Future iPhone Displays Could Be More Battery-Friendly

The displays on our smartphones are one of the bigger culprits when it comes to draining battery life. However with more manufacturers transitioning to the use of OLEDs which require less energy due to the fact that it does not use backlighting, we’re seeing an improvement on that front. However it appears that Apple might have plans to take it one step further.

In a report from IHS Markit (via BGR), it seems that the company believes that Apple could be making the move to change from low-temperature polysilicon thin-film transistor (LTPS TFT), commonly used in AMOLED panel production, to low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) backplanes, which in theory could reduce power consumption between 5-15%.

The publication’s author David Hsieh also points out how this is evidenced by Apple actually having three patents that are related to the technology. As to why is Apple potentially going about this on their own instead of working with companies such as Samsung or LG, IHS mentions a couple of reasons why.

For starters it would allow Apple to be more closely involved in the cost of components and technology, it would also give them more control (something that Apple is known to favor) over its supply chain and manufacturers, and they could also use the technology to better cater to their own products.

That being said it is unclear as to when we might see Apple start implementing this technology into their products, but there are technological challenges that Apple needs to overcome first before the tech can even be mass produced, so don’t hold your breath just yet.

Tyler Lee
Categories: Apple, Cellphones
Tags: Apple Watch, iPhone, Patent