Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that Apple’s upcoming iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max may boast an always-on display mode for the Lock Screen
In his latest “Power On” newsletter, Gurman goes over some of the expected updates that can be expected with the unveiling of iOS 16, iPadOS 16, watchOS 9, tvOS 16, and macOS 13 at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2022) this year.
One of the new capabilities being rumored for iOS 16 is an enhanced Lock Screen with “wallpapers that have widget-like capabilities.” The new Lock Screen will reportedly lay the groundwork for upcoming features, including an “always-on” mode. Gurman says iOS 16 includes “future support” for an always-on Lock Screen.
While the current iPhone 13 Pro models had been rumored to include an always-on display, but the feature was not present and accounted for when the devices launched last September.
Gurman now says that Apple has continued to work on the feature and is developing an “always-on mode” for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, which will provide “quickly glanceable information — similar to newer Apple Watches.”
The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max feature 120Hz ProMotion displays. However, the iPhone’s current ProMotion displays are limited to screen refresh rates between 10Hz and 120Hz. Meanwhile, the LPTO panels currently used by some competitors, including Samsung, can go as low as 1Hz when viewing a static image or when the device is not being used.
The LTPO displays used on Apple Watch Series 7 models allow them to offer an always-on display while offering the same up-to-18-hour battery life as offered by earlier Apple Watch models. Using the same display technology on the iPhone could allow the handset to always display the time, date, and notifications without needing to unlock the handset.
Display analyst Ross Young recently said he is “expecting” the ProMotion displays used in the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max to be capable of dropping to the same 1Hz low. The technology could pave the way for longer battery life or always-on display elements. However, Gurman warned that the feature may not make the final cut by the time the iPhone 14 lineup is announced in September.