We've heard a lot of rumors about how the iPhone 14 won't live up to its Pro and Pro Max siblings, more so than last year, and a new leak has revealed yet another way Apple is differentiating its phones.
This is from the Korean site The Elec (opens in a new tab), from which we often hear supply chain information about devices. This time, the website has given some information about the screens that we can expect in the four expected iPhone 14 models.
As previous leaks suggested, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro are expected to have 6,1-inch screens, while the 14 Max and 14 Pro Max are expected to have 6,7-inch screens. However, what is really interesting, and what the title of this article refers to, is the technology used in these screens.
The two lower-tier iPhones, namely the 14 and 14 Max, are set to use LTPS technology, while the higher-end Pro devices are expected to get LTPO.
What is the difference? Well, LTPO is much better with variable refresh rates, which means it's faster and more efficient when you slide between 1Hz if you're reading an ebook, 24Hz if you're watching a movie, 60Hz or even 120Hz if they are doing other tasks.
Phone screens with a high refresh rate are known to burn through the battery quickly, and LTPO is much more power efficient, ensuring longer battery life. So the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max could outlast their no-cost counterparts.
Analysis: cost reduction
While we've heard plenty of ways the iPhone 14 will be beaten by its non-Pro sibling, including front camera design, rear camera resolution, number of camera lenses, and worse chipset, The Elec provides a clear reason.
He refers to the use of LTPS screens as a way to cut costs on new phones. Apple can spend less money to make its devices and thus make more profit.
Well, that's not entirely fair: Production costs are rising in most industries around the world, so it's possible that Apple is simply looking to avoid losses rather than make more money.
But either way, it means the consumer gets less for their money on these new phones, which is obviously not a good thing. Maybe Apple won't question our list of the best phones this year.