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Standard iPhone 15 Models to Lack ProMotion and Always-On Display Features

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Apple's standard iPhone 15 models will not be equipped with an LPTO display, suggesting that the devices will continue to lack ProMotion support and an always-on display option like Apple's Pro models have.

iPhone-15-General-Mock-Feature.jpg

Last year's iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max models used updated low-power display backlighting that supports ProMotion refresh rates that range from 1Hz to 120Hz. The refresh rate of the display adapts to what's happening on-screen, with lower rates used for static content and higher rates reserved for motion like games and video for a smoother, more responsive experience.

According to an industry source cited by news aggregator account "yeux1122" on the Korean Naver blog, just like last year, only the Pro models in the iPhone 15 series will be equipped with the LPTO panels required for ProMotion, indicating that the feature will remain exclusive to Apple's higher-end models. From the machine-translated blog post:
Apple is said to have already made arrangements to deliver iPhone 15 series display panels to domestic companies, and will soon finalize details and prepare for mass production. What is confirmed here is that only the Pro Series will have a specification that supports LTPO 120 refresh rate, with the basic regular Plus model not having it in its requirements.
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If accurate, unfortunately this means that the always-on display option will also remain a Pro-exclusive feature, since it is the 1Hz refresh rate capability of the updated LPTO panels that enables an idle Lock Screen to stay visible without significantly impacting battery.

The Naver blog's industry source corroborates the thinking of respected display analyst Ross Young, who in September 2022 said that while he expects Dynamic Island to feature on all iPhone 15 models, production scale constraints will likely prohibit Apple from bringing LPTO panels to the entire iPhone 15 series.

According to Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple's China-based supplier BOE, which has won orders for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, will not have production capacity for mass shipments of LTPO displays for high-end iPhones until 2024 at the earliest.

On the plus side, all iPhone 15 models will be equipped with a more power-efficient OLED display driver chip manufactured based on a 28nm process, compared to 40nm for current models, according to one report. The primary benefit of the 28nm chip would be reduced power consumption, which could contribute to longer battery life for iPhone 15 models.

For the latest rumors about the iPhone 15 lineup, read our roundups linked below.

Article Link: Standard iPhone 15 Models to Lack ProMotion and Always-On Display Features
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2023/03/07/iphone-15-no-promotion-always-on-display/
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And we think you’re gonna love it!

Seriously though I do wonder how long Apple can hold off on features like this for the regular model as they become standard across the industry.

Yes I’m aware it’s called “ProMotion” so can only ever be on Pro devices supposedly. But can you imagine Apple selling phone without a Retina display for example as this is a feature that would presumably be limited to a Pro device if they had existed at the time.

And we’re getting there with 120hz displays. It won’t be long until Apple is the only one out there selling a phone without one!
 
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And remember that they was saying that you need the hardware in A16 to have AOD. Regular 15 is expected to use the very same A16...

I mean.. I knew that you dont need A16 to have AOD, but come on.

This also shows that the generational jump is smaller than we think... otherwise they will put most of the features from 14 Pro in 15 and have the extra (many) saved for 15 Pro.
 
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It's so weird that something like high refresh rate which is considered a basic/budget feature now in PC/Android world is still paywalled behind a "Pro" tag.

Then again 90%, probably more, of all iPhones are essentially glorified TikTok machines these days so I shouldn't be surprised. Apple definitely know their demographic very well.

The worst part is that ProMotion at this point is just a tacked on spec bump. The fact that I can't even scroll the settings app on a 13 Pro with 120hz on without random stutters kind of proves it. Even my friends 14 Pro has random scroll stutters, but when pointed out he was adamant he couldn't see any of it. Guess that's how Apple get away with it?

Partner has a Pixel 7 and it looks smoother and more responsive at 90hz, and that phone isn't considered very powerful at all in the Android world. Yes yes I know, Google evil wahhhhh wahhhhhhhh.
 
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If the SE really gets the upgrades mentioned in the other thread this phone either ends stuck between a rock and an Hard place (not cheap, not fully featured) or ends as a sort of Goldilocks.
I'm leaning more for the former.
 
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Wasn‘t there talk about how the Dynamic Island is only possible because of the fluid animations that the ProMotion display provides? Maybe I‘m imagining it, but I think the Dynamic Island runs at 120Hz even if you limit the display to 60Hz in Accessibility settings.
 
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Apple gets away treating customers with contempt because the Apple fans just keeps buying what they put out and believe the marketing and promo materials, without even a thought of questioning it. There customers are being taken for a ride so easily that Apple profits are high. Ironically, these very customers are doing a diservice to Apple and to future Apple innovation.
 
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They really backed themselves into a corner with the "ProMotion" name, didn't they?
Well, the very least they should give 60-90Hz option to the base models. It's truly painful to use a 60Hz phone, once your brain gets used to the fluidity of the 120Hz panels. It doesn't bother me with a monitor, or laptop, but anywhere where you're interacting with touch and scroll a lot (like phones and tablets) it gets tough on the eyes. I never taught it would bother me, because when all we had were 60hz iOS still felt very smooth, but your eyes/brain gets used to the good stuff easily.
 
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femike said:
Apple gets away treating customers with contempt because the Apple fans just keeps buying what they put out and believe the marketing and promo materials, without even a thought of questioning it. There customers are being taken for a ride so easily that Apple profits are high. Ironically, these very customers are doing a diservice to Apple and to future Apple innovation.
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The fact that both systems can easily become self contained can make a lot of people loose perception of what the other side is doing and offering.
And that goes both ways.
 
I have 12 Pro and my wife 14 Pro and honestly the differences are tiny. Taking upclose photos of documents is also much worse on 14 Pro - blurry near the edges unless you remember to enable macro mode. Otherwise regular everyday photos are indistinguishable. I never felt the least bit jealous to only have 12 Pro.
 
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Abazigal said:
People are buying pro model phones over the cheaper ones.

Make if if what you will, in terms of what sort of lesson Apple is taking away here.
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Not really. Apple is making overall less profit from iPhone sales, as confirmed by the latest quarterly results. Wherever improved profits on the pro line there is (if any) it is not compensating the loss of profits on the non-pro line.
 
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ps3zocker said:
Wasn‘t there talk about how the Dynamic Island is only possible because of the fluid animations that the ProMotion display provides? Maybe I‘m imagining it, but I think the Dynamic Island runs at 120Hz even if you limit the display to 60Hz in Accessibility settings.
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Yeah apple did say that. They were lying of course, as they often do.
 
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femike said:
Apple gets away treating customers with contempt because the Apple fans just keeps buying what they put out and believe the marketing and promo materials, without even a thought of questioning it. There customers are being taken for a ride so easily that Apple profits are high. Ironically, these very customers are doing a diservice to Apple and to future Apple innovation.
Click to expand...
Spot on

this move is just another recent disgusting move by them, $800+ for those specs is just not on.

Pixel 7a is apparently gaining 90hz and wireless charging this year at the same $399-449 price range, that’s the right move in the current financial climate. It already has FHD OLED and 2 cameras.

Apple haven’t learned anything from the awful sales of the SE, mini and plus.
 
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