how much battery does the function use

The new always-on function on the iPhone 14 Pro (Max) has an impact on the battery. But how much battery charge does it cost you exactly?

Always-on: reinventing the wheel?

The new always-on display feature of the iPhone 14 Pro (Max) is nice, but Android phones have had a similar feature for about a decade. Apple wouldn’t be Apple if they just took over this function.

No, they made the always-on screen of the iPhone 14 Pro the ‘Apple way’. You also see a bit of the background when the always-on screen is turned on.

With an updated ProMotion technology, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max can lower its refresh rate to 1Hz. That is one frame (or refreshment of the screen) per second. Apple also uses this technique for the always-on screen.

Battery test: iPhone 14 Pro (Max) with always-on

Apple has nowhere given an indication of how much impact the always-on screen of the iPhone 14 Pro (Max) has on the battery. Fortunately, our colleagues at PhoneArena took the liberty of finding out this information for themselves.

For example, they left the iPhone 14 Pro on the always-on screen for exactly 8 hours without an active SIM card. The phone was not used, but was set up with a few apps. Since most people use their phone throughout the day, when always-on is hardly a factor (and also turns off when the phone is in your pocket), an 8-hour test period is a great estimate of ‘normal use’ of your iPhone 14 Pro.

As a check, they did the exact same thing a day later, but without the always-on display turned on. Both days the iPhone started with 100% battery. If all goes well, especially according to Apple’s website, there should not be much difference between the two days.

That’s how much battery the iPhone’s always-on screen uses

On the first day with the always-on display enabled on the iPhone 14 Pro, the battery dropped from 100% to 94%. The test period was from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. It is striking that on day 2, when the testers did not turn on always-on, the battery still remained at 100% after 8 hours.

It turns out that the always-on display of the iPhone 14 Pro (Max) drains no less than 6% more of your battery over 8 hours, than when the function is not switched on. Our own tests confirm this difference.

This way you use less battery with always-on on

Apple has enabled the always-on display on the iPhone 14 Pro by default. Are you afraid for your battery? Check out our article on how to turn off the always-on screen on your iPhone.

In addition to always-on draining the battery of your iPhone 14 Pro, there is also another reason not to turn on the screen. It’s too distracting. With a ‘Focus’ you can reduce this (and the battery consumption). You then have to set a black and white theme in the customizable lockscreen of iOS 16. Your always-on is therefore monochromatic and dimmed.

Tips for always-on and your battery on the iPhone 14

In addition to setting the black and white theme, you can of course also place your iPhone with the screen down. Then the always-on of your iPhone 14 Pro turns off automatically and does not consume extra battery.

Your iPhone 14 Pro (Max) also turns the screen off when you put it in your pocket or bag. Even if you use certain apps, are connected to CarPlay or an Apple Watch or the power save mode is turned on, the always-on screen switches off automatically.

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