A new supply-chain report notes that the Apple Watch Series 10 advanced display technology is expected to be adopted in future iPhones.
Apple’s trickle-down approach means that the Apple Watch always gets the most advanced display tech first before it later rolls out to other devices, and the S10 tech is likely to be later used for iPhones – but not next year …
Apple Watch S10 advanced display tech
On the flagship Apple Watch Series 10, LTPO3 enables Apple to optimize each pixel to emit more light at wider angles and improve battery efficiency. As a result, the display is 40% brighter than on the previous model, theApple WatchSeries 9, which employed LTPO2. The newer technology also allows for a faster refresh rate when the watch is in always-on mode.
From a technical standpoint, LTPO2 uses two switching TFTs (thin-film transistors), while LTPO3 uses a more efficient oxide-based version. It can directly control the current to emit light from the display’s OLED element.
The LTPO3 feature on the Apple Watch Series 10 is reported to enhance battery efficiency; however, it does not appear to extend battery life. The Apple Watch Series 10 offers a battery life of up to 18 hours between charges, similar to other models in the series. Whether LTPO3 will yield similar or improved results on future iPhones remains to be seen.
Likely to be used in future iPhones
The Elec reports that supply-chain observers expect LTPO3 to be used in future iPhones, to further boost battery life.
The core of LTPO3, which was first applied to Apple Watch 10 this year, is that the drive TFT was changed from the existing LTPS to oxide. The drive TFT directly controls the current to emit light on the OLED device.
The industry is paying attention to the possibility that LTPO3 will also be applied to Apple iPhone in the future. Apple first applied LTPO OLED to Apple Watch 4 in 2018 and then applied LTPO OLED to the iPhone 13 Pro lineup in 2021.
The iPhone 16 Pro series uses LTPO2, which isn’t expected to change in the 2025 iPhone 17 Pro series. Therefore, the earliest we may see LTPO3 on iPhones could be with the iPhone 18 in 2026.