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It seems that limiting new headline software features to the latest hardware release is the direction that Apple is going lately. The most recent examples that comes to mind are the always-on display in the new iPhone 14 and the hover mode in the new iPad Pro.

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Listing always on display as just a software feature is odd. It’s very much a function of both software and hardware.

It requires new screens and display controllers that can refresh at much lower rates, and stronger guarantees of burn in prevention.

Like sure, you could do it on an older screen but you’d burn through battery much quicker and potentially damage the device in the process.

This is true for Android devices as well.

You think it's a coincidence that the first iPhone with AOD is also the first one with a LTPO display? If so, why did Apple wait until the 14? If it's just an artificial limitation, wouldn't it have made more sense to do for the XS or the 7 or whatever? It's generally preferable to pull revenue forward, not hold it back for years.

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