Report: 'iPhone 13 Pro' Models to Feature Low-Power LPTO Display Technology

Apple will adopt OLED displays with low-power LPTO backplane technology for at least two iPhone models in 2021, according to Korean website The Elec.

apple iphone 12 super retina xdr display 10132020
From the report:

LG Display will expand the production rate of its organic light emitting diode (OLED) panel factory lines dedicated to Apple, TheElec has learned.

LG Display is planning to put in low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LPTO) thin-film transistors (TFT) equipment that can add 25,000 substrates per month in monthly production rate into the lines by next year.

The LTPO equipment being placed in the factory lines will be for OLED panel supply to iPhone next year, while the ones after May will likely be for panels for iPhones of 2022.

LTPO technology would result in a more power efficient backplane, which is responsible for turning individual pixels on and off on the display. The technology could pave the way for longer battery life and/or new features like ProMotion or always-on display elements.

Display analyst Ross Young believes that LTPO is essential if Apple plans to support ProMotion in a future ‌iPhone‌, as it would allow for a variable refresh as low as 1Hz when the device is inactive in order to optimize battery life. ProMotion allows for a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz for smoother motion content and greater responsiveness. The feature debuted on the iPad Pro in 2017. There were rumors that some ‌iPhone‌ 12 models could feature ProMotion, but that never came to pass, possibly due to battery life concerns.

Apple Watch Series 5 and Series 6 models already use LTPO displays, which enables them to have the same up-to-18-hour battery life as earlier Apple Watch models despite having an always-on display. The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and Z Fold 2 were the first smartphones with high refresh rate OLED displays that support adaptively changing the refresh rate.

According to the report, Apple will use LTPO technology for the two higher-tier ‌iPhone‌ models out of the four that it plans to launch in 2021. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects Apple to release its "iPhone 13" lineup next year in four same-size models as the ‌iPhone‌ 12 series.

Related Roundup: iPhone 13
Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

steve09090 Avatar
38 months ago
So now my 12Pro is almost obsolete.
Score: 56 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JoshBoy Avatar
38 months ago
I am
Still waiting for my 12 pro max to come and already talking about 13 ??‍♂️
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
imran5720 Avatar
38 months ago
Please let us enjoy iPhone 12 first
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Slash787 Avatar
38 months ago
iPhone 13 mini with no notch, better battery life, touch ID on the side would be the PERFECT phone!
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bobmans Avatar
38 months ago

Nothing better than smooth scrolling hey?
Yes, I scroll up and down really fast through my settings 24/7 like all reviewers talking about 120Hz do!
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jgbr Avatar
38 months ago
120 Hz Pro motion please, couldn't give a damn about LTPO. You won't get me buying a new phone until you do, even cheap android phones have it!
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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