The beta version of iOS 16 is already available to developers, so the 9to5Mac portal staff decided to find out if there is something in the firmware that Apple did not mention during the presentation. After examining the program code, they still managed to find references to one unannounced and not yet available function.
According to Apple, in iOS 16, the lock screen has undergone the biggest change since the existence of iOS. Users will be able to change the font of the clock, apply different styles to the wallpaper, add widgets and create several different lock screens at once, similar to the watch faces on the Apple Watch. Apparently, this is not all that the company has prepared.
Having studied the code of the new firmware, 9to5Mac employees discovered three frameworks responsible for controlling the backlight of the display. All of them point to the appearance in the system of a new always-on display feature (Always On Display), available on most Android smartphones. AoD references are also found in the Springboard application, which is responsible for managing the lock screen and home screen. In addition, there are hidden options in iOS 16 that allow Apple engineers to enable the AoD feature even on unsupported devices.
The always-on screen feature is rumored to be coming to the new iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. It is assumed that this is due to the fact that the firmware of the 13th series can adjust the display refresh rate from 10 to 120 Hz, and in new models the minimum value will be reduced to 1 Hz due to the use of more advanced matrices.