iPhone 13 could be Apple’s first with an ‘always on’ display

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A signature feature of the iPhone 13 might be an always-on display.
One of many hot features that could make the iPhone 13 a big winner?
Artist’s concept: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple could bring an “always-on” screen, which it debuted in the Apple Watch Series 5 in 2019, to the iPhone for the first time this year. The latest rumor says the display on at least some 2021 iPhones might show information on the screen at all times.

Already a prevalent in Android devices, such a display lets users see time, date, notifications, missed calls and more when their phone is locked. Bringing the feature to iPhone could be one factor driving Apple’s high expectations for sales of its next-gen handsets.

The tidbit came from Bloomberg writer Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter over the weekend.

“Apple has tasked suppliers with building up to 90 million new iPhones for this fall,” Gurman wrote. “That’s a 20% increase over the 75 million units Apple planned for the iPhone 12 in 2020 — despite only readying mostly minor changes. Expect a a faster A15 chip, smaller notch, a new display for better battery life and the potential of an Apple Watch-like always on mode and a 120Hz refresh rate and upgrades to video recording.”

An always-on display (sometimes abbreviated “AOD”) isn’t a total game-changer. It’s also, as noted above, not a feature that would be exclusive to Apple. However, it certainly made the Apple Watch experience a whole lot smoother in my opinion — and that likely would prove true for iPhone. According to researchers, the average person checks their phone a massive 58 times per day.

What to expect when you’re expecting iPhone 13

As Gurman notes, this year’s iPhone refresh likely won’t bring a major redesign. But it’s definitely sounding like it will have enough impressive features to win over customers. My biggest hope? The return of Touch ID, this time embedded in the iPhone screen, rather than in the (now nonexistent) Home button. Interestingly, Gurman doesn’t mention that in his summary — despite previous rumors suggesting it will be there.

What are you hoping for from the iPhone 13? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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