LG's new 1Hz display is the secret behind a new laptop's battery life
Recorded: March 28, 2026, 4 a.m.
| Original | Summarized |
LG's new 1Hz display is the secret behind a new laptop's battery life | PCWorld
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By Mark Hachman Senior Editor, PCWorld Mar 23, 2026 10:04 am PDT Summary created by Smart Answers AIIn summary:PCWorld reports that LG Display’s new ‘Oxide 1Hz’ technology enables laptop displays to vary refresh rates from 1Hz to 120Hz, potentially saving up to 48% battery life.Dell has already adopted this innovative display as the default option in its XPS laptop lineup, demonstrating early market adoption.LG plans mass production of 1Hz OLED panels featuring this battery-extending technology by 2027, signaling broader availability for future laptops. Traditionally, a laptop’s battery life tends to be governed not by the microprocessor inside it, but by the display that you’re staring at for hours on end. That’s why a new “Oxide 1Hz” display technology from LG Display is so interesting. Why? Laptop panels “refresh,” or update, at various rates. Traditional TVs used panels that refreshed 60 times per second, or 60Hz. Most older laptops did too. As games became more of a focus for laptops and TVs, manufacturers turned to panels with higher refresh rates, offering smoother gameplay that matched the graphics capabilities of consoles and gaming laptops. Productivity machines also saw a boost, too: Higher refresh rates mean smoother scrolling and mousing. LG is covering pretty much all of the bases with its Oxide 1Hz technology, offering refresh rates that can sip power at 1Hz, then dynamically support up to 120Hz when needed. Dell doesn’t offer LG’s 1Hz display at a price premium. Instead, it’s the default option.
Author: Mark Hachman, Senior Editor, PCWorld Mark has written for PCWorld for the last decade, with 30 years of experience covering technology. He has authored over 3,500 articles for PCWorld alone, covering PC microprocessors, peripherals, and Microsoft Windows, among other topics. Mark has written for publications including PC Magazine, Byte, eWEEK, Popular Science and Electronic Buyers' News, where he shared a Jesse H. Neal Award for breaking news. He recently handed over a collection of several dozen Thunderbolt docks and USB-C hubs because his office simply has no more room. Recent stories by Mark Hachman: Intel’s new gaming laptop chips won’t arrive all at once Intel quietly pushes ‘Arrow Lake Refresh’ CPUs into gaming laptops Windows 11 paves the way for eye-melting 1,000Hz monitors
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LG Display’s innovative ‘Oxide 1Hz’ technology represents a significant advancement in laptop display design, primarily focused on optimizing battery life. According to PCWorld, this new panel boasts a refresh rate range of 1Hz to 120Hz, allowing for substantial power savings – up to 48% – compared to traditional displays. Dell has already integrated this technology into its XPS laptop lineup as the default display option, demonstrating a practical application of the innovation. LG plans to commence mass production of 1Hz OLED panels incorporating this technology by 2027, anticipating broader adoption across the laptop market. Traditionally, laptop battery life has been heavily influenced by the microprocessor, however, the display component is a significant contributor. The Oxide 1Hz panel addresses this by dynamically adjusting its refresh rate. Unlike previous approaches that typically capped refresh rates at 30Hz, this technology utilizes a 1Hz baseline, drastically reducing power consumption when high refresh rates aren’t required. This contrasts with recent trends of dynamically adjusting refresh rates downwards to conserve battery power. The technology’s ability to seamlessly shift between 1Hz and 120Hz further enhances its adaptability to varying user needs. LG Display has addressed potential concerns regarding the visual experience of such a low refresh rate by utilizing LED technology, which is becoming increasingly prevalent in high-end OLED panels. While a 1Hz panel may resemble an e-ink display in its static appearance, the dynamic refresh capability offers a noticeable improvement in visual fluidity. Dell’s adoption of the Oxide 1Hz panel in its XPS laptops demonstrates a commitment to offering consumers a superior balance between power efficiency and display performance. The implementation is particularly noteworthy as it’s the default option, eliminating any potential premium associated with this advanced display technology. Looking forward, the potential impact of this technology extends beyond individual laptops. The combination of LG’s display innovation alongside advancements in processors such as Intel’s Panther Lake and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Elite offers a compelling scenario for extended battery life across a wide range of portable devices. This development underscores the interconnectedness of technological advancements within the computing ecosystem, with each component playing a crucial role in optimizing overall performance and user experience. |