Apple could use the LTPO3 display technology that debuted in the Apple Watch Series 10 in future iPhone models, say industry observers (via The Elec). The move would improve both power efficiency and performance.
As noted by MacRumors, LTPO refers to a TFT panel that adds oxide to a Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Silicon (LTPS) TFT, which reduces power consumption at low refresh rates. Apple applied the name “LTPO3” to the OLED displays used in the recently released Apple Watch 10 series to differentiate it from the LTPO2 displays currently used in Apple Watch Series 9 and iPhone 16 Pro models, as it replaces the drive TFT (thin-film transistor) with a more efficient oxide-based version.
Thanks to LPTO3 allowing Apple to optimize each pixel to emit more light at wider angles, the Apple Watch Series 10 display is up to 40 percent brighter than Series 9 when viewed off-axis. The technology also enables a faster refresh rate when the Apple Watch is in always-on mode, improving from once a minute to once a second.
Future iPhones with LTPO3 could see impressive improvements in battery life and viewing angles. Industry sources say Samsung Display is working on LTPO3 OLED panels that could be used in future iPhone models. However, although development is ongoing, 2025’s iPhone 17 lineup is expected to continue using LTPO2 technology expanding its use across all models, not just the Pro and Pro Max.
The possibility of Apple expanding its use of LPTO3 makes sense when you consider that the original LTPO displays that debuted in the Apple Watch Series 4 were eventually used in iPhone 13 Pro models three years later.