iPhone 13 always-on display — here’s what it could mean for you

iPhone xiii always-on display — here's what it could mean for you

(Prototype credit: Jermaine Smit/LetsGoDigital)

Nosotros're less than a calendar week away from the Apple tree event on September 14, where nosotros expect to hear most the iPhone 13. As we prepare for the event, and the ensuing deluge of coverage, there are a few concluding minute rumors to chew on over the weekend. I nosotros've heard a few times in the terminal several months is that the iPhone 13 volition finally feature an always-on display.

This is a staple on many Android phones and with Apple tree going all in on OLED displays, now's the best time to innovate iOS users to the feature. Simply if you lot've never seen or used always-on display, you might be left wondering why people are excited well-nigh the iPhone 13 supposedly getting it.

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Always-on display (AOD) is a minimal part of the screen that remains on fifty-fifty when yous lock your telephone. While nosotros don't know what Apple might end up doing with it, we tin wait at how Android handles it for an idea. The biggest office of AOD is displaying the time, but the iOS version could besides testify calendar events, notifications, atmospheric condition, or music information.

Yous might be wondering if AOD hurts battery life, but the effect on Android is negligible. Since OLED panels can light up (or turn off) individual pixels, AOD but uses the parts of the screen it needs instead of turning the whole thing on. Information technology'south substantially a low-power mode. In some anecdotal cases, AOD can actually save on battery life since you don't need to turn on the display to check the time or your notifications.

iPhone 13 always-on display concept — iPhone 13 AOD concept (Image credit: A Ameliorate Computer/YouTube)

Having e'er-on display is more than only a convenience. I have constitute it to be crucial to staying productive. My phone sits beside my keyboard on my desk, easily reachable and within my line of sight. When I'm using an Android telephone, I can quickly see the time (which is often larger than the tiny clock on my MacBook Pro's screen). I also see new notifications that come in, conditions updates, my bombardment percent, and important calendar reminders. Seeing these things at glance with a quick look helps go on me from picking up my phone and derailing me from progressing on my electric current job.

I sorely miss AOD when I utilize the iPhone 12 Pro. It's a small feature, but it'due south one Apple could hands implement. AOD tin can exist one of those little things that makes a big departure and I really want to see it on an iPhone. If the iPhone 13 does get an always-on brandish option, it won't be a highlight of the new phone. Information technology won't make as large of a splash as the new processor or camera upgrades, but y'all might find information technology a lot more valuable (or least used more often) than you recollect.

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Jordan is the Phones Editor for Tom's Guide, covering all things phone-related. He's written about phones for over v years and plans to continue for a long while to come up. He loves nothing more than relaxing in his home with a book, game, or his latest personal writing projection. Hashemite kingdom of jordan likes finding new things to dive into, from books and games to new mechanical keyboard switches and fun keycap sets. Jordan tends to lurk on social media, but yous can best attain him on Twitter.