iOS 16 was officially presented by Apple at its WWDC 2022 conference. The new version of the iPhone operating system is rich in new features, but continues to reveal some secrets, in particular about an important feature that could benefit the iPhone 14 Pro.
One of the most important new features of iOS 16 is undoubtedly the new customizable lock screen. A feature well received by users as the “lock screen” of the iPhone had not evolved for years. Despite these changes, we now discover that iOS 16 leaves in its source code hints of a new feature related to the lock screen that could arrive at the same time as the iPhone 14 Pro.
It was our colleagues from 9to5Mac who revealed the information that the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max could offer a screen with always-on display, also called “Always On Display”. A feature well known to Android users with an OLED screen.
Indeed, this screen technology makes it possible to completely turn off the black pixels to display an infinite contrast. It’s also a great way to save energy, whether with the always-on display of information on the lock screen (time, weather, etc.) or the dark mode that we now find on all our smartphones.
iOS 16 always-on display should wait for the new iPhone 14 Pro
As with each new version of an OS, developers find clues in the source code for features that are not yet deployed. That’s exactly what happened when Apple released the iOS 16 beta to developers. The lines of code in question evoke the management of the lighting of the iPhone screen. A key element to manage the always-on display function well without compromising the battery too much.
The Apple Watch already uses this feature, but the source assures that the iOS 16 lines of code that were spotted did not refer to Apple’s mount. The presence of these lines owes nothing to chance. Indeed, they are there for Apple engineers to test the “Always On Display” on unsupported devices, as is the case with the iPhone 13 Pro currently, so that it is ready for the launch of the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max.
The iPhone 13 deprived of the permanent display?
Still, all iPhone 13s will update to iOS 16, and the phones all come with an OLED display. Technically, they would therefore be able to use this always-on display feature. The “problem” could come from the variable refresh rate of the screens that equip the iPhone. The current panels that equip the iPhone 13 have a variable refresh rate ranging from 10 Hz to 120 Hz. For comparison, the Apple Watch can go down to 1 Hz, to best preserve autonomy.
From there to imagining that the next iPhone 14 Pro will have a variable refresh rate that can go down to 1 Hz, thanks to the LTPO (Low Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide) technology of the screens, there is only one step that we will not cross. . As you have understood, it is the crucial question of autonomy that is at stake here. Apple would not like to offer a new feature that would compromise the autonomy of its current smartphones. See you at the start of the school year for a proper presentation of the iPhone 14.
Source :
9to5Mac