iPhone 13 with always-on: what are the advantages?
At iCulture we have already written several times about an always-on screen in the iPhone 13. Earlier in February there was a rumor that spoke about an iPhone screen that's always on, but now there's a more reliable source that claims the iPhone will get an Apple Watch-esque always-on display. The Apple Watch has had an always-on screen since the Series 5 and is a logical addition. But what are the benefits of an always-on screen in the iPhone 13? We have listed four possible advantages, but also some possible disadvantages.
- Explanation
- Advantages
- Disadvantages
- Clock and battery
- Notifications
- Complications
- Faster to use
- Longer battery life
- App support
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Always-on on iPhone?
First of all, it's good to know that nothing is yet certain whether always-on will actually come to the iPhone. Some competing Android devices already have always-on. It ensures that (part of) the screen is always on, even if you are not using it. It has both advantages and disadvantages. Apple has already proven on the Apple Watch that always-on works well, without the screen compromising on image quality.
Always-on is only possible thanks to an LTPO OLED display. The image refresh rate is often adjusted downwards, so that the function does not consume too much power. On the Apple Watch you can see that the clock is refreshed every second, which is often just enough to always have up-to-date information.
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#1 Quickly check the time and battery
If Apple chooses to add an always-on display to the iPhone 13, we think this feature will at least be available. It is then possible to always check the time and, for example, the battery from the access screen. If you wear a watch (an Apple Watch or any other watch or fitness tracker) this will be less useful for you, but for anyone who doesn't own a watch it can come in handy. For example, if your iPhone is in a holder on your desk or in a dock on your bedside table. Because the iPhone uses OLED and Apple could put the always-on screen in a dimmed state, this may not give too much light at night. Your iPhone is immediately a kind of alarm clock where you can always check the time.
#2 View notifications at a glance
What Apple can also show on an always-on screen on the iPhone 13 is your most important notifications. This can also come in handy if the iPhone is on the table or in a dock on your desk. This means you don't have to look at your Apple Watch or activate the screen of your iPhone to see your most important notifications in one go. This could also come in handy in conjunction with the new scheduled notification overview in iOS 15.
#3 Complications coming to the iPhone
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This is perhaps the most interesting addition. You may be familiar with the complications on the Apple Watch. These are the small information blocks on the dial. The term complications has been used in the watch industry for years. Apple could also easily put this on the lock screen of the iPhone with an always-on screen, so that you can quickly see the weather, a running timer or a calendar appointment from your iPhone, for example, without having to turn on the screen . If Apple is going to introduce an always-on screen, probably only part of the screen will show information. By putting this information compactly on the screen in small blocks, it does not look too busy and you are not overwhelmed by all kinds of information.
It's not for nothing that Bloomberg's Mark Gurman talks about an “Apple Watch-esque always-on display” in the iPhone 13. The complications are commonly used and popular information blocks on the Apple Watch and an extension to the iPhone is certainly not inconceivable.
#4 Longer battery life (if you turn it off)< /h3>
The iPhone 13 is rumored to have a significantly larger battery. Apple would mainly use this for the ProMotion display, but also for the always-on screen. On balance, you then retain the same battery life as you are already used to, but with more advanced screen functions. We already see this on the Apple Watch: the Apple Watch Series 5 and Series 6 last about as long with always-on as all other models. But as soon as you turn off the function, the battery life can be extended by a few hours. That could also be the case on the iPhone 13. If the always-on screen comes, we assume that the option can also be turned off.
#5 Use your iPhone faster
Apple already lets you activate your iPhone in all sorts of ways: via the side button or home button, by lifting the iPhone or by tapping the screen. With an always-on screen, the display (as the name says) is always on. As a result, you would only have to tap a notification that is already visible to take the iPhone out of the always-on mode and start using it right away. Admittedly, this improvement wouldn't be very necessary, but it could make activating the iPhone a bit faster.
#6 Support by third-party apps
In addition to standard functions, an always-on screen could also be used by third-party apps. It is not for nothing that Apple is opening up the always-on screen to developers in watchOS 8. Think of sports or audio apps that can make use of this. If you don't have an Apple Watch and often exercise with your iPhone, such an always-on screen can come in handy to quickly check how many kilometers you have run, for example. There are countless examples in which you turn off the automatic lock of your iPhone screen to prevent your iPhone from going black every time, for example when you give a presentation or when you are cooking.
Are there also disadvantages of always-on on iPhone 13?
In addition to these advantages, there are also some disadvantages of an always-on screen in the iPhone 13. That mainly has to do with the cost and whether it is useful for you or not.
#1 Probably only on more expensive models
If Apple is going to add an always-on screen to the iPhone 13 series, we'll probably only see it on the Pro models. Only these models get the latest fencing techniques. We also see this on the Apple Watch: the more affordable Apple Watch SE does not have an always-on screen, while the latest Apple Watch Series 6 does. Apple really sees it as an extra feature for pro users, so you have to pay more for it if you want to use it.
#2 Works (probably) only on lock screen
The always-on status probably only works on the lock screen with the notifications. When using apps, Apple will probably deactivate the function to prevent the same things on the screen for a long time, which means there is a chance of burn-in. So don't expect to have your favorite music app on all the time (unless you turn off the automatic lock yourself).
#3 Unnecessary for Apple Watch users
Apple Watch users will benefit a lot less from an always-on screen in the iPhone 13, it is expected. After all, you always have a watch nearby where you can view the time and important information such as the weather, your agenda or timer. Especially if you already have an Apple Watch with always-on, the advantage on the iPhone is limited.
The always-on screen in the iPhone 13 is one of the possible innovations for the screen. Earlier you could read on iCulture about the advantages of an iPhone 13 with a 120Hz display.
Opening image via YouTube