Always-on Display on Your iPhone or Android Device

You can enable always-on display on your iPhone with iOS 10.3 or later. This feature allows your screen to display the time, notifications, and other essential information even when your screen is turned off.

The always-on display on Android devices is called Ambient Display. It's available on devices running Android 5.0 or later. Ambient Display can be enabled in the device's settings.

Some Android devices, like the Samsung Galaxy S8, have a feature called Always On Display that allows you to customize the display to show only the time, a clock, or other essential information.

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An Always-On Display (AOD) is a feature that keeps a limited portion of the screen on during sleep mode.

This means you can still see the time, date, and battery status of your device without having to turn the screen on.

Some devices will also display recent push notifications, replacing the need for a notification tone or LED signal.

The behavior of AOD can vary between devices, with some turning the screen on only when new notifications arrive, while others activate the screen when you pick it up or interact with it.

Not all apps may be supported for showing notifications with this feature, only first-party apps or popular apps are usually supported.

An Always-On Display (AOD) is a feature that keeps a limited portion of the screen on during sleep mode, displaying essential information such as the time, date, and battery status.

This feature can also show recent push notifications, replacing the need for a notification tone or LED signal. Some devices have differing behavior for this feature, with some turning the screen off until new notifications arrive, while others activate the screen when detecting input, such as being picked up or interacted with.

In some cases, the screen will remain on until the user interacts with the device to read or dismiss the notification, essentially serving as a larger notification LED. However, not all apps may be supported for showing notifications with this feature, with only first-party apps or popular apps usually being supported.

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The iPhone models that come with Always-On screens are pretty specific. Currently, these models are equipped with Always-On screens: iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max.

If you're considering upgrading to one of these models, it's worth knowing that the display will remain on even when your device is locked or idle. This feature is a game-changer for those who want to stay on top of notifications and glances without having to constantly wake their screen.

Here are the iPhone models with Always-On screens in a quick list:

Configuring AOD is a breeze, and it's a great way to personalize your Galaxy device. You can choose the clock style that appears on your screen, from digital to analog, and even change the clock's color.

From Settings, search for and select Always On Display, then tap Clock style to make your selection. When you're finished, tap Done.

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You can also adjust the display options and settings to suit your preferences. To do this, go to Settings, tap Lock screen and AOD, and then tap Always On Display.

Here are some of the display options you can adjust:

You can also choose when to show the Always On Display, depending on your preferences. If you're using a Galaxy device with One UI 6.1, you can tap When to show and select from the following options:

You can schedule your phone to turn off the Always-On Display (AOD) at specific times, making it more convenient for you. This feature is particularly useful if you want to conserve battery life or reduce distractions during certain hours of the day.

For instance, you can set your phone to turn off the AOD during nighttime, so you can get a good night's sleep without any notifications or distractions.

Alternatively, you can also set your phone to keep the screen on only when there are notifications to be acknowledged or dismissed by the user. This way, you'll still receive important alerts and reminders without the AOD being on all the time.

If you have a phone that supports this feature, you can check your settings to see if you have the option to schedule on/off times for the AOD.

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Always-on displays do consume energy, but the impact varies depending on the screen type. On AMOLED screens like those found in Samsung Galaxy S7 series phones, the energy consumption is relatively low, around 3% battery per day.

The key reason for this is that AMOLED screens don't need power to display black pixels, and only a few pixels need to be turned on to show information. This is in contrast to LCD displays, which have to keep the backlight on, even if only a part of the screen is showing information.

In fact, some LCD displays use a technology called Transflective LCD, which reduces power consumption by using a layer that reflects light. This is similar to a one-way mirror, but not specular.

On Apple iPhones, the Always-On display consumes minimal power due to extra technologies and multiple coprocessors within its custom chips. The display can even dynamically adjust its refresh rate to reduce power consumption.

For example, Apple's Always-On display can go from 120Hz to just 1Hz when in low-power mode, making a significant difference in battery life.

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Enabling or disabling the Always-On Display feature is a straightforward process. You can toggle it on a schedule, such as during nighttime, or when the proximity sensor detects that the device is in a pocket.

To turn Always On Display on or off, you can follow these steps: Open Settings, and then search for and select Always On Display. Tap Always On Display again, and then tap the switch to turn it on or off.

Some phones may have additional options for the Always-On Display, such as keeping the screen on only when there are notifications to be acknowledged or dismissed by the user.

On your iPhone, you can turn the Always-On display feature on or off manually by toggling a switch in the display settings.

To do this on an iPhone, follow these steps: Open the Settings app on your Pro iPhone, tap Display & Brightness, select Always On Display, and enable or disable the switch for Always On Display as needed.

You can also choose to show or hide the Lock Screen wallpaper and notifications on the Always-On display from this screen.