The battery life issue of Apple Watch is the most criticized by users. (Photo/Reuters)
For many Apple Watch users, although the functions are getting more complete year by year, there is an old problem that has never been really solved, and that is battery life. Even with the latest models, most people still have to maintain the habit of “charging once a day”. Now, Apple seems to be planning to start with display technology, hoping to bring better battery life to future Apple Watches.
According to Korean media The Elec, Apple is evaluating a new OLED display technology called HMO (High-Mobility Oxide), hoping to further reduce power consumption and improve the energy efficiency of Apple Watch.
This technology was developed by LG Display, and both LG and Samsung are currently the main suppliers of OLED panels for Apple Watch.
The current Apple Watch uses LTPO (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide, low-temperature polycrystalline oxide) display technology, which can support functions such as always-on display and variable update rate, and Apple intends to regard HMO as the next-generation successor to LTPO.
The biggest advantage of HMO is that it allows electrons to move faster and more smoothly in the display transistor layer. Simply put, it uses less power to complete the same work, thus helping to reduce screen power consumption and further extend device life.
In addition to LG’s HMO technology, Samsung Display is also developing another OLED panel solution called ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition). This technology stacks atomic-level thin films in an extremely precise manner, and also hopes to improve electron transmission efficiency and achieve power saving effects.
It is still difficult to determine which technology has more advantages, HMO or ALD. However, industry insiders believe that Samsung is trying to seize the opportunity through more sophisticated transistor layer control technology. Who will win in the end will have to wait until the actual product is released.
Which generation of Apple Watch has the best chance of first adoption?
Since Apple often tests new display technologies on small-size products such as Apple Watch in the past, and then expands its application to iPhone, iPad and other products, Apple Watch is likely to become the first Apple device to adopt HMO. However, judging from the current development progress, it is almost impossible for the new Apple Watch to be launched this year to be equipped with an HMO panel.
HMO technology is still some way away from formal mass production. The industry generally believes that it will not be possible to see HMO officially launched until 2027 at the earliest; if the development progress is conservative, it is not ruled out that it will be postponed to 2028.
It is worth noting that there are also rumors that Apple plans to bring a major facelift to Apple Watch in 2028, which is rare in recent years. If the new design is paired with more power-saving display technology, it may become the most anticipated upgrade of Apple Watch in recent years.
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