The forthcoming iPhone 14 Pro versions are anticipated to include an always-on display that will always reveal important data and aesthetic components from the revised iOS 16 lock screen, similar to the Apple Watch Series 5 and beyond. According to this week’s rumour from MacRumors, the always-on display would show information like the time, date, and widgets as well as coloured and darkened versions of several user-customized wallpapers.
According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max would have physically bigger batteries to make up for the increased power usage of an always-on display. Gurman predicts that the upcoming iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will have larger batteries, which would make the smartphones appear “slightly larger overall,” according to his most recent Power On newsletter. The addition of a larger battery in this year’s high-end iPhones is most likely a direct result of the always-on display, even though customers’ top demand is always for longer battery life.
Highlights
-
On the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, the OLED panels are expected to go as low as 1Hz, saving battery life when static information is always on display. Due to the newer OLED display, the always-on display functionality is expected to remain an iPhone 14 Pro exclusive and not extend to the iPhone 13 Pro models through a potential software update, as some may have hoped.
-
Apple will be able to offer an always-on display on the upcoming iPhones thanks to new OLED display technology that features a lower refresh rate. While the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max support a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz, the 2021 iPhones can only go as low as 10Hz.
Apple is expected to announce the new iPhone 14 lineup during an event on Wednesday, September 7. The lineup will include a 6.1-inch iPhone 14, a 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Plus, a 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro, and a 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max. The new lineup will mark the end of the road for the 5.4-inch “mini” form factor, first introduced with the iPhone 12 series and improved upon with the iPhone 13 last year. iPhone Mini Fans: What to Look Out for When the iPhone 14 Models Launch.
In addition to the energy savings provided by the lower refresh rate, the larger batteries on the iPhone 14 Pro will likely compensate for any potential loss of battery life for users when using the always-on display feature. These two changes come alongside power efficiency improvements in the upcoming A16 Bionic chip expected to power the new “Pro” iPhones.
Apple is also expected to announce the Apple Watch Series 8, an updated Apple Watch SE with faster performance, and an all-new rugged Apple Watch “Pro.” The second-generation AirPods Pro are also expected to be announced during the event, according to Gurman. For a full rundown of everything we expect from Apple next week, see our guide.