Apple has finally turned its polarizing notch on the iPhone into a stunning new feature, thanks to a complex display quirk called Dynamic Island. The highlight of the show, this change is most certainly THE novelty of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, just ahead of the permanent display that we also saw this week.
An iPhone 14 Pro exclusive
The new Dynamic Island – or dynamic island in French – is exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max and is made possible by the new positioning of the front camera and Face ID sensors, which are now integrated into the screen, rather than as a separate piece at the top of the phone.
The name of the feature, which works in tandem with the iPhone 14 Pro-exclusive A16 Bionic chip, is pretty self-explanatory. It’s an island centered at the top of the iPhone screen, and it’s extremely dynamic in how it interacts with other iPhone features – whether it’s alerts, notifications, or live activities.
Apple showcased many use cases for its Dynamic Island at the Far Out event, where he announced the iPhone 14 lineup, Apple Watch Ultra, and AirPods Pro 2, among others.
Here is a video to give you an idea:
The new #DynamicIsland of the #iPhone14Pro on video ! #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/ztFNoR2tgS
— iPhoneSoft.fr (@iphonesoft_fr) September 8, 2022
What is the Dynamic Island for
Essentially, the feature is designed to exploit the “dead” zone of the front sensors to show useful information, such as when AirPods connect, when a notification is received, or when the device is charging. It will also bring up a small thumbnail of the Apple Music album art, show when Apple Pay is being accessed or when do not disturb mode is on. These icons appear as an extension on either side of the sensors and, thanks to the way the pixels match the black sensors, the animations are incredibly seamless for the user.
However, Dynamic Island can also extend further into the iPhone 14 Pro screen. Incoming calls and a running timer appear in a banner that extends beyond the sensors. If you unlock an app or use Apple Pay, the Face ID indicator also descends from the dynamic island rather than appearing in the center of the screen. The result is stunning, Apple designers hit hard.
Dynamic Island is also interactive, so you can tap on it to open or expand the information. For example, if you want to check the battery of your AirPods or stop a voice recording, one tap is all it takes. Ongoing activities such as directions Maps or sports scores can also be extended by a simple long press.
When you’re done, an upward gesture redraws the whole thing as an icon at the notch, pardon the dynamic island.
Here are the three sizes in width it can take (it can also stretch in height):
Which apps support Dynamic Island?
Apple showcased a few examples of compatible apps during the event, but this won’t be the exclusive list. Here’s what we’ve seen so far:
- Telephone
- Music
- Battery
- Pairing
- AirDrop
- Silent mode
- do not disturb mode
- Maps
- Wallet
- Voice Memos
- Clock
- Lyft
How does the dynamic island work?
All of this is made possible by the hardware changes of the iPhone 14 Pro and has two elements: First, the screen design itself is key. The positioning of the cutout has been redesigned and looks cleaner, while the proximity sensors have moved behind the panel – the first time Apple has done so. Secondly, it is possible (and exclusive to iPhone 14 Pro models) thanks to the presence of the A16 Bionic chip, a co-processor of which is in charge of managing the entire display part.
If you want to taste the new Apple experience, you need an iPhone 14 Pro… Be careful, the prices are very high this year, count 1329 euros minimum! And be sure that we will find it on the iPhone 15 next year, Apple does not intend to do without it anytime soon.
PS: Here is the official video from Apple: