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Samsung reportedly kicks off production of iPhone 13 Pro's 120Hz display

Updated: Jul 26, 2021, 6:40 AM

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Samsung reportedly kicks off production of iPhone 13 Pro's 120Hz display

Samsung and LG have started production of OLED panels for this year's iPhone 13 series, reports South Korean outlet The Elec. Like last year, 2021's lineup is also rumored to feature four models: 5.4-inch iPhone 13 mini, 6.1-inch iPhone 13, 6.1-inch iPhone 13 Pro, and 6.7-inch iPhone 13 Pro Max.

Samsung is making 120Hz ProMotion displays for the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max

It is believed that Samsung is manufacturing low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) thin-film transistor (TFT) OLED panels with 120Hz support for the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max.

Apple was allegedly initially planning a high refresh rate for the iPhone 12 series but decided against it because it apparently thought that a 120Hz screen on top of 5G connectivity would be too big a drain on battery life. With LTPO units, this won't be a concern.

Samsung has been using LTPO panels since last year's Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. The Galaxy S21 series features a more efficient version of the tech. LTPO enables a screen to dynamically change its refresh rate according to whatever content is being displayed and this helps optimize power consumption. For instance, the refresh rate could drop to 10Hz when a static image is being shown and it could increase to 120Hz when a game is being displayed.

Per one report, iPhone 13 Pro's OLED panel will be up to 20 percent more energy efficient when compared to the current model.

The LTPO panel is also likely to finally bring Always On Display to iPhones. Apple is expected to take a similar approach as Android manufacturers. Time and battery charge will always be visible and notifications will be displayed temporarily when they arrive, per one rumor.

LG will supply 60Hz panels for the iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13

LG is apparently working on conventional low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) TFT OLED panels for the iPhone 13 mini and the iPhone 13. These models are not expected to support a high refresh rate and will retain a 60Hz screen.

The report also points out that OLED production for the iPhone 13 series has started a month earlier than last year, a sign that things are normalizing. Last year's iPhone 12 range was severely impacted because of the coronavirus pandemic, forcing Apple to delay the launch by a month. This year, the company is likely to revert to a September launch schedule.

In all, Samsung is forecasted to manufacture 80 million display units for the new iPhones, and LG is expected to supply 30 million panels. A previous leak had said that BOE would also be a part of iPhone 13's supply chain, but today's report makes no mention of it.

iPhone 13 rumored specs: A15 Bionic, up to 1TB of storage, bigger batteries, and improved camera system

According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, all four of the new models will come with larger batteries. Per a recent report, the A15 Bionic chip that will supposedly power the iPhone 13 range has also entered production. The chip will reportedly be slightly more power-efficient than the A14 SoC that fuels the iPhone 12, and this should further help with prolonging battery life.

The new phones are also rumored to feature better cameras. To be more specific, we will likely see bigger sensors with new lenses and the sensor-shift OIS (optical image stabilization) technology.

The new models will allegedly also flaunt a slightly updated design with a smaller notch and in-display Touch ID. Face ID is not going anywhere but Apple will apparently use a smaller VCSEL chip to reduce the size of the system.

Rumors also point at new color options and up to 1TB of storage.

We expect the new iPhones to be amongst the best smartphones of 2021.

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Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.