Latest iOS 16 Beta Further Suggests Always-On Display Coming to iPhone 14 Pro

by

A new detail found in the iOS 16 beta could be the latest indication that Apple is indeed planning to bring always-on display functionality to the upcoming high-end iPhones.

iPhone 13 Always On Feature
As discovered by 9to5Mac, the latest iOS 16 beta adds a new "Sleep" state to the default wallpapers found in iOS 16. The new "Sleep" mode is a version of the wallpaper that is darker and more tinted, better suited to be shown on an always-on display. In simpler terms, the new "Sleep" state could be described as a photo filter that could be applied to any image the user chooses to use for their always-on display.

ios 16 always on display wallpaper 1

iOS 16 clownfish wallpaper in the "Sleep" state (left) next to the normal state (right)

As 9to5Mac notes, it seems Apple will replicate the behavior found on the Apple Watch on the iPhone 14 Pro. The Apple Watch Series 5 and later with an always-on display shows a darker and more faint version of the watch face until the wrist is raised, so similarly, the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro could show a darker version of the wallpaper until turned on by the user.

With the new "Sleep" state, users will see remnants of their wallpaper and information, such as the time and their lock screen widgets, even when their display is not in active use. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has already reported that an always-on display tied into the iOS 16 Lock Screen will be coming only to the higher-end ‌iPhone‌ 14 models.

An always-on display on the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro will be possible thanks to more advanced displays that feature a refresh rate as low as 1Hz. The ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro and ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro Max feature ProMotion technology and can go as high as 120Hz and as low as 10Hz. Compared to the ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro, the lower 1Hz refresh rate on the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro series will improve energy efficiency with an always-on display.

An always-on display is one of several big changes rumored to be coming to the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro lineup, including a replacement of the notch with a pill-shaped and hole-punch cutout, a 48MP rear camera, faster performance, new colors, and more. A complete rundown of everything we know about the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro lineup can be found in our roundup.

Related Forums: iOS 16, iPhone

Popular Stories

iphone 17 models

No iPhone 18 Launch This Year, Reports Suggest

Thursday January 1, 2026 8:43 am PST by
Apple is not expected to release a standard iPhone 18 model this year, according to a growing number of reports that suggest the company is planning a significant change to its long-standing annual iPhone launch cycle. Despite the immense success of the iPhone 17 in 2025, the iPhone 18 is not expected to arrive until the spring of 2027, leaving the iPhone 17 in the lineup as the latest...
Read Full Article • 115 comments
duolingo ad live activity

Duolingo Used iPhone's Dynamic Island to Display Ads, Violating Apple Design Guidelines

Friday January 2, 2026 1:36 pm PST by
Language learning app Duolingo has apparently been using the iPhone's Live Activity feature to display ads on the Lock Screen and the Dynamic Island, which violates Apple's design guidelines. According to multiple reports on Reddit, the Duolingo app has been displaying an ad for a "Super offer," which is Duolingo's paid subscription option. Apple's guidelines for Live Activity state that...
Read Full Article • 98 comments
Clicks Communicator Feature

'Clicks Communicator' Unveiled — Will You Carry This With Your iPhone?

Friday January 2, 2026 6:35 am PST by
The company behind the BlackBerry-like Clicks Keyboard accessory for the iPhone today unveiled a new Android 16 smartphone called the Clicks Communicator. The purpose-built device is designed to be used as a second phone alongside your iPhone, with the intended focus being communication over content consumption. It runs a custom Android launcher that offers a curated selection of messaging...
Read Full Article • 179 comments
Low Cost MacBook Feature A18 Pro

Low-Price 12.9-Inch MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Reportedly Launching Early This Year

Friday January 2, 2026 9:08 am PST by
Apple plans to introduce a 12.9-inch MacBook in spring 2026, according to TrendForce. In a press release this week, the Taiwanese research firm said this MacBook will be aimed at the entry-level to mid-range market, with "competitive pricing." TrendForce did not share any further details about this MacBook, but the information that it shared lines up with several rumors about a more...
Read Full Article • 179 comments
Low Cost A18 Pro MacBook Feature Pink

