Just as the eyes are a window to one’s soul, a smartphone’s display tells you an awful lot about the handset from the moment you start it up. So what kind of story will the iPhone 14 Displays Tell This Fall When Apple Will Bring Its New Models To A Waiting World?
The screens on the iPhone 13 have proved to be one of the many strengths of Apple’s current smartphone lineup. All four iPhones have bright, colorful screens, with the iPhone 13 Pro models are especially notable for their adaptive 120Hz refresh rates. That means Apple’s Pro phones can adjust how quickly their displays refresh, going up to 120Hz for things like games or scrolling, and scaling back to 10Hz for more static activity.
So far, iPhone 14 rumors have painted a picture of more of the same for the upcoming phones. But dive into the rumors and you’ll find some expected improvements to the iPhone 14 screens that could translate into noticeable improvements for Apple’s handsets. And the pressure is on Apple, as the phone makers’ main rivals – notably Samsung – have focused on screen upgrades for their own handsets, with a view to knocking down Apple’s offer for the title of best phone general.
Here’s what we’ve heard about the iPhone 14 screens so far, including any changes Apple plans to soon refresh the screens on its new phones.
Screen sizes iPhone 14
For the most part, the screens of the various iPhone 14 models are expected to remain the same – with one major exception.
the iPhone14, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max should keep the screen sizes as their iPhone 13 counterparts. That means 6.1-inch panels for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max keeps the 6.7-inch screen size found on the iPhone 13 Pro Max†
That may not be the only 6.7-inch phone in Apple’s lineup anymore. Rumor has it that Apple has a iPhone 14 Max to this year’s lineup – this would be a cheaper 6.7-inch phone that would lack some of the premium features of Apple’s Pro range. The idea is to give iPhone fans a cheaper option to get one of the best big phones†
That would mark the end of the line for Apple’s mini iPhone model, which was introduced with the iPhone 12 releases in 2020 but never caught on, even with the 5.4-inch. iPhone 13 mini† That means fans of more compact displays should either turn to the iPhone SE (2022) or hope that Apple will keep an older mini model in its lineup at a lower cost.
Expect another change in iPhone 14 Pro model screens – they are tipped to lose the notch that has been associated with the iPhone since the iPhone X’s debut in 2017. Instead, the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max appear to have two cutouts for the front camera and Face ID sensors. That will free up some extra screen space on both phones compared to recent Pro models.
iPhone 14 . Refresh Rates
As mentioned above, the iPhone 13 Pro models have added a dynamic refresh rate that allows them to scale between 10 Hz and 120 Hz. The standard iPhone 13 is stuck at a more conventional 60Hz rate.
Will anything change with the iPhone 14? At least one leaker thinks the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max can offer 90Hz refresh rates in a move similar to how Google handles its Pixel flagships. (The more expensive) Pixel 6 Pro features a 120Hz display, while the Pixel 6 offers a 90Hz display.) That would certainly be an upgrade from the fixed 60Hz refresh rate that the iPhone 13 offers.
The problem is that other leakers have shot this rumor. Instead, they’re tipping the iPhone 14 to continue using the 60 Hz panels found on current base-model iPhones. An older report from Apple’s supply chain suggests that at least one iPhone 14 model uses an LTPS display with a 60Hz refresh rate, and we assume this means the iPhone 14.
A 90Hz refresh rate would make things like scrolling seem a lot smoother on the iPhone 14 than on previous models, so it’s definitely a feature we’d like to see. But until more reports come out supporting this change in refresh rates, we’ll have to assume that the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max will offer the same 60Hz speeds as Apple’s cheaper flagships.
We have better news for the iPhone 14 Pro, where the upcoming phones will likely continue with the 120Hz displays that debuted with the iPhone 13 Pro. Those phones introduced LTPO displays — short for low-temperature polycrystalline oxide — that allow the iPhones to adjust their refresh rate based on screen activity.
The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max are rumored to have a new version of LTPO that increases power efficiency. The OnePlus 10 Pro got such an improvement earlier this year and now it can be reduced to 1 Hz, because the Galaxy S22 Ultra can. Should the iPhone 14 Pro models get a new and improved LTPO technology, they too could have the 1-120Hz refresh rate that other top flagship phones now enjoy.
If that feature comes through, it could pave the way for another change to the iPhone 14 Pro’s screen. Rumor has it that Apple’s Pro models add support for always-on displaysa feature that was part of the best android phones for years. The iOS 16 update coming this fall will add support for customizable lock screens and widgets that can be placed on your lock screen. Obviously, such a feature would also open the door to an always-on display for phones that could lower their refresh rate to avoid draining their batteries.
Other iPhone 14 . Display Features
The display’s refresh rates grab all the attention, but the battle for the best smartphone screen has been fought on other fronts as well. Screen brightness has become more and more important and it turns out to be an important feature for iPhone 14 screens as well.
When Apple released the iPhone 13 models last year, it praised the brightness of the phones’ Super Retina XDR OLED panels. The iPhone 13 peak peaked at 800 nits outdoor brightness, while the Pro models peaked at 1,000 nits. (We measured 795 nits and 1,024 nits on the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro, respectively.)
Since the debut of the iPhone 13, Samsung has rolled out its own flagship update. And the Galaxy S22 models also feature bright screens — a promised 1,300 nits peak brightness for the S22 and 1,750 for the Galaxy S22 Plus and Galaxy S22 Ultra. We haven’t recorded any numbers reaching those limits with our light meter, but for the most part, the S22 Series displays are brighter than what you get with the iPhone 13.
Will Apple respond in kind when it comes time to unveil the iPhone 14? We haven’t heard many rumors on that front. But given how brightness has become an area where phone makers are now battling it out, we wouldn’t be surprised if the iPhone 14 debuts with some improvements in that area.
iPhone display outlook
Don’t expect a massive overhaul of the screens Apple is using for the upcoming iPhone 14 release, from screen sizes to refresh rates. But there seem to be enough major changes in the works to lead us to think that the screens will remain a crucial feature on Apple’s next phones. And there may be some surprises as we get closer to the . come iPhone 14 release date†