Apple engineers may be able to test the functionality on iPhone 13 Pro models, but the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will be available to the general public.
HIGHLIGHTS
Backlight management frameworks are rumoured to be included in iOS 16.
Models of the iPhone 14 Pro might have a refresh rate as low as 1Hz.
The ability to have an always-on display might be aided by a lower refresh rate.
According to a report, evidence for an always-on display feature was discovered in iOS 16. The feature might only be accessible on the rumoured iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, and it's said to operate similarly to the always-on display found on previous Apple Watch models. Apple, on the other hand, did not mention the always-on display capabilities when it announced iOS 16 earlier this week. The new operating system, on the other hand, overhauls the lock screen experience, which might be the feature's selling point.
According to 9to5Mac, iOS 16 has many references indicating the availability of an always-on display. The operating system is supposed to have three new frameworks for managing the iPhone's display's lighting.
Backlight management is thought to be a major factor in enabling Apple's always-on display feature.
There are references to an always-on display capability in each of the three frameworks in consideration. According to 9to5Mac, the frameworks are also used by other components of iOS 16, including the Lock Screen.
The Springboard, a common system programme that handles the iPhone's new Lock Screen, is also found to make references to an always-on display in the latest iOS version. The app is also used to control the home screen and do other functions on the device, such as starting and bootstrapping other programmes.
In addition to the references, 9to5Mac discovered other secret flags in iOS 16 that might be used by Apple developers to activate the always-on functionality.
Before the release of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, engineers may be able to test the always-on display functionality on the iPhone 13 Pro models. However, it's probable that the feature will be confined to the new public-use models.
The necessity of a reduced refresh rate is one of the technical reasons for Apple limiting the always-on display capabilities to the iPhone 14 Pro versions. The variable refresh rate on the iPhone 13 Pro variants may go as low as 10Hz. The new Apple Watch models, on the other hand, feature a display that can fall down to a 1Hz refresh rate. This saves battery life while yet allowing for an always-on display.
Apple may release new screens for the iPhone 14 Pro models that support a 1Hz refresh rate in specific situations, allowing consumers to have an always-on display while still obtaining enough battery life.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman mentioned the availability of the always-on lock screen on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max a few days before the iOS 16 release. Gurman also stated that the functionality will be accessible in iOS 16, but that it would not be available for current iPhone models.
Apple did reveal support for widgets and new notification styles on the overhauled Lock Screen during the presentation of iOS 16, which we can reasonably assume will be part of the always-on display feature. The always-on display functionality on latest Apple Watch models also keeps widgets and other screen components visible.