Apple's 2026 Low-Cost A18 Pro MacBook: What We Know So Far

Friday January 2, 2026 4:33 pm PST by
Apple is planning to release a low-cost MacBook in 2026, which will apparently compete with more affordable Chromebooks and Windows PCs. Apple's most affordable Mac right now is the $999 MacBook Air, and the upcoming low-cost MacBook is expected to be cheaper. Here's what we know about the low-cost MacBook so far. Size Rumors suggest the low-cost MacBook will have a display that's around 13 ...
Read Full Article • 124 comments
Apple Fitness Plus hero

Apple Announces New Fitness+ Workout Programs, Strava Challenge, and More

Friday January 2, 2026 6:43 am PST by
Apple today announced a number of updates to Apple Fitness+ and activity with the Apple Watch. The key announcements include: New Year limited-edition award: Users can win the award by closing all three Activity Rings for seven days in a row in January. "Quit Quitting" Strava challenge: Available in Strava throughout January, users who log 12 workouts anytime in the month will win an ...
Read Full Article • 62 comments
Mac Pro Feature Blue

What's Happening With the Mac Pro?

Wednesday December 31, 2025 9:59 am PST by
Apple hasn't updated the Mac Pro since 2023, and according to recent rumors, there's no update coming in the near future. In fact, Apple might be finished with the Mac Pro. Bloomberg recently said that the Mac Pro is "on the back burner" and has been "largely written off" by Apple. Apple apparently views the more compact Mac Studio as the ideal high-end pro-level desktop, and it has almost...
Read Full Article • 278 comments

Top Rated Comments

antiprotest Avatar
antiprotest
45 months ago

Aren't we already spending too much time looking at our phones, won't this simply make that worse?

Hopefully the 'always-on' display will at least turn itself fully off when I place my phone face-down on my desk in order to avoid that distraction!
My phone is on my desk more than in my pocket. An always on display will actually reduce the times I tap on my phone or hold it up to check the lockscreen for notifications while I am working next to it or walking by it at home. It would reduce this for many tens of times each day. So always on display would in fact greatly reduce looking at the phone for many people who have certain needs and habits. For some people it would be one of the most habit changing feature in years. And I am certain that many people who are calling it useless now would be posting "i was wrong" posts here a short time after this comes out.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
-BigMac- Avatar
-BigMac-
45 months ago

Hey, better late than never.
Honestly, I don’t think the always-on display adds utility to my AppleWatch, and I don’t think it will add any to my iPhone.

If I want to see the screen, raise to wake does the job 99% of the time already
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
syklee26 Avatar
syklee26
45 months ago
I dunno why this is such a big deal. AOD is necessary on watch but not so sure about the phone. I am not gonna go all ape sh about having it though.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nfl46 Avatar
nfl46
45 months ago
Hey, better late than never.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
murdoc2k Avatar
murdoc2k
45 months ago

I wouldn’t ever use always on display personally. But lots of people want it, so it should be added to all iPhones with an OLED display. There’s literally no reason not to. Restricting that feature to only iPhone 14 Pro models is like BMW charging a subscription for activating already present heated seats.
I see where you're coming from and it looks like a trivial thing to do, but existing OLED displays can't go as low as 1 HZ which is why new hardware is required.

My feeling about this is that turning off AOD will definitely lead to some battery life improvements, but negligible since the drain with AOD is small enough for Apple to claim the same battery life as iPhone 13 Pro.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GuruZac Avatar
GuruZac
45 months ago
I look forward to always on display but that is a much less desired feature for me than USB-C. I absolutely love everything about my 13 Pro, especially the battery and ProMotion display, so will sit out and wait for the 15 Pro which should hopefully finally have USB-C. I can't wait to hear Apple's keynote talking about all the virtues of USB-C/TB on the iPhone...as if that shouldn't have been there 3 years ago on the original Pro iPhones.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments