LTPO and LTPS play an important role in smartphone displays. These display technologies determine how a display functions and have a direct impact on refresh rate and power consumption.

In this blog, we explain what LTPO and LTPS are, how they differ, and how these differences show up in real-world use.

LTPO vs LTPS: what’s the difference?

LTPO and LTPS are two different display technologies that determine how a screen handles refresh rate and power consumption.

The main difference lies in how well the display can adjust its refresh rate.

LTPS (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Silicon)

• Operates at refresh rates between 60 Hz and 120 Hz (depending on the device)
• Uses a static (non-variable) refresh rate, resulting in higher power consumption and lower battery efficiency
• Technically simpler and more cost-effective to produce than LTPO displays

Commonly used in:

• Standard iPhones (such as iPhone 12, iPhone 13, and iPhone 14)
• Non-Pro models (such as iPhone 13 Mini and iPhone 14 Plus)
• Older high-end iPhones (such as iPhone 11 Pro)

LTPS specifications

LTPO specifications

LTPO (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide)

LTPO was developed to provide more flexibility in how the display is controlled.

• Supports variable refresh rates from 1 Hz to 120 Hz
• Automatically adjusts the refresh rate based on usage, such as:

→ Scaling up during scrolling for smoother performance

→ Scaling down during static content

• Enables Always-On Display with minimal power consumption by dropping to 1 Hz
• Lower power consumption thanks to a more efficient backplane (oxide/IGZO)

Commonly used in:

• iPhone Pro models (from iPhone 13 Pro and newer)
• Pro Max variants (such as iPhone 13 Pro Max, 14 Pro Max, and 15 Pro Max)

LTPO vs LTPS: what does this mean in practice?

The difference between LTPO and LTPS is most noticeable in everyday use, such as scrolling and static content.

• During scrolling, an LTPO display can scale up to higher refresh rates for smoother animations
• When the screen is static, an LTPO display scales down to save power
• An LTPS display generally operates at a fixed refresh rate

In practice, this means an LTPO display responds more dynamically to what’s happening on screen, while LTPS is more consistent but less efficient.

→ For repairs, this difference can be noticeable in battery consumption and the overall user experience after installation.

Availability of LTPO and LTPS displays

If you work with different device types, you will inevitably deal with both display technologies. That’s why it’s important to be able to choose between LTPO and LTPS, depending on the device and the specific use case.

Within Foneday’s range, both LTPO and LTPS displays are available for various iPhone models.

This allows you to:

• Work with parts that match different devices
• Maintain consistency in performance and power consumption after replacement

Conclusion

LTPO and LTPS are two different display technologies that determine how a screen handles refresh rate and power consumption. In short, LTPS uses a fixed refresh rate and is less energy-efficient, while LTPO offers a variable refresh rate and manages power more efficiently.

These differences are most noticeable in situations such as scrolling, static content, and overall power management throughout the day. By understanding how both technologies work and where they are used, you can better predict how a display will perform in real-world use.

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