An LTPO display is a type of OLED panel that uses a low-temperature polycrystalline oxide backplane to efficiently vary its refresh rate. This is different from a regular OLED because a standard OLED does not, by itself, include the adaptive low-power backplane hardware needed to dynamically shift between very low and very high refresh rates.
What is an LTPO display?
LTPO stands for low-temperature polycrystalline oxide. It is a backplane technology used with OLED panels that enables the display to change its refresh rate more efficiently than a standard OLED. This allows the screen to drop to very low rates for always-on features and scale up to high rates for smooth motion, all while saving power.
How LTPO differs from regular OLED
Regular OLED describes the emissive display type itself, which produces light per pixel for deep blacks and vibrant colors. LTPO adds a hardware layer to that OLED panel. The key difference is that regular OLED does not imply the adaptive low-power backplane behavior that allows wide refresh-rate variation. LTPO is the specific technology that supports variable refresh rates, such as very low rates for always-on behavior and higher rates for smoother scrolling. LTPO displays require more complex manufacturing techniques, potentially increasing production costs.
Advantages of LTPO over regular OLED
LTPO displays offer lower power use at low refresh rates, which is especially beneficial for always-on display behavior. They also deliver higher refresh rates when needed for scrolling and animations. The main advantage is a better balance between smoothness and battery life than a fixed high-refresh OLED panel, because the display only uses high power when the content demands it. LTPO displays offer superior touch sensitivity compared to regular OLED displays, enabling more accurate and responsive touch interactions. LTPO displays have reduced flicker compared to regular OLED displays, minimizing eye strain. LTPO displays have better heat dissipation capabilities compared to regular OLED displays. LTPO displays boast a longer lifespan compared to regular OLED displays due to reduced wear and tear on components.
Which phones have an LTPO display
Apple uses LTPO technology in its ProMotion displays on supported iPhone Pro models. Apple’s support pages associate ProMotion with an adaptive refresh rate on these models, not on standard iPhones. The relevant user-facing control in iPhone settings is not a manual LTPO switch; Apple documents ProMotion as a display capability of supported models rather than a setting users turn on or off.
Google uses LTPO in its Smooth Display feature on supported Pixel models. The documented path to find this setting is: Settings > Display > Smooth Display. Google documents Smooth Display as the control that enables the higher-refresh behavior on compatible devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I manually set the refresh rate on an LTPO display?
On supported Google Pixel phones, you can toggle Smooth Display in Settings > Display to enable the adaptive higher-refresh behavior. On supported iPhone Pro models, ProMotion is an automatic adaptive feature and does not have a manual switch in settings.
Can I customize the refresh rate on an LTPO display?
Some smartphones may offer different refresh rate options, but not all devices provide this level of customization.
Does an LTPO display improve battery life on always-on screens?
Yes. Because LTPO can drop to a very low refresh rate when the screen is static, it uses significantly less power for always-on display features compared to a regular OLED that runs at a fixed higher rate.
How do I turn off iPhone 14 Pro always-on display?
To manage this, go to your iPhone's display and home screen settings. The always-on display is controlled separately from ProMotion; you can disable it in Settings under the display section.
Are LTPO displays only used in phones?
While most commonly found in premium smartphones, LTPO technology is also used in smartwatches and other devices where power efficiency and variable refresh rates are important for battery life and smooth visuals.
Do all OLED phones have LTPO?
No. LTPO is a specific backplane technology that only some OLED phones use. Many OLED phones have a fixed refresh rate and do not include the adaptive low-power backplane that LTPO provides.
