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Apple’s upcoming regular iPhone 15 models will not feature LPTO displays, which means they won’t have ProMotion support or always-on display options. This information comes from an industry source cited by Korean blog Naver. The source suggests that only the Pro models in the iPhone 15 lineup will have the LPTO panels required for ProMotion, indicating that these features will be exclusive to Apple’s higher-end models.
ProMotion refresh rates range from 1Hz to 120Hz, and the display adapts to what’s happening on the screen. Lower rates are used for static content, while higher rates are reserved for motion, such as games and videos, for a smoother and more responsive experience.
Last year’s iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max models used updated low-power display backlighting that supported ProMotion refresh rates, which contributed to their popularity. Unfortunately, this year’s standard iPhone 15 models will not have this feature.
The industry source also confirmed that the always-on display option will remain exclusive to Pro models, since the 1Hz refresh rate capability of the updated LPTO panels is what enables the idle Lock Screen to stay visible without significantly impacting battery.
Respected display analyst Ross Young had already speculated in September 2022 that production scale constraints would prohibit Apple from bringing LPTO panels to the entire iPhone 15 series. The Naver blog’s industry source corroborates this view.
According to Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple’s China-based supplier BOE has won orders for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, but it will not have production capacity for mass shipments of LTPO displays for high-end iPhones until 2024 at the earliest.
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However, all iPhone 15 models will come equipped with a more power-efficient OLED display driver chip, manufactured based on a 28nm process. This chip will reduce power consumption, which could contribute to longer battery life for iPhone 15 models.
While it’s disappointing that standard iPhone 15 models will lack the ProMotion feature and always-on display option, the new OLED display driver chip is a welcome upgrade. Fans will have to wait and see how the new models perform when they are released.
