In 2018, when it launched Apple Watch Series 4, Apple adopted – for the first time in a product – a screen OLED LTPO. OLED means organic light-emitting diode (or organic light emitting diode), while LTPO means low-temperature polycrystalline oxid (or low temperature polycrystalline oxide).
Such technology is responsible for a lower energy consumption, which is great for the watch. Currently, as we know, Apple smartphones use OLED screens (iPhones 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max) and LCD (iPhone 11). But that may change in the future.
To give you an idea, LTPO technology uses about 15% less energy than LTPS (low-temperature polysilicon, or low temperature polysilicon), which now equips Apple smartphones. But according to The Elec, Apple is planning to use such technology on iPhones as well.
At the Apple Watch Series 5, it is this LTPO screen that enabled the arrival of an always-on screen – whose update rate (refresh rate) ranges from 60Hz to just 1Hz. Earlier today we brought another rumor regarding future “ProMotion” screens with up to 120Hz on iPhones, so maybe a rumor has to do with the other…
Who can cross Apple’s path again in this whole story is the Samsung Display, which for the first time managed to develop and mass produce such panels. Currently, the one who supplies the Apple Watch screen to the Apple is the LG Display (based on a project by Apple itself). Samsung Display, however, appears to have developed proprietary LTPO technology.
If Apple really thinks about expanding the use of LTPO technology for iPhones, it will most likely have to start a conversation with Samsung Display as the smartphone’s production level is incredibly higher than that of the watch; thus, it will need more and more suppliers to “get the job done”.
via MacRumors
