Smartphone owners often face the desire to see the time, date and notifications without unlocking the device completely. Always On Display, or as it is often called in the Xiaomi environment, "Active Screen", has become the standard for AMOLED-matrix. Redmi Note 12 model is equipped with a high-quality panel that allows you to implement this functionality without serious damage to the autonomy of the gadget.
Many users mistakenly believe that a constant glow of the screen will lead to a rapid battery discharge in a matter of hours. However, matrix technology allows individual pixels to glow while the rest remain black. This is a key difference between AMOLED and LCD screens, where the backlight would work all the time. In this guide, we will discuss all the nuances of settings, available styles and ways to optimize the function.
It’s worth noting that the MIUI shell interface or the new HyperOS provides flexible management tools. You can only set up the display when the phone is lifted or leave the image static. Understanding these differences will help you find a balance between aesthetics and energy efficiency of your Xiaomi Redmi Note 12.
Principle of operation and features of technology on the Redmi Note 12
The basis for the implementation of the function of permanent display of information is the technology of organic LEDs. LCD-panels where light emits a separate layer of illumination, in AMOLED-In matrixes, each pixel is a separate light source, and when the screen displays only time and date, only a few thousand pixels of the millions of available pixels become active.
This physical property allows the system to intelligently control the power. The black areas of the screen on the Redmi Note 12 are physically turned off and do not consume energy, making the Always On Display feature technically possible and energy efficient. IPS-matrix, the backlight would work at full power, discharging the battery in a couple of hours.
It also takes into account the position of the device in space. With the help of an accelerometer and a gyroscope, the smartphone knows whether it is lying on the table or in the pocket. This prevents unnecessary charge consumption when you are not using the gadget. Xiaomi algorithms further analyze your usage habits to activate the screen at the most appropriate moments.
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For maximum charge savings, use black and white dials, as colored pixels consume more energy than monochrome ones.
It's important to distinguish between the display modes. There's a mode where the screen only lights up when a notification arrives, and a mode where the light is constant, albeit dim, glow. The first option is preferred for those who rarely look at the phone lying on the table, but want to be aware of incoming messages.
Where to find settings and how to activate the function
To enable this option, you need to go to your device's system settings. The path may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the logic remains the same. Open the main menu and find the Settings section. Next, select the Screen always on and lock or simply Lock the screen.
In the menu that opens, you'll see the screen switch always on. When you activate it, you start the basic mode. However, the standard settings are often too simple for advanced users, and the system will suggest you choose one of the preset styles or create your own.
If you can't find the right item, search by settings, type "Always" or "Screen" into the search bar, and the system will redirect you to the right section, which is especially useful if the menu items were renamed during security updates.
☑️ Verification of activation of the function
Once the function is turned on, the screen will go out, but after a few seconds the selected image will appear on it. Don't be afraid if it appears too bright at first or, conversely, dim. Brightness is often adjusted automatically depending on the lighting of the environment, so as not to blind the user in the dark.
Customization of styles, dials and personalization
Customization is something that many people love about Xiaomi products. The themes and styles store is available on the active screen settings menu. You can choose from classic analog watches, digital time formats, or even animated images. Some styles change color depending on the time of day or wallpaper on your desktop.
To create a unique design, select "Your Style" or "Custom" option, where you can find the following elements to customize:
- 🕒 Time format: 12-hour or 24-hour format, the ability to hide seconds to save energy.
- 📅 Date and calendar: display of the current day of the week and the number of the month.
- 🔋 Charge indicator: visual display of percentage of remaining battery energy.
- 🖼️ Background image: the ability to upload your photo from the gallery that the system will process for OLED-screen.
When selecting your own image, the system will automatically darken bright areas to prevent the matrix from burning out. This is an important optimization process that cannot be ignored. Using bright, contrasting photos without processing can lead to uneven wear and tear of the pixels over time.
Also worth mentioning are third-party apps: There are programs in the GetApps store or Google Play store that offer thousands of ready-made dials, but the built-in Redmi Note 12 features tend to be more stable and less affecting autonomy because they are deeply integrated into the system.
Display modes: on schedule or permanently
One of the most important aspects of settings is the timing of the function. Constant work can be redundant, especially at night. In the settings menu, you will find a Schedule item that allows you to flexibly manage screen activity.
The following options are available:
- 🌞 All day: screen active from the moment of unlocking in the morning until night (not recommended).
- ⏰ Schedule: You set the time on and off, for example, from 08:00 to 23:00.
- 🤲 When lifting: the screen only lights up when you pick up the phone.
- 🔔 When notified: The screen lights up for 10 seconds when a new message or call arrives.
When lifting is considered the most balanced mode, it combines the convenience of quick access to information with saving charge. You don't have to press buttons, you just have to take a smartphone to see the time. The proximity sensor and the accelerometer operate in the background, consuming minimal resources.
⚠️ WARNING: Using the All-Day mode without interruption can lead to accelerated wear and tear of the matrix and a significant reduction in battery life, especially if you rarely use your phone during the day.
If you go to bed but leave your phone on, be sure to set up an automatic shutdown for the night, which will save you from excess light in a dark room and save you charge for morning alarms and calls.
Effects on the battery and prevention of burnout
The question of the effect of Always On Display on battery life remains one of the most debated. Real energy consumption depends on many factors: brightness, complexity of the dial and frequency of updates. 12 battery-capacited 5000 mAh losses are approximately 1-3% live.
To minimize the impact on the battery, follow the following simple rules:
- 📉 Use simple, black and white dials without complex animations.
- 🌙 Be sure to turn on night mode or work schedule.
- 🔋 Watch the temperature of the device; when overheating, the function can be automatically disabled by the system.
Regarding burn-in pixels: modern AMOLED-The pixels can shift slightly or change brightness to make wear evenly distributed, but static high-brightness images for hundreds of hours still carry risks. Pixel shift is a technology that moves a picture several microns unnoticed to the eye.
The comparison of energy consumption in different modes is presented in the table below:
| Mode of work | Expense in 8 hours | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Off. | 0% | Maximum savings |
| On notice | ~1-2% | Optimal for everyone |
| Constantly (minimalism) | ~5-8% | For aesthetic lovers |
| Constantly (animation) | ~10-15% | Not recommended |
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Using a schedule and simple static dials reduces battery consumption on Always On Display by up to 70% compared to a constant animation mode.
Hiding confidential information and security
Since the active screen displays information without unlocking the device, there is a privacy issue: You may not want outsiders to see the text of your messages or the names of callers while the phone is lying on the desk in the office.
Xiaomi’s privacy settings include a content-hiding mechanism. You can set up only the app icons to display, hiding the text of the message. Go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Lock screen.
You can select the option "Hide content" here, in which case the active screen will only see "New message" or the name of the contact, but not the text itself. Full information will only be available after successful authorization through a fingerprint, Face. ID or PIN-code.
⚠️ Note: If you use the Smart Lock feature, remember that in trusted areas, the screen may show more information, as the system considers the environment to be secure.
Also, it is worth considering that some banking applications or messengers with increased protection may block the display of their notifications on the locked screen for security reasons.