3 Reasons We Love the Always-On Display on the iPhone

It’s widely known that Apple takes time developing features and only introduces them once satisfied with its unique implementation, often leading to an uproar of support or an outcry of disappointment.

So, when Apple finally announced its take on the much-loved Always-On display feature alongside the launch of the iPhone 14 Pro, there were many conflicting opinions.

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But since then, a lot has changed with Apple’s implementation making the user experience a lot better. So, here are three reasons we love the Always-On display on the iPhone.

1. The iPhone’s Always-On Display Is Context Aware

The software on Apple devices is known for its seamless integration, and the iPhone’s Always-On display doesn’t miss out on this. It’s context-aware and doesn’t always default to showing users the time. A few examples are:

2. Live Activities Are a Great Way to Stay Informed

The next reason we like the Always-On display on the iPhone is because of how it ties into Live Activities. For those unaware,Live Activities is an iOS 16 additionthat shows real-time notifications on your Lock Screen. It can present sports scores, flight or taxi status, and even how long it will take for your food delivery order to reach your door as it’s all happening.

The iPhone’s Always-On display takes into account the Live Activities on your screen and displays them in a dimmed manner while updating the information frequently. It’s a great way to stay informed, and some applications feature detailed notifications that aren’t only perfect for staying a step ahead but also look great.

iPhone 14 Pro showing Lock Screen widgets

3. Users Can Customize It to Their Liking

Lastly, since the feature replicates the exact look of yourcustomized iPhone Lock Screen, the changes you make to the font, wallpapers, and widgets are also present on the dimmed always-on view; this leaves an infinite number of combinations for you to experiment with and use!

Now, Android manufacturers aren’t limited when it comes to customization. Samsung and OnePlus have made their take on the feature fun by letting users set up unique graphics alongside the trusty clock and notifications. But the iPhone’s interpretation feels like it can be more personal yet functional.

Always-on display on iPhone 14 Pro

And, in case you’re not a fan of the data-heavy presentation, you can disable notifications and the wallpaper from appearing when the Always-On display is active on your iPhone. This will leave a majority black screen with just the clock and widgets visible, giving you an understated look.

The Always-On Display Is a Nifty Addition to the iPhone

While the customizations for the Always-On display on the iPhone weren’t available at launch, they are present now and make the feature more robust. Its data-rich nature is a welcome change and does bring a nice dynamic feel to the iPhone.

But keep in mind, despite the improvements, the feature is still a little too hard on the battery life, and if you want to eke out more hours from your iPhone, it might be worth disabling the feature or setting up a shortcut to limit the time it stays active.

Two iPhones showing live activities on lock screen and dynamic island

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