Rumors

iPhone 13 Pro models said to have 15-20% less power consumption even with 120Hz displays

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 9, 2021
iPhone 12 wallpapers

Despite rocking 120HZ displays, the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max should consume 15-20 percent less power than the iPhone 12 Pro, according to a new report.

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The Pro models will use low-power LTPO technology. LTPO uses a power-efficient backplane. Samsung and LG to supply LTPO panels to Apple.

2021 is the year the iPhone goes ProMotion

Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes corroborates earlier reports calling for a 120Hz iPhone.

Samsung Display and LG Display, now offering LTPS OLED displays for iPhones, are proceeding with capacity conversion to LTPO ones at their Apple-dedicated 6G OLED lines, with the conversion likely to be completed in the first half of 2021, the sources said, adding that production capacity will drop due to the added oxide step when LTPS is converted to LTPO.

The report states that the Pro models will consume 15-20 percent less battery power even with their 120Hz displays in use. Although not strictly mentioned in the DigiTimes report, that's almost certainly a result of switching to LTPO display technology and Apple's upcoming A15 chip which should consume less power than the current A14 processor.

→ How to turn off the Tap to Wake feature on your iPhone

All iPhone models to date refresh their screens sixty times per second. Doubling the refresh rate would bring smoother motion when navigating the iOS user interface, scrolling, playing games, watching high-frame-rate video and so forth.

Analysts and supply chain sources have been saying for months now that the next iPhone would adopt Apple's ProMotion display technology to double their screen refresh rate. The technology first debuted on Apple's 2018 iPad Pro tablet lineup.

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Drawing twice the images requires a faster GPU and memory, boosting power consumption. Apple is said to address that problem by switching to low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) display technology that relies on a much more power-efficient backplane.

LTPO technology could also enable Apple to bring an always-on display to the next iPhone. Apple already uses LTPO technology in the Apple Watch Series 5 and Series 6.

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A new report reiterates that Apple is working on a redesigned remote for the next Apple TV

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 30, 2021
New Apple TV Siri Remote

A new report has now corroborated last year's Bloomberg story that claimed Apple would be releasing an updated Siri Remote alongside the company's next Apple TV set-top box model.

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The oft-criticized Apple TV remote is being redesigned. It could be called Apple TV Remote, not Siri Remote. Unclear if it'll work on older Apple TVs.

Overhauling the Siri Remote

Citing people familiar with Apple's plans, 9to5Mac has learned that the Siri Remote that ships with the Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD is getting redesigned for the next model. An overhauled accessory reportedly sports a code-name that's different from the existing remote.

Details about this new Apple TV Remote are still unknown, but 9to5Mac’s sources have told us that this model is being developed under the code name 'B519,' which is quite different from the code name of the current Siri Remote — internally identified as 'B439.'

This has prompted the publication to speculate that the changes will be “significant” rather than cosmetic. “As the new Remote has an internal model number way above the current version, we believe the changes will be more significant,” reads the article.

A year ago, 9to5Mac discovered curious strings in the iOS 14 code indicating that the Cupertino tech giant could have a brand new remote for the Apple TV in the works.

Siri Remote to become Apple TV Remote

In fact, it would appear that Apple may also have a name change in store for the Siri Remote because iOS 14.5 code appears to reference “Apple TV Remote” rather than “Siri Remote,” which is what the company used to call the accessory in pre-tvOS days.

→ Tips for using the Siri Remote for Apple TV like a pro

Bloomberg reported last September that Apple was working on an upgraded remote control for the next Apple TV. The new remote will apparently support Apple's Find My app to make it easier to find in case it gets lost or misplaced. As for the Apple TV itself, the next update is widely expected to feature a faster processor with much better graphics for improved gaming.

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