Apple may finally bring an ever-active screen to the upcoming iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. According to a report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple could introduce the feature with iOS 16, allowing the iPhone to display a limited amount of information even when locked.
Gurman says the always-on version of the iPhone may work in a similar way to the Apple Watch Series 5 and later: the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max will lower the frame rate of the lock screen with the mode always on, allowing them to save power while the screen stays on. It is unclear whether the new iPhone will use the same low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) screen that Apple uses in newer watch models. These low-power screens play an important role in making the always-on mode work properly, as they are designed to prevent the devices from consuming too much power.
Android devices support the always-on screen for years
Last year, analysts predicted that the iPhone 13 would come with an LTPO display to enable the ever-active display. Many Android devices already support always-on mode, and have been doing so for many years. On certain Samsung devices, for example, the always-on screen can show the time, battery level, widgets, and more, while the phone remains locked.
Gurman expects iOS 16 to have similar functionality, including wallpapers with “widget-like capabilities.” The always-on screen isn’t the only feature that’s said to be exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, as previous leaks indicate that Apple can only include its new A16 chip with both premium devices.
Apple will announce a number of other changes at its upcoming World Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 6th. According to previous predictions, Gurman believes that Apple could introduce enhanced windows and multitasking features on the iPad. He cites the findings of developer Steve Troughton-Smith, who recently discovered that Apple may be working on a feature that could allow users to resize windows freely. Apple could also review some of its apps; In addition to adding new audio features to Messaging, Gurman predicts that Apple will be renewing its System Preferences menu to make it more like the Settings app on iOS.
With the WWDC just over a week away, we won’t have to wait much longer to see how many of these predictions come true.