Many of the future features of the iPhone 13 (or iPhone 12s if they are finally called that) already seem an open secret because they have been leaked through different sources. The screen is precisely one of Apple‘s worst kept secrets, despite the company’s silence. Although it could mean an increase in accidental touches on the iPhone, its new technology could not only be one of the best in the sector, but it would also set a new trend for the next few years.
LTPO screens on iPhones, what do they mean?
After having incorporated OLED panels to its four new iPhones in 2020, Apple is going to take another leap in 2021 by incorporating LTPO panels in its smartphones. The sources that have been leaking this information have not clearly confirmed that this will occur in the four models or only in the ‘Pro’, but it is certain that at least the latter will incorporate it. This type of screen is still OLED, although with a built-in technology that makes it possible to maintain very low refresh rates.
The refresh rate is measured in hertz (Hz) and if, for example, they tell you that an iPhone has a refresh rate of 60 Hz, it means that the device is updating the content it displays on the screen 60 times per second. That figure of 60 is the current figure for iPhones, although it is expected that with the new LTPO technology, very low rates of 1 Hz can be achieved that allow information to always be displayed even if the phone is locked and all this without involving excessive battery consumption . This is something that we see already applied in Apple Watch with the always-on screen function and it is precisely the watches that have already incorporated this type of LTPO panels for a couple of generations.
iPhone concept with always-on screen
Another highlight that the screens of the iPhone 13 would have, in this case only the ‘Pro’, are the expected 120 Hz refresh rate. This functionality, despite not being linked one hundred percent to the LTPO panels, will also mean an important change by giving a greater sense of fluidity to the user. Although it must be said that in this section Apple arrives later than expected, since they expected to have incorporated it into the iPhone 12 Pro as they did in their day with the iPad Pro 2017 and as other smartphone manufacturers have been doing.
A new leap after reaching OLED
LCD panels were the predominant on iPhones. Not in vain have we continued to see this type of panel until 2020 with the launch of the iPhone SE 2020, although the iPhone 11 also mounted this type of panel. However, it must be said that the trend was changing in 2017 when the iPhone X finally left that technology behind by incorporating OLED panels that were later being incorporated into the most TOP phones that Apple was launching each year.
Apple had a hard time deciding on this type of screen even when its competitors already sported excellent OLED panels and something similar is happening with LTPO technology. The change does not seem so “urgent” in this case, but it is without a doubt a remarkable change that seemed not to be in the plans of the Californians. Again Apple will not be the first to incorporate them, but it seems that it will be the one to set the trend again and join many other manufacturers that will make most manufacturers implement these panels in 2023. So at least several analysts like Ross Young of Display Supply Chain Consultants predict it as they have echoed in 9to5Mac .