Might the standard iPhone get always-on display?
Like many, you may have hoped for the iPhone 15 to introduce an always-on display, matching the feature added to the Pro versions of Apple’s phones a year ago. However, with an impending Apple September event, there’s a scarcity of rumors to suggest this wish will be granted.
Recall that the always-on display was introduced to the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max last year. While it’s expected that the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will retain this feature, it appears that Apple’s more affordable models may lack the necessary screen upgrades to support it.
Let’s delve deeper into what we know about the iPhone 15 and the potential for an always-on display, shedding light on why it seems increasingly unlikely as we approach the new phones’ unveiling on September 12.
The iPhone 14 Pro’s Always-On Display
Currently, the always-on display feature is exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, marking the first time iPhones have incorporated this functionality. It’s worth noting that the Apple Watch was the first Apple product to introduce AOD capabilities.
For iPhones with always-on display (AOD) support, when your phone is locked, they will display a simplified version of your lock screen. This includes your wallpaper, notifications, clock, and widgets. By tapping the display, you can switch from AOD mode back to your regular lock screen, enabling normal interaction with the iPhone.
You have the option to customize this appearance in the Settings menu, where you can choose to darken your wallpaper, disable the always-on display entirely, or set different behaviors based on the Focus Mode you’ve chosen.
For iPhones with always-on display (AOD) support, when your phone is locked, they will display a simplified version of your lock screen. This includes your wallpaper, notifications, clock, and widgets. By tapping the display, you can switch from AOD mode back to your regular lock screen, enabling normal interaction with the iPhone.
You have the option to customize this appearance in the Settings menu, where you can choose to darken your wallpaper, disable the always-on display entirely, or set different behaviors based on the Focus Mode you’ve chosen.
What about the iPhone 15?
There are no indications of the possibility of extending this feature to other devices in the case of the iPhone 15. With less than a week left before the iPhone 15 launch event, this lack of information is disheartening for fans of the Always-On Display (AOD).
However, this lack of news is not surprising, given that we’ve also heard that standard and Plus models won’t feature 120Hz LTPO displays until 2025. An LTPO screen, crucial for enabling the variable refresh rate required for AOD without excessive battery drain, makes adding it to the basic 60Hz iPhone a potential battery life disaster.
Nonetheless, this is a significant letdown, not only because AOD itself is valuable but also due to an upcoming feature arriving with the iOS 17 update. When iOS 17 debuts, roughly around the same time as the iPhone 15 release, it will introduce a new StandBy mode, among other changes.
