Just as the eye is a window to the human soul, a smartphone display can tell us a great deal about the device from the moment it is activated. So what story will the display of the iPhone 14, Apple's new model to be unveiled this fall, tell to a waiting world?

The iPhone 13 screen turns out to be one of the many strengths of Apple's current smartphone lineup: all four iPhones have bright, colorful screens, and the iPhone 13 Pro model in particular stands out thanks to its adaptive 120Hz refresh rate, which makes it stand out. In other words, Apple's Pro models can adjust the display's refresh rate, rising to 120Hz for things like gaming and scrolling and scaling down to 10Hz for more static activities.

So far, iPhone 14 rumors have painted a picture of more of the same for the upcoming phone. But dig into the rumors and you will find several anticipated enhancements to the iPhone 14's display that could lead to noticeable improvements for Apple's phone. And the pressure is on Apple as the phone maker's main rivals - especially Samsung - are focusing on display upgrades for their own phones with a view to knocking off Apple's products for the title of best phone overall.

Here's what we've heard so far about the iPhone 14's display, including what, if any, changes Apple may be planning for the new phone's fast refresh display.

For the most part, the screens on the different iPhone 14 models are expected to remain the same, with one major exception.

The iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max should maintain the same screen size as the iPhone 13. In other words, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro will have 6.1-inch panels, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max will retain the 6.7-inch screen size found on the iPhone 13 Pro Max.

However, that may not be the only 6.7-inch phone in Apple's lineup anymore. Rumor has it that Apple will add an iPhone 14 Max to its lineup this year. This would be a less expensive 6.7-inch phone that lacks some of the premium features included in Apple's Pro lineup. The idea is to give iPhone fans a low-cost option to get one of the best large phones.

This would mean the end of Apple's mini iPhone model, which was introduced with the iPhone 12 in 2020, but even the 5.4-inch iPhone 13 mini did not gain widespread adoption. This means that fans who prefer a more compact screen will have to look to the iPhone SE (2022) or hope that Apple continues to offer a lineup of older mini models at lower prices.

There is another change to the iPhone 14 Pro model's display: the notch that has been associated with the iPhone since the iPhone X's debut in 2017 is said to be gone. Instead, the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max will likely feature two notches to house the front camera and Face ID sensor. This would give both models a little extra screen space compared to recent Pro models.

As noted above, the iPhone 13 Pro model adds a dynamic refresh rate that can scale between 10Hz and 120Hz. The standard iPhone 13 remains at the more conventional 60Hz.

Will anything change with the iPhone 14? At least one leaker believes that the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max could offer a 90Hz refresh rate, in a move similar to how Google handles its Pixel flagship. (The more expensive Pixel 6 Pro has a 120Hz screen, while the Pixel 6 offers a 90Hz display.) This would certainly be an upgrade from the fixed 60Hz refresh rate offered by the iPhone 13.

The problem is that other leakers have denied this rumor. Instead, they suggest that the iPhone 14 will continue to use the 60Hz panel found on the current base model iPhone. according to an old report out of Apple's supply chain, at least one iPhone 14 model has a 60Hz refresh rate appears to be using an LTPS display.

A 90Hz refresh rate would make scrolling and other activities on the iPhone 14 appear much smoother than on previous models. However, until we see more detailed reports supporting this refresh rate switch, we have to assume that the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max will offer the same 60Hz rate found on Apple's less expensive flagship models. [It is more likely that they will continue the 120Hz display that debuted on the iPhone 13 Pro. These models introduce LTPO displays (short for low-temperature polycrystalline oxide), which allow the iPhone to adjust its refresh rate based on on-screen activity.

Rumor has it that the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max feature a new version of LTPO that is more power efficient; the OnePlus 10 Pro received such an improvement earlier this year, allowing it to scale down to 1Hz, as the Galaxy S22 Ultra If the iPhone 14 Pro gets the new and improved LTPO technology, it is possible that the iPhone 14 Pro will also adopt the 1-120Hz refresh rate that other top flagship models currently enjoy.

If that feature becomes a reality, it could pave the way for another change to the iPhone 14 Pro's display. Apple's Pro models are rumored to add support for an always-on display. The iOS 16 update to be released this fall will add support for customizable lock screens and widgets that can be placed on the lock screen. Obviously, such a feature would also open the door to an always-on display for phones that can lower the refresh rate to avoid draining the battery.

While display refresh rates get all the attention, the battle for the best smartphone displays is being fought on other fronts as well. Screen brightness is becoming increasingly important, and is an important feature for the iPhone 14 display.

When Apple introduced the iPhone 13 model last year, it touted the brightness of the Super Retina XDR OLED panel. iPhone 13's maximum outdoor brightness was 800 nits, while the Pro model had a maximum brightness of 1,000 nits. (We measured 795 nits and 1,024 nits on the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro, respectively.)

Since the iPhone 13's debut, Samsung has rolled out its own flagship updates. The Galaxy S22 models also boast brighter displays, with peak brightness promised at 1,300 nits for the S22 and 1,750 for the Galaxy S22 Plus and Galaxy S22 Ultra. We have not recorded numbers hitting these maximums on our luminometer, but for the most part, the screen on the S22 lineup is brighter than what you get on the iPhone 13.

Will Apple respond when it launches the iPhone 14? We haven't heard many rumors on that point. However, given that brightness is now an area where handset makers are competing to be the best, we would not be surprised if the iPhone 14 debuts with some improvements in that area.

From screen size to refresh rate, we do not expect Apple to significantly revise the screen used in the upcoming iPhone 14 release. However, there appear to be enough significant changes planned to lead us to believe that the display will remain a key feature of Apple's next phone. And as we get closer to the iPhone 14's release date, a few surprises may emerge.