Apple enhances the always-on display functionality on iPhone 14 Pro

Trying to impress iPhone 14 Pro buyers, Apple has implemented always-on display functionality in a way that allows the wallpaper image to be preserved, with very little change to how notifications are displayed.

Unfortunately for Apple, the reactions received were predominantly negative, with users used to treating spontaneous screen illumination as a clue to receiving important alerts being exasperated by the way the always-on display functionality makes the iPhone 14’s screen look like it’s always on. As a result, users uncomfortable with Apple’s interpretation of this feature ended up turning it off out of frustration because they couldn’t tell whether the phone’s screen was on or off, ending up obsessively and unjustifiably checking the phone for any new developments.

Looks nice, but I’ll stick with the fun and colorful option. https://t.co/dSmgX9P9C9 pic.twitter.com/SRIXMpzub8

– Chance Miller (@ChanceHMiller) November 15, 2022

But beyond the poorly thought out implementation, another reason you’d want to refuse Apple’s implementation of the always-on display feature is the impact on battery consumption. Basically, iPhone 14 year battery life can even drop by a few tens of percent on devices that have this setting checked.

Without explicitly acknowledging the mistake made, Apple is implementing an alternative version of the always-on display feature, which will be available starting with iOS 16.2. Specifically, users will get exactly what they wanted all along, which is a completely monochrome display mode limited to basic information such as the date and time and incoming alerts. Much more suitable for the efficient use of OLED technology, the alternative version introduced as an optional setting will probably also bring a noticeable improvement in power consumption.