By
Andy Boxall
Published 58 minutes ago
Andy is a seasoned technology journalist with more than 15 years experience in the mobile industry, writing for Digital Trends, Wired, and more. During that time he has reviewed hundreds of smartphones and tablets, dozens of smartwatches, and a host of smart rings and smartglasses too.
His daily mobile tech life includes Android and iOS devices, smart rings, and a smartwatch unless it's a special ocassion, when a traditional watch takes its place on his wrist. He has attended multiple CES, MWC, and IFA tradeshows, has a passion for photography and cars, listens to far too much K-pop, and always has a strong opinion on the state of the tech industry.
You can find Andy's portfolio of work on his Authory page.
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Do you use the always-on screen on your phone? I know I do, and I have yet to meet someone in real life who doesn’t. Yet, manufacturers continue to hobble it by default when you set up a new phone.
Why? Is there really a serious downside that’s still relevant today? I don’t think there is, and keeping it off makes initial setup more complicated, and our phones less useful after you’re done.
Always-on? Not unless you make it
The always-on screen was once a rarity, ideally requiring an OLED screen to work. In the past, when the majority of phones came with an LCD screen, the feature wasn’t even possible.
Those days have long passed, and it’s available on practically every Android phone now. However, to make it work properly, you still have to set it up manually on a new phone. Why?
The most commonly repeated downside is how the always-on screen is a drain on the battery, forcing manufacturers scared of the power user’s wrath to leave it switched off, because all anyone wants is more battery life, right?
Sure, and it’s not a myth. The always-on screen does use more battery. A recent test by phone evaluation firm Dxomark showed the battery in some phones would last up to four times longer without the always-on screen active.
That’s it, then. Always-on screens are bad? No, they’re not.
It’s all about battery life (apparently)
While Dxomark’s results may be accurate, the test environment wasn’t very realistic, as there will be a long list of activities you regularly do on your phone that drain a lot more power than the always-on screen.
However, none of them will be part of the OS, and it’ll be all your own fault if you play Genshin Impact for five hours to kill the battery.
Keeping the always-on screen as an option helps brands deliver on their marketing promises for battery life, and removes it from blame when it’s flat after a day when you, you know, actually use your phone.
This is the biggest issue I have here. The always-on screen is very helpful. I can see the time and date at a glance, I can spot notification icons and quickly understand if one needs my attention, and on the best versions, interact with widgets too.
I can’t be the only one, and it should be a standard, active feature on all new phones.
Scheduling a time
Without fail, I mess around in the Settings menu on every Android phone I set up, activating the always-on screen.
Sometimes, the standard setting is that it can be activated by tapping the screen, which isn’t really always-on at all, and entirely pointless if my phone is out of arm’s reach and I just want to see the time.
Even finding the setting to change it is a treasure hunt, as it’s rarely in exactly the same spot, depending on the Android interface.
When I do eventually find it, I don’t just turn it on. This would be the work of the always-on amateur.
Instead, I use the Schedule option, setting it up so that it only stays illuminated between certain times. I link it to my Do Not Disturb time, which works well.
I can’t say I’ve ever felt as if the always-on screen has destroyed the battery life of my phone, and even if it does shorten it by a few hours (which I doubt), I not only find the feature beneficial, but I’m also rarely that far from a charging opportunity.
The whole battery thing just sounds like an old excuse.
Apple leads the way
Apple was late to the always-on screen party, but when it arrived, it did so in style. On compatible iPhone models, the always-on screen is activated by default, giving you the option to turn it off, rather than on.
It also automatically adjusts its state depending on circumstances, such as when Sleep Focus is active or the phone is placed face down.
Apple’s implementation is visually superior to most Android always-on screens, too. It shows the wallpaper, the time, widgets, Live Activities, audio controls, and other features.
However, I love the simplicity of most Android always-on screens, as for the most part, all I want it to do is show me at-a-glance information.
Why, when Apple shows off a feature like the always-on screen so proudly, making an iPhone look modern and alive at all times right out of the box, do Android phone makers hide it away?
Is it just battery life concerns? Or am I the outlier, and the always-on screen isn’t as widely used as I think?
Will it ever change, and which brand will be first?
If it’s not as widely used, then perhaps it’s not because it’s not helpful, or that everyone’s obsessed with battery life; it’s because the feature is invisible until activated, and some may not even know it’s there.
Yet, even after OLED screens have become the de facto standard in the industry, Apple showing Android how it can be done, and smartphones becoming a crucial information hub for most people, the always-on screen is as hidden away and as optional as changing the ringtone or font size.
The consequences run deeper than just a functionality shortfall. A black screen is boring to look at, plus screens are almost all huge these days, so why wouldn’t I want to use it at every opportunity, in all different ways?
By not using an always-on screen, you’re not using your phone to its fullest potential, and by forcing it to be turned on manually, manufacturers are either gaslighting you into thinking it’s a “risk” to battery longevity, or are too scared to be the first to make such a significant change to setup.
I look forward to eventually using an Android phone where I don’t have to manually set the always-on screen, and will loudly applaud the manufacturer responsible.
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