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Always-On display uses more battery while its Lock Screen is visible; Raise to Wake keeps the screen off until you lift the iPhone. Always-On is more convenient for checking the time, notifications, and widgets at a glance. Apple does not publish a universal battery-drain figure comparing the two, so the practical difference depends on your settings and use.

How the two features differ

Feature What happens while iPhone is locked Convenience Battery implication
Always-On display A dimmed Lock Screen stays visible on supported models. You can glance at the time, date, notifications, and widgets; the phone is still locked. See basic Lock Screen information without picking up or tapping the phone. The display remains visible in some circumstances, so it uses power while lit. Apple does not provide a general drain-per-hour or drain-per-day figure.
Raise to Wake The display turns on when you lift the iPhone. When the phone locks, the display turns off unless Always-On display is enabled. Check the screen by lifting the phone, rather than having it remain visible on a desk. The display is not kept visibly lit between wake-ups. Battery impact still varies with settings and use.

Apple describes Always-On as a dimmed version of the Lock Screen, not an unlocked screen. Raise to Wake is a wake action: lifting the phone turns on its display. You can also wake iPhone with the side button, or by tapping the screen on models other than iPhone SE. See Apple’s Always-On display guide and wake, unlock, and lock guide.

Does Always-On use more battery?

It can, because the Lock Screen remains visible rather than going completely dark. But the available Apple battery information does not establish how much more power it uses than Raise to Wake in ordinary daily use. It would be misleading to translate that evidence into a fixed percentage or an hourly or daily battery-loss estimate.

Apple’s iPhone battery test information says its iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max testing, conducted in July and August 2022 on preproduction devices and software, kept Always-On enabled while the display was not visible. Apple notes that audio playback time decreases when the display is visible compared with when the iPhone is face down or in a pocket or bag. That is not a quantified, everyday comparison with Raise to Wake.

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Apple also cautions that battery results vary with cellular network, location, signal strength, feature configuration, usage, and other factors. For your own phone, use the Battery settings to inspect app and system usage; Apple explains the charts and troubleshooting suggestions in its battery-drain guidance.

When Always-On turns itself off

Always-On does not keep the screen visible in every situation. Apple says it automatically turns off when:

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These automatic behaviors mean the screen may be dark even when Always-On is enabled. For details, see Apple’s description of Always-On behavior.

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Choose the setup that fits your routine

Keep Always-On on for at-a-glance access

Choose Always-On if you often check the time or Lock Screen information while the phone is sitting nearby and you value not having to lift or tap it. The setting is on by default on supported models, and you can choose whether wallpaper and notifications appear.

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Turn Always-On off if you prefer a dark locked screen

Choose a fully dark screen between wake-ups if you would rather minimize visible display time. You can still use Raise to Wake to turn the display on when you lift the phone.

Check the settings

  1. To manage Always-On, open Settings > Display & Brightness > Always On Display. Turn it off, or adjust the wallpaper and notification options on that page.
  2. To disable Raise to Wake, open Settings > Display & Brightness and turn off Raise to Wake.
  3. If you are comparing battery endurance, open Settings > Battery and review the usage information. Change one setting at a time and compare your own use; results can vary with conditions and activity.

Always-On is available only on supported iPhone models. Apple’s guide describes it as a supported-model feature but does not enumerate the complete current model list on the cited page, so check the setting on your particular iPhone rather than assuming compatibility.

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