iOS 16 has been in beta for a while now and we have already been able to see many of the features that Apple’s new mobile operating system will offer.
One of the features it is expected to incorporate is the possibility of an always-on screen, a feature that has been present in Android phones for some time.
Always-On Display, also known as Always-on Display, is an option on many phones with OLED screens. When activated, you can always see the lock screen with useful information such as date, time and pending notifications.
Is there an Always On Display option in the iOS 16 beta?
No. Currently, no version of the iOS 16 beta has an option to activate the always-on screen.
Now some beta versions of iOS have internal codes that point to a new “Sleep” mode for wallpapers. This mode is activated for the default iOS 16 wallpaper and the clownfish wallpaper, both of which have various dynamic elements that behave differently when you swipe on the lock screen.
The “Sleep” mode will be activated when the user turns off the screen, possibly with the side button. When this “Sleep” mode is active, some elements of the wallpaper are darkened while others are blurred, which means that you will still see parts of your wallpaper even on the always-on screen.
Which iPhones will support Always On Display?
Apple’s next iPhone 14 family is expected to arrive later this year with better display technologies, one of which is support for ultra-low 1Hz refresh rates.
A useful feature of having low refresh rates is that it uses less battery power, even when the screen is always on.
Since it is expected that the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max They are the first devices to have screens with a refresh rate of 1 Hz, it is expected that the Always On Display function will come activated with them.
Will Always On Display be available for older iPhones?
Although low refresh rates can be beneficial for saving battery power, the most important requirement for an always-on display is that the screen below it supports it.
For always-on mode to work, the phone must have an OLED screen which, unlike a traditional LCD, can turn off pixels entirely.
iPhones with an OLED display are iPhone X, iPhone XS/Max, iPhone 11 Pro/Max, iPhone 12/12 mini/12Pro/12 Pro Max, and iPhone 13/13 mini/13 Pro/13 Pro Max.
However, these iPhone models are not likely to receive Always On Display functionality. If so, it would probably be the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, which offer displays that support a wide range of refresh rates between 10Hz and 120Hz.
Although a 10 Hz screen would consume more power than a 1 Hz one, the iPhone 13 Pro family is a candidate to get the always-on display feature when iOS 16 is released.
