We have been hearing rumors of Apple taking to 120Hz displays for more than a year, and it’s about time. A report from the Korean website ‘ The Elec’ confirms that Samsung will be providing LTPO OLED panels to Apple for iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max.
Every AMOLED display has a backplane that determines when individual pixels turn on and how bright they glow. Most backplanes use two separate transistors (TFTs) – one for switching on a pixel (Switching TFTs) and for maintaining its brightness (driving TFTs).
LTPO displays use faster LTPS for switching circuits and more power-efficient IGZO material for driving circuits. Thus LTPO displays combine the benefits of both IGZO and LTPS backplanes. These displays can quickly switch between different refresh rates in a power-efficient manner and thus make VRR possible.
Also Read: What are LTPO displays?
Samsung currently uses LTPO displays only on its top-of-the-line flagships like Note20 Ultra and Galaxy S21 Ultra (not on Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+) or on its phones that support Variable Refresh Rate in order to conserve battery.
Apple also uses LTPO displays on Apple Watch and that’s how it manages an Always-On mode that switches to a low frame rate to ensures that it doesn’t completely obliterate the battery.
Also Read: Why High Refresh Rate Displays Consume Excessive Battery?
Samsung Technologies will also supply rigid flexible printed circuit boards (RFPCB) used to connect OLEDs to the mainboard.
According to the report by The Elec, Samsung will supply 110 million panels to Apple. LG and BOE will supply 50 Million and 9 Million, respectively.
