The True Tone Display feature of iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and the iPhone X, is one of the most underrated features. It makes the display more comfortable on the eyes by adjusting the light to the environment. One can only notice the difference when he/she switches to a device that does not have the True Tone Display feature.
As stated by Phil Schiller, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Marketing, once you experience it on iPhone, you would never want to go back to a device that lacks this feature. So what’s True Tone Display? Continue reading to find out.
This post covers the following topics:
- What is True Tone Display?
- How does True Tone Display work?
- Night Shift mode vs. True Tone Display
- Should You Leave True Tone Always On?
- True Tone Display Supported iPhone or iPad
- How to Disable True Tone Display on iPhone or iPad
What is True Tone Display?
“True Tone” is the name of the technology that Apple introduced in its iPad Pro lineup last year. The tech works just like the white-balance-compensating system of camera flash found on an iPhone. It adapts to the ambient light. The display of the iPhone or iPad automatically determines the right intensity, percentage, and temperature of white light the user needs. The central concept behind this technology is that under different lighting, the whites tend to look different. But, with True Tone Display, the iPhone or iPad can adjust the whites according to the light to make the display look the same.
Keep in mind that white has a temperature. If the white feels like pale/yellow (like summer afternoon), it has a higher temperature. If it gives more bluish feel (like winter noon), it has a lower temperature.
A book page on a device that does not have a True Tone Display will feel white at your home with LED lights on, but the same page will look bluish if you take the device outside on a sunny day. True Tone is there to fix that for you. A True Tone enabled display always keep track of the ambient light and matches the screen with it. No matter where you’re (indoor or outdoor), what season it is (Summer or Winter), what environment you’re in (LED light or incandescent), a display with True Tone will feel white as it should be.
Text reading becomes comfortable on eyes with an adjusted white point. But when we pair the dynamically-adjusted brightness with the low-reflecting display, it becomes more convenient to read even in direct sunlight. Don’t be surprised if you find the screen of iPhone 8/Plus, iPhone X, or the iPad Pro easier to your eyes no matter where you are.
How does True Tone Display work?
The iPhone and iPad devices that come with True Tone screen feature sensors that measure brightness and ambient light color. This information is then used by the iPhone or iPad to adjust its display accordingly. Based on the lighting in your environment, it corrects the white point and illumination to provide the right kinds of white under any lighting. If you think this technology is new, you’re wrong. Some desktop monitor manufacturers have been offering it for a long time now.
The human optical system constantly compares new-white to perfect white, and a better white can affect out the perceived contrast of whatever we are looking at. This means that an adjusted white can be more comfortable on our eyes. It also means that iPhone and iPad devices featuring the True Tone tech should be more readable even under direct sunlight.
Night Shift vs. True Tone
Apple introduced the Night Shift in iOS 9.3. The features make use of built-in clock and geolocation and automatically adjusts the colors of display towards the warmer end of the spectrum in the dark. This helps in having a better sleep afterward. We can say that it works like True Tone, but for a different reason. It’s about making it comfortable to use the device in night times. As you get closer to your bedtime, it turns the display warmer by reducing the amount of blue light and makes the display look pale. But, a warmer screen should be more comfortable to look at during night times.
Apple believes that the blue light affects your sleep by throwing off your circadian rhythm by suppressing the secretion of melatonin and moderating your body clock. The research at Harvard has also proven this with their experiments.
So, we can say that Night Shift mode reduces the harmful effects of using the device at night.
Should You Leave True Tone Always On?
Since True Tone adjusts the whites according to the ambient light, experts suggest that they would keep it ON for reading purposes. But, would turn it off when viewing photos or watching a movie because it can change their colors. If you have an iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, or a 9.7-inch iPad Pro, the True Tone Display comes enabled by default. It is not like you are stuck with it because Apple has provided a toggle to turn it off in Settings. Below, you’ll find out how to disable it.
True Tone Display Supported iPhone and iPad
The following Apple devices feature True Tone Display:
- iPhone X
- iPhone 8
- iPhone 8 Plus
- 9.7-inch iPad Pro
How to Disable True Tone Display on iPhone or iPad
Want to disable the True Tone feature of your display? Simply follow the steps mentioned below.
Method 1 – Disable True Tone via Settings App
- Open the Settings app.
- Go to Display & Brightness.
- Turn the toggle next to True Tone option to Off state.
The steps mentioned-above should disable the True Tone Display on your iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X and the iPad Pro.
Method 2 – Disable True Tone via Control Center
Apple also allows you to quickly turn off True Tone option right from the Control Center. Here is how to:
- Launch Control Center. To do that swipe up from the bottom edge of your iPhone or iPad screen.
- Tap and hold on the Brightness Toggle.
- At the bottom right corner of your screen, tap on True Tone toggle to disable it.
Have you experienced Apple’s True Tone Display on an iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, or the iPad Pro? Did you like it or just turned it off? Share your experience in the comments section below.