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A future Apple Watch battery could last even longer in the future. That is, assuming Apple adopts display partner LG's new screen technology. Apple Watch Ultra Apple actively works with its supply chain partners to improve the components used in its products. With the display being an extremely important part, it comes as no surprise that Apple has considered what the next big screen tech switch should be. Industry sources cited by The Elec on Tuesday claim that LG Display is developing and validating high-mobility oxide (HMO) thin-film transistor (TFT) backplane technology. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
A new leak claims to have details of the battery capacity for the forthcoming iPhone 18 Pro , and while it continues the pattern of improving every year, this time Apple has managed only a minor increase. Mockup of a Dark Cherry iPhone 18 Pro - original image credit: Wesley Hilliard, recoloring by William Gallagher Back in February 2026 , a leak claimed to show that the iPhone 18 Pro Max would have longer battery life than its predecessor, but only by a small amount. Now according to a leaker with only a mixed track record, the same is true for the iPhone 18 Pro. Specifically, leaker Fixed Focus Digital reports that for the US, the iPhone 18 Pro will have a 4,288 mAh battery. For China, which still requires space for a physical SIM card, the capacity will be 4,056 mAh. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
Apple is evaluating a new OLED display backplane technology that could make future Apple Watch models more power efficient, according to a new report from Korean publication The Elec . LG Display is said to be developing high-mobility oxide, or HMO, thin-film transistor technology for its sixth-generation small and medium-sized OLED production lines. The technology is reportedly being considered by Apple as a next-generation successor to low-temperature polycrystalline oxide, or LTPO – the TFT backplane technology currently used to enable iPhone and Apple Watch features like always-on displays and variable refresh rates. HMO is designed to improve on conventional oxide TFT displays by increasing electron mobility (i.e., how easily electrons move through the transistor material when an electric field is applied). Mobility is important for driving OLED panels while keeping power consumption low, and The Elec says current mass-produced oxide TFTs typically offer mobility below 10 cm²/Vs (square centimeters per volt-second), whereas the industry is targeting around 30 to 50 cm²/Vs for its next-generation OLED products. LG Display is also reportedly using a "sputtering" process that could make the technology easier to integrate into existing production lines. Meanwhile, OLED supplier Samsung Display is said to be pursuing a different approach that uses atomic layer deposition (ALD), which involves laying down extremely thin films one atomic layer at a time. ALD is a slower process, but it suggests Samsung may be trying to create a more carefully controlled oxide transistor layer than HMO allows for. The report goes on to suggest that the first Apple product to use LG Display's HMO technology could be next year's Apple Watch. Apple has historically tested new display backplane technologies in the Apple Watch before expanding them to larger-volume products such as the iPhone, so this could also represent an initial step towards wider adoption. The report notes that LG Display still needs to validate the HMO technology for mass production, and that involves verifying mobility, uniformity, reliability, process temperature, and yield. As such, commercial adoption is not yet guaranteed. So far, rumors suggest this year's Apple Watch lineup won't include any major design changes , with a redesign said to be unlikely before 2028. However, those reports don't necessarily rule out the possibility of Apple adopting the new, more power-efficient OLED technology in 2027. Related Roundups: Apple Watch 11 , Apple Watch Ultra 3 Tags: OLED , The Elec Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Caution) , Apple Watch Ultra (Neutral) Related Forum: Apple Watch This article, " 2027 Apple Watch Could Adopt Next-Generation OLED Display Tech " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
Battery capacities for Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro have allegedly surfaced, and the numbers suggest only a modest increase over the iPhone 17 Pro. According to prolific Weibo-based leaker Digital Chat Station , Apple is testing the iPhone 18 Pro with different battery capacities for the China and U.S. versions of the device, similar to last year's iPhone 17 Pro models . The Chinese model is said to have a roughly 4,056 mAh battery, while the U.S. model is said to have a roughly 4,288 mAh battery. Apple removed the tray from U.S. iPhones starting with the iPhone 14 lineup, whereas iPhones sold in China have continued to include one (the iPhone Air is an exception – it is eSIM-only worldwide, including in China). Without the tray, Apple can pack a slightly larger battery into the available internal space, hence the difference in capacity. Model iPhone 17 Pro iPhone 18 Pro Leak Difference China / Physical SIM 3,988 mAh 4,056 mAh +68 mAh, +1.7% US / eSIM-only 4,252 mAh 4,288 mAh +36 mAh, +0.8% If the figures are accurate, the iPhone 18 Pro's battery capacity increase would be fairly small year-over-year. The China model would gain around 68 mAh compared to the iPhone 17 Pro with a SIM card tray, while the U.S. eSIM-only model would gain around 36 mAh compared to the equivalent iPhone 17 Pro. Digital Chat Station claimed in February that the iPhone 18 Pro Max battery capacity will move into the "5,000 mAh" range. The leaker suggested around 5,000 mAh for the China version of the iPhone 18 Pro Max, and around 5,100 mAh to 5,200 mAh for international versions. It's not clear whether these iPhone 18 Pro figures come from a regulatory database or are based on supply chain information regarding device samples, so the numbers should be considered unconfirmed for now. It's also worth noting that modest gains aren't necessarily indicative of a modest battery life improvement – the iPhone 18 Pro models are also expected to benefit from the new A20 Pro chip, which will use TSMC's cutting-edge 2nm process and should subsequently be more power-efficient. The devices are also likely to get Apple's C2 modem, which could also bring a battery boost. 11 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 18 Pro The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to launch in September, featuring a smaller Dynamic Island, a simplified Camera Control, and an upgraded main camera with a variable aperture. Related Roundup: iPhone 18 Pro Tag: Digital Chat Station This article, " iPhone 18 Pro Battery Capacities Allegedly Leaked " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
