iOS 16 code found references to the “always-on display” feature

iOS 16 was announced yesterday at WWDC 2022, one of the most notable changes being a completely redesigned lock screen. Now you can customize your iPhone lock screen in every possible way with various widgets, fonts, dynamic wallpapers and much more.

Along with the release of iOS 16, another rumor about the iPhone 14 Pro appeared. 9to5mac found several references in the iOS 16 code that indicate that the always-on display feature is in development.

Always-On Display iOS 16

Mark Gurman from Bloomberg was the first to announce an updated lock screen that will be added to iOS 16. Gurman also noted that Always-On Display support will be built into iOS 16 in preparation for the feature’s potential launch on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max this fall.

Now that the first developer beta has been released, several mentions have been unearthed that confirm that iOS 16 does support the AOD (Always On Display) feature. iOS 16 adds three new frameworks that deal with iPhone display backlight control. Backlight control is a key aspect of enabling the always-on feature.

Each of these frameworks includes links to the persistent display capability. Theoretically, one could assume that mentions of this feature were added in connection with the existing features of the always-on display on the Apple Watch, but this is not the case.

All frameworks found are used by various iOS components, including the lock screen. Also, and most importantly, there are several references to the always-on display in Springboard, which controls the lock screen (and home screen) of the iPhone. Apple Watch does not use Springboard.

Finally, iOS 16 also has hidden flags that Apple engineers can use to enable the always-on display feature even on unsupported devices. This means that Apple engineers can test the AOD feature on the iPhone 13 Pro before launching the feature on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max later this year.

Always-On Display on iPhone

Why will the always-on display feature be limited to the iPhone 14 Pro line? The iPhone display must support ProMotion display technology with a variable frequency of 120 to 1 Hz, as implemented in the Apple Watch. In the iPhone 13 Pro, the display is only capable of reducing the frequency to 10 Hz. Reducing the frequency allows the always-on display to be an option and also not affect Apple Watch battery life. While it’s not confirmed, it’s possible the iPhone 14 Pro will run at 1Hz just to conserve battery power by putting the display in always-on mode.

If the source code is to be believed, it’s clear that iOS 16 lays the groundwork for the always-on display feature. The new lock screen notification widget and design is perfect for AOD, and iOS 16 core code confirms such a feature is in the works.

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