Rumors about the iPhone 14’s display range from fast refresh rates to improved brightness.
The display of a smartphone informs you a lot about the device as soon as you turn it on, just like a person’s eyes do. When Apple unveils its new iPhones this fall, what kind of tale will the new displays tell?
Apple’s current smartphone series features some of the best screens around, and the iPhone 13 is no exception. The iPhone 13 Pro models, with their adaptive 120Hz refresh rates, stand out among the other iPhones for their vivid, vibrant screens. In other words, users of Apple’s Pro phones can choose between a 120Hz refresh rate for gaming or scrolling, and a 10Hz refresh rate for more static tasks.
This is what we’ve heard so far about Apple’s iPhone 14, and it’s hard not to agree. However, if you dive deeper into the reports, you’ll find certain expected changes to the iPhone 14 screens that might result in considerable improvements for Apple’s smartphones. As a result, Apple is under pressure from its primary competitors, particularly Samsung, who are focusing on display enhancements for their own devices in an effort to take the crown for the best overall phone from Apple.
What we know so far regarding the iPhone 14 displays, including what Apple may be preparing for fast-refreshing displays on its next phones, is outlined below.
iPhone 14 display sizes
Except for one major change, the screens of the various iPhone 14 variants are likely to remain the same.
iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max should have the same screen sizes as their iPhone 13 predecessors. There will be two versions of the iPhone 14: one with a 6.1-inch screen, and one with a 6.7-inch screen, like the iPhone 13 Pro Max.
The 6.7-inch phone may not be the only one in Apple’s lineup after all. An iPhone 14 Max could be coming this year, with a smaller screen and lower price tag than the company’s premium Pro models. However, this is just a rumor for now. The goal is to provide iPhone aficionados with a more affordable option for one of the greatest large phones on the market today.
For the first time since it was released in 2020 with the release of the iPhone 12 small, Apple’s mini iPhone model has been discontinued. As a result, those who prefer phones with smaller screens will either have to buy the iPhone SE (2022) or hope that Apple continues to offer a lower-priced version of the iPhone mini.
The iPhone 14 Pro’s displays are expected to get a new look, with the notch that’s been a trademark of the iPhone since the iPhone X’s introduction in 2017 disappearing. A cutout on the front of the iPhone 14 Pro and Max appears to contain the Face ID and front camera sensors. Compared to the current Pro models, this will allow for a small amount of extra screen real estate to be freed up.
iPhone 14 refresh rates
As previously mentioned, the dynamic refresh rate of the iPhone 13 Pro variants ranges from 10Hz to 120Hz. For the time being, the basic iPhone 13 is running at a 60Hz refresh rate.
Any significant changes are expected to be introduced with the iPhone 14. Apple’s next iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max may feature 90Hz refresh rates in a similar fashion to Google’s Pixel smartphones. In comparison to the cheaper Pixel 6, the Pixel 6 Pro has a 120Hz screen.) Compared to the iPhone 13’s 60Hz refresh rate, this would be a significant improvement.
This rumor has been debunked by other leakers. For the iPhone 14, instead, they advise it to continue employing the 60Hz panels used on current base model iPhones. The iPhone 14 is expected to have an LTPS display with a 60Hz refresh rate, according to an earlier report within Apple’s supply chain.
We’d like to see the iPhone 14 have a 90Hz refresh rate, which would make things like scrolling appear a lot smoother than on prior versions. In the meanwhile, we’ll have to presume that the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max will have the same 60Hz refresh rates as Apple’s less costly flagships until we hear otherwise.
There’s good news for the iPhone 14 Pro: the 120Hz screens that debuted on the iPhone 13 Pro are likely to be carried over. iPhones may now adapt their refresh rate based on on-screen activity thanks to the introduction of LTPO screens, short for low-temperature Polycrystalline oxide.
iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max may have a new type of LTPO that improves battery efficiency, according to rumors. Before this year, the OnePlus 10 Pro was capable of scaling down to 1Hz, just like the Galaxy S22 Ultra. Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro versions may be able to take use of the 1-120Hz refresh rate that other high-end smartphones now have if LTPO technology is upgraded.
This might open the door for a second upgrade to the iPhone 14 Pro’s display if that feature is implemented. There have long been rumors that Apple’s Pro models will include support for always-on displays, which can already be found on the top Android phones. The iOS 16 upgrade, which is expected to be released in the fall, adds support for personalized lock screens and lock screen widgets. For phones with an always-on display that can scale down their refresh rate to save battery life, such a feature would open the door.
Other iPhone 14 display features
The contest for the finest smartphone display has been fought on several fronts, including display refresh rates. The iPhone 14’s screen brightness is expected to be a major factor in its success.
On the iPhone 13 models, Apple emphasized the brightness of the OLED screens’ Super Retina XDR. The iPhone 13 had a maximum brightness of 800 nits, while the iPhone 13 Pro had a maximum brightness of 1,000 nits. (The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro have a brightness of 795 nits and 1,024 nits, respectively.)
SAMSUNG has been releasing its own flagship software since the iPhone 13 debuted. The Galaxy S22 variants also have brilliant displays, with a peak brightness of 1,300 nits for the S22 and 1,750 nits for the S22 Plus and S22 Ultra. However, the screens on the S22 line are often brighter than those on the iPhone 13, even if our light meter didn’t record any numbers reaching those maximums.
When the iPhone 14 is unveiled, will Apple answer in kind? There aren’t many rumors floating around about that. We wouldn’t be surprised if the iPhone 14 launches with some upgrades in the brightness department, given how phone makers are now battling it out in this area.
iPhone display outlook
There won’t be any major changes to the screens Apple uses for the forthcoming iPhone 14 in terms of size or refresh rate. The displays on Apple’s upcoming phones will likely remain a key feature, however, since considerable modifications look to be in the works. As the release date of the iPhone 14 draws nearer, we should expect more surprises to emerge.