While Samsung started using high-refresh-rate displays in its smartphones last year, Apple is yet to implement the technology in its iPhones. The company was rumored to use a 120Hz refresh rate display in the iPhone 12 series, but it never materialized due to battery life concerns. It is now being reported that the Cupertino-based brand has decided to use Samsung's LTPO OLED panels in the iPhone 13 series.
According to a report from The Elec, Apple will use Samsung Display's LTPO OLED panels with support for variable 120Hz refresh rate in the iPhone 13 series. The company seems to have already placed the orders for new display panels. Samsung will upgrade its Apple-dedicated OLED panel manufacturing line to use the LTPO technology and start delivering those panels later this year.
LTPO (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide) OLED panels consume lower energy when compared to regular OLED panels because they can change the screen's refresh rate. For example, when scrolling and navigating around the UI, the refresh rate can be automatically switch to 120Hz, while it can go as low as 30Hz or 60Hz while watching videos. When nothing is happening on the screen, the refresh rate can go as low as 1Hz, thereby saving power.
Samsung has reportedly guaranteed 30,000 LTPO OLED display substrates per month to Apple, but once the complete transition is done, the South Korean firm can start supplying up to 70,000 LTPO OLED substrates. Apple is rumored to bring variable 120Hz refresh rate screens to the iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 13 Pro Max, while the iPhone 13 Mini and the iPhone 13 are expected to stick to 60Hz OLED displays.
