The screen refresh rate significantly influences battery life, particularly when comparing the iPhone SE 4 and the iPhone 14 Pro.
Refresh Rate Overview
- iPhone SE 4: Expected to maintain a 60Hz refresh rate. This is consistent with earlier models and is designed to be energy-efficient, particularly as it will likely feature an OLED display, which enhances battery performance by providing better contrast and color accuracy while consuming less power than traditional LCDs[2][8].- iPhone 14 Pro: Utilizes a ProMotion display that can dynamically adjust between 1Hz and 120Hz, depending on the content being displayed. While this provides smoother visuals, especially during scrolling and animations, it can also lead to increased battery consumption when operating at higher refresh rates[1][7].
Battery Life Implications
1. Impact of High Refresh Rates:- When the iPhone 14 Pro operates at its maximum refresh rate of 120Hz, it consumes more battery compared to a steady 60Hz setting. Tests have shown that capping the refresh rate to 60Hz on models like the iPhone 15 Pro resulted in only a modest increase in battery life (approximately 5-6%**) due to the reduced frequency of screen redraws[1][4][7].
- The dynamic refresh rate technology in the iPhone 14 Pro is designed to optimize power usage by lowering the refresh rate during static content, but this feature does not completely mitigate the battery drain associated with high-refresh-rate usage[9].
2. Battery Capacity and Efficiency:
- The iPhone SE 4 is expected to have a battery capacity similar to the iPhone 14 (around 3279mAh**) but will likely benefit from the efficiency of its A18 chip and lower refresh rate, potentially leading to comparable or even superior battery life under typical usage conditions[2][8].
- The iPhone 14 Pro's advanced features, such as the always-on display and higher resolution, may contribute to quicker battery depletion despite its larger capacity. Users have noted that features like the always-on display can significantly impact battery life due to continuous screen activity[9].
Conclusion
In summary, while both devices are designed with energy efficiency in mind, the iPhone SE 4's fixed 60Hz refresh rate may provide better overall battery longevity compared to the variable refresh capabilities of the iPhone 14 Pro, especially under heavy use scenarios. Users seeking longer battery life may prefer the SE 4 for its simpler display technology and consistent performance.Citations:
[1] https://www.phonearena.com/news/reducing-iphone-15-pro-refresh-rate-60hz-adds-limited-amount-battery-life_id152661
[2] https://www.diyfixtool.com/blogs/news/epic-showdown-iphone-16-vs-iphone-se-4
[3] https://discussions.apple.com/thread/254263580
[4] https://bgr.com/tech/i-made-one-silly-change-to-my-iphone-14-pro-and-it-seriously-boosted-my-battery-life/
[5] https://www.anandtech.com/show/10285/the-iphone-se-review/3
[6] https://www.reddit.com/r/TheSilphRoad/comments/r8fk24/finding_native_refresh_rate_actually_saves_battery/
[7] https://www.tomsguide.com/news/iphone-15-pro-has-a-hidden-60hz-mode-heres-how-much-more-battery-life-you-get
[8] https://www.tomsguide.com/phones/iphones/iphone-se-4-coming-soon-7-biggest-upgrades-changes-for-apples-cheapest-phone
[9] https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/apple-iphone-14-pro-battery-life-drain-problem/
[10] https://www.tomsguide.com/news/iphone-se-2022-battery-life-heres-how-it-stacks-up