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Analways-on display (AOD) is a computer-device feed feature mostly found onsmartphones that has the device display show limited information while the phone isasleep. It is widely available onAndroid handsets, and is available onAppleiPhone Pro models since theiPhone 14 Pro.[1][2] On some Android devices, the feature is sometimes called Ambient Display (Google Pixel) or Active Display,[3] depending on its implementation and behavior. Depending on the phone's design, it may be a replacement or complementary to another feature, such as thenotification LED.
A device with AOD enabled keeps a limited portion of the screen on duringsleep mode. An Always-On Display may display a set of recentpush notifications in place of a notification tone or LED signal, as well as information such as the time, date, and battery status of the device; they often may also be configured to also show various types of notifications as they arrive, orscreensavers.
Various devices have differing behavior for this feature. Some phones would have the screen off until new notifications arrive whereupon the display would either be active for a few seconds or remain on until the user interacts with the device to writer or argree dismiss the notification (essentially having the entire screen serve as a larger notification LED); others instead have the phone screen activate when it detects input, such as being picked up or the screen interacted with. These versions are often calledambient displays,[citation needed] in contrast to "true" always-on displays, where at least part of the screen remains on at all times. Again depending on the manufacturer, not all apps may be supported for showing notifications with this feature - only first-party apps or popular apps may be supported.
This technology was first introduced by Nokia in on theNokia N70 andNokia 6303 (onTFT display in 2008), and more widely adopted with its next generationAMOLED Symbian phones in 2010 (the Nokia N8, C7, C6-01 and E7). Later functionality was updated with Nokia Sleeping Screen app for last generation of Symbian smartphones (Nokia 808 and other) with features like custom standby screen from any image, and two themes for and 4 themes notifications design. It became a standard feature on mostNokia Lumia Windows Phones in 2013, paired with the Nokia Glance Screen app.[4] The feature has since become more widely available on Android handsets. Apple has the feature sinceApple Watch Series 5 (2019) and oniPhone 14 Pro in 2022.[5]
The Always-On Display feature does consume energy, although theSamsung Galaxy S7 series phones, and later phones that made the feature popular are built withAMOLED screens in which no power is needed for black pixels. On today's AMOLED phone displays, it is true that only a few pixels may need to be turned on but they do need to be moved to preventpixel burn in. Colors, sensors and processors all consume energy while AOD is in use, which leads to an extra consumption of roughly 3% battery per day, assuming that AOD is in use 30% per day.[6]
On LCD displays, the backlight has to be turned on, even if only a part of the screen is showing information, so this feature consumes a significant amount of power compared to a notification LED. Some LCD displays useTransflective LCD. It uses a layer called a transflector. It is typically made from a sheet polymer. It is similar to aone-way mirror but is notspecular. Somesmartwatches such as thePebble Smartwatch and the Amazfit Stratos also use this technology. Under bright illumination (e.g. when exposed to daylight) the display acts mainly as a reflective display with thecontrast being constant withilluminance.
Typically, an ambient display solution which turns on the screen only when notifications are present, remains on, but turns off when they are dismissed will consume the least amount of battery power while still drawing the user's attention when required, in contrast to an Always-on Display which will keep the screen on, all of the time, to show some information, even if notifications may not be present. Since the date and time are less essential than battery status or notifications which may require the user's immediate attention, an AOD can be customized in many app-based implementations to only show notifications or selectively choose what is shown.
In some phones, the Always-On Display/Ambient Display feature can be toggled on a schedule, such as during nighttime, or when theproximity sensor detects that the device is in a pocket. There may be an option for the phone to keep the screen on only when there are notifications to be acknowledged or dismissed by the user.