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Samsung to Deliver LTPO Backplanes for OLED Displays on Some iPhone 12 Models
June 07, 2020
Leakers Max Weinbach and Jon Prosser have claimed that ProMotion is a possibility on some 2020 iPhones and DSCC believes that LTPO is essential if Apple plans to support ProMotion on the iPhone, as it would allow for a variable refresh as low as 1Hz when the device is inactive in order to optimize battery life. The benefit of LTPO as we have stated in the past is that at low rates, the low leakage ICZO TFT can maintain the image to take advantage of the reduced number of times the LTPS TFT must be driven. It does not affect the power consumption of the OLED, which must still be driven by the proper current. How low the refresh rate needs to be to take advantage of this feature has not been disclosed.
Some 2020 iPhones will ship with 120Hz refresh rate ProMotion OLED display, which is designed to deliver a smoother user experience, similar to what iPad Pro's ProMotion LCD display already offers. Along with 5G and new design, a high refresh rate display means that 2020 iPhone will have a huge list of new features. ProMotion is the name of Apple's technology which not only supports a high refresh rate, it also smartly adjusts the refresh rate based on what is displayed on the screen. Gestures like scrolling and swiping, as well as other animations look far better on a ProMotion display, compared to a 60Hz only display. Thanks to ProMotion tech, for a 24fps video, the display refresh rate goes down since a higher refresh rate is not needed and it also saves energy. Similarly, it automatically adjusts for 30fps, 60fps and 120fps content. iPad Pro even has some games that support the display's 120Hz refresh rate, and look amazing. Refresh rates of smartphone panels used in the 5G era have been reported at 90Hz or even 120Hz. Back in July 2019, Twitter account Ice universe also shared news that Apple is in talks with Samsung and LG for a display with switchable 60Hz/120Hz refresh rate: Apple is considering a switchable 60Hz/120Hz refresh rate screen on the iPhone in 2020, and is discussing with Samsung and LG. iPhone 12/2020 iPhone will ship with 5G networking, a brand new iPhone 4-like design, which uses new materials, in-screen Touch ID, OLED displays for all iPhone models, as well as improved cameras. It is also expected that Apple will not use the 'S' branding for 2020 iPhones, due to major upgrades.
Hopefully, Apple will also be able to avoid the high refresh rate issues that are plaguing Pixel 4/Pixel 4 XL, since the company already has experience in making such displays for iPad Pro.
Figure 1: LTPO Pixel Layout and Circuit Design
June 07, 2020
Leakers Max Weinbach and Jon Prosser have claimed that ProMotion is a possibility on some 2020 iPhones and DSCC believes that LTPO is essential if Apple plans to support ProMotion on the iPhone, as it would allow for a variable refresh as low as 1Hz when the device is inactive in order to optimize battery life. The benefit of LTPO as we have stated in the past is that at low rates, the low leakage ICZO TFT can maintain the image to take advantage of the reduced number of times the LTPS TFT must be driven. It does not affect the power consumption of the OLED, which must still be driven by the proper current. How low the refresh rate needs to be to take advantage of this feature has not been disclosed.
Some 2020 iPhones will ship with 120Hz refresh rate ProMotion OLED display, which is designed to deliver a smoother user experience, similar to what iPad Pro's ProMotion LCD display already offers. Along with 5G and new design, a high refresh rate display means that 2020 iPhone will have a huge list of new features. ProMotion is the name of Apple's technology which not only supports a high refresh rate, it also smartly adjusts the refresh rate based on what is displayed on the screen. Gestures like scrolling and swiping, as well as other animations look far better on a ProMotion display, compared to a 60Hz only display. Thanks to ProMotion tech, for a 24fps video, the display refresh rate goes down since a higher refresh rate is not needed and it also saves energy. Similarly, it automatically adjusts for 30fps, 60fps and 120fps content. iPad Pro even has some games that support the display's 120Hz refresh rate, and look amazing. Refresh rates of smartphone panels used in the 5G era have been reported at 90Hz or even 120Hz. Back in July 2019, Twitter account Ice universe also shared news that Apple is in talks with Samsung and LG for a display with switchable 60Hz/120Hz refresh rate: Apple is considering a switchable 60Hz/120Hz refresh rate screen on the iPhone in 2020, and is discussing with Samsung and LG. iPhone 12/2020 iPhone will ship with 5G networking, a brand new iPhone 4-like design, which uses new materials, in-screen Touch ID, OLED displays for all iPhone models, as well as improved cameras. It is also expected that Apple will not use the 'S' branding for 2020 iPhones, due to major upgrades.
Hopefully, Apple will also be able to avoid the high refresh rate issues that are plaguing Pixel 4/Pixel 4 XL, since the company already has experience in making such displays for iPad Pro.
Figure 1: LTPO Pixel Layout and Circuit Design
Source: Omdia