 

[Lemon Olive]

Good move on their part saving this feature for after the super cycle. No one has any reason at all to upgrade from iPhone 12 for a long time, but 120Hz display will be very hard to resist.

 

[kaycrystal626]

Meh, I rather have the new iPhone with a 10X optical zoom lens.

 

[GeoStructural]

120Hz OLED vs XDR MiniLED, who will win?

My bet is on the MiniLED. Yeah, you cannot beat OLED in moving picture quality and HDR, but the MiniLED is perfect to use the device for work plus it can potentially last longer (my new iPad costed over $1800, I want it to last).

 

[Jeepguy01]

I'm not as enthusiastic about this as I once was. I'd much rather have noticeably better battery life than a high-refresh screen.

 

[LordVic]

I'd be ok with some always-on functionality as an option.

switched to iPhone 12 this year back from years on Android

Even with the 12 being purely AMOLED based on all models it's baffling that there's no Always On Display yet.

With no notification LED and no always on display, iOS is severely lacking in this functionality. Feels very "smartphone" from 2011ish in regards to notifications and alerting you.

I can only say that while I love the iPhone 12 hardware and most of the time iOS is fine. It's really REALLY not nearly as feature rich or usable as Android's latest versions and needs a tremendous amount of work
.

IMHO, before Apple starts trying to go down the trend of 120hz screens or other things that are going to be less overall noticable to the users. They fix some of the things they've let languish

 

[Daum]

Welcome to the party, we'll already be moving to bigger and better parties so enjoy your stay. ?

 

[MrGuder]

Apple will increase battery size for iPhone 13 but with new processor and new 120Hz refresh rate, battery life will be same as iPhone 12. lol

 

[Ael_MR]

How many days till people start whining for 240hz displays?

 

[DekuBleep]

Sweet!

 

[Sir_Macs_A_Lot]

How many days till people start whining for 240hz displays?

Exactly 5 seconds after they experience 120hz. Some people are never satisfied.

 

[kingtj1971]

switched to iPhone 12 this year back from years on Android

Even with the 12 being purely AMOLED based on all models it's baffling that there's no Always On Display yet.

With no notification LED and no always on display, iOS is severely lacking in this functionality. Feels very "smartphone" from 2011ish in regards to notifications and alerting you.

I can only say that while I love the iPhone 12 hardware and most of the time iOS is fine. It's really REALLY not nearly as feature rich or usable as Android's latest versions and needs a tremendous amount of work
.

IMHO, before Apple starts trying to go down the trend of 120hz screens or other things that are going to be less overall noticable to the users. They fix some of the things they've let languish

I agree that a 120hz fresh screen just isn't too high on my "want list" for my phone. Maybe things are changing and I'm just getting old, but I still feel like my phone is primarily there to serve as a mobile communications tool and NOT a full-blown computer substitute? I see why the pursuit of faster processors and more RAM has value, since those are just "raw resources" that allow developers to do more with the device. It's never possible to predict what cool new things someone will come up with to utilize them, so in that sense, you can "never have too much".

But all in all, these phones just keep getting more and more costly to replace - and I'm not sure I'm getting enough value for the dollar anymore? I have an iPhone XS Max I'm still using, and only upgraded it from an iPhone X because the X developed hardware problems (bad earpiece speaker that the Apple store tried to repair and wound up damaging the whole phone in the process!). I feel like I might be due for a phone upgrade with the next cycle, except even the 13 series isn't exciting me much. An "always on display" showing the time/date and so on? That wouldn't be bad, since at least it's a visual confirmation the phone is powered on and working. But how much money is that worth to me, really? Yeah -- not a lot, ultimately.