Apple reputedly set to bring low-power LTPO OLED screens to the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max

There were plenty of rumours that the iPhone 12 series would be the first iPhones to feature Apple's high-refresh-rate ProMotion displays, including from the likes of Jon Prosser. However, nothing came to pass, with Apple sticking to 60 Hz displays for another year. Supposedly, Apple sacrificed high-refresh-rate panels on the iPhone 12 series to preserve battery life, although we are unlikely to ever receive a confirmation from the Cupertino-based company on this.

Nonetheless, a new report from The Elec claims that Apple may be gearing to bring high-refresh-rate displays to next year's iPhones. Apparently, LG is currently preparing to mass-produce LTPO OLED panels exclusively for Apple, which are more energy-efficient than conventional OLED screens. LTPO stands for low-temperature polycrystalline oxide, and it is a technology that Apple already uses on its Watch Series smartwatches. However, the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra was the first smartphone to feature LTPO displays.

According to The Elec, LTPO panels will be making their way to 'higher-tier iPhone models' in 2021, making the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max probable candidates. The switch to LTPO displays may bring more advantages than just high-refresh-rates to the iPhone 13 series, though. Recent Apple Watch Series have had always-on-display (AoD) functionality, so it would seem logical for Apple to enable this on other devices with LTPO panels. Additionally, we may see improved battery life at 60 Hz with reduced display power consumption. Apple is believed to have scheduled the release of the iPhone 13 series for September 2021, returning to its typical release window for iPhones that the pandemic disrupted for the iPhone 12 series.