M4 iPad Pro lacks always-on display despite OLED panel with variable refresh rate

Despite the new M4 iPad Pro featuring an OLED display with a variable refresh rate, it lacks an always-on display feature, unlike the latest iPhones and Apple Watch. The OLED technology allows for individual pixel illumination, which could support an always-on display by turning off unused pixels, yet Apple has set a 1Hz minimum refresh rate requirement for this feature, which the iPad does not meet. Future updates, like iPadOS 18, might introduce changes, especially with potential new accessories that could complement an always-on display.