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The new display on the next iPhone might be much easier on your eyes

The next iPhones' screens might be adding more than just OLED.
 By 
Brett Williams
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

One of the most prevalent rumors about the upcoming iPhone 8 is a switch from LCD to an edge-to-edge OLED display — but that might not be the only new addition that could make the colors on the next-gen phones stand out more than current models.

The new iPhones expected to come later this year — along with the 8, we've heard there'll be more basic 7S and 7S Plus models — are slated to feature True Tone displays, according to a Barclays' research note unearthed by MacRumors.

The display tech uses ambient light sensors to adjust the screen color on the phone's screen to jive better with the external light conditions, a bit like a smarter version of Night Shift. Your phone will be able to make the move automatically where and when you need it, instead of just adjusting your device's screen by default in the evening hours.

The note claims each of the new phones will each boast a "full spectral sensing" ambient light sensor for a "True Color" screen, supplied by Austrian semiconductor manufacturer AMS. The speculation stems from news about content increases to the AMS-Apple supply chain.

The only other Apple product with a True Tone display is the 9.7-inch iPad Pro. Mashable's Lance Ulanoff didn't think the feature added much to the tablet's screen, dismissing it shortly in his review: "I'm not a fan," he wrote.

True Tone could be a bit different for the iPhone, though — since we use our phones much more often and for different purposes than tablets, the smoother display could be a welcome addition for our overworked eyes.

The move to True Tone could be one of the answers to the eye-popping screen of Samsung's new Galaxy S8. The Super AMOLED "Infinity Display" looks damn good — so Apple taking a more naturalistic route for its next generation of phone screens might be a good move.

Topics Apple iPhone

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Brett Williams

Brett Williams is a Tech Reporter at Mashable. He writes about tech news, trends and other tangentially related topics with a particular interest in wearables and exercise tech. Prior to Mashable, he wrote for Inked Magazine and Thrillist. Brett's work has also appeared on Fusion and AskMen, to name a few. You can follow Brett on Twitter @bdwilliams910.

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